Cowsi Magol writes:

It is with great sadness that we have to report that John Baker passed away this morning.  John had a heart attack from which he never recovered, although attempts were made by the paramedics to revive him. It was very quick and John did not suffer. It was only on Wednesday morning that the small group of Evergreens were out for “training” in Hainault forest with him.

John running the last leg of the Southern London-Brighton relay in 1958

John joined the club in 1954 when his coach Ron Bowden moved to the club along with another Woodford stalwart, David Stearns. John was a talented middle distance runner in the mid 1950’s, achieving 1:52.5 for the 800m/880yds in his prime and represented the club in many of the trophy events held during this time.

Thursday 12^th July 2018. 10.15am: Service at St Mary’s Church, Theydon Bois, CM16 7JN. The Village Hall, on the main road through the village, is opening the car park.

Followed by: Committal at Parndon Wood Crematorium, Harlow CM17 9JD

Family flowers only.

Donations, if desired, to Cancer Research UK or The Salvation Army, two of the charities Liz supported, via Daniel Robinson & Sons, Funeral Directors, Epping.

The family would like to welcome you to the Queen Victoria, Theydon Bois, CM16 7ES after the committal for a light buffet lunch.

It is not a private committal, but some may prefer to wait at Theydon Bois and perhaps make themselves comfortable at the Queen Victoria.

RSVP to Tim Pribul (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 01279 724482 or text 07710 988650) to assist with numbers for the catering.

Update: Ron's funeral will be held at the South Chapel, City of London Crematorium, at 11am on Tuesday, 29th May. The family invite everyone for a drink and a snack at the WGEL clubhouse at Ashton Playing Fields afterwards.

Woodford’s legendary coach, 88-year old Ron Bowden, sadly passed away at home in South Woodford on the evening of Saturday May 12th, survived by his wife Jose', and their three children, Philip, Stephen and Yvette.

96-year old Ken Bone, Woodford Green Athletic Club's oldest Life Member, passed away at Stirling, north of Edinburgh, in January.

Ken joined the club in 1937, and after his war service years he won the Essex County 440 yards hurdles title on four consecutive years, 1948-51. By then he had become seriously involved in coaching, a field to which he dedicated considerable thought and activity - in an age in which "The Establishment" of our sport tended to think coaches were con-men.

A tribute by John Hayward, Club President 1982-84 & 2008-09

On 29^th December, after a 14-week battle with illness, one of the club’s oldest members, 88-year old Ken Bray (left, below, with wife Brenda to the right) died at home surrounded by his family.

Ken joined the club in 1949, inspired by the 1948 Olympics. He quickly became engrossed in all aspects, major and minor, of the club which he was to remain a member of all his life apart from a 5-year spell in the 1970s when he flirted with his dream world of autocross.

As an athlete, one of Ken’s proudest accomplishments was to win the Essex Steeplechase Championship in the late 1950s on the last occasion that the Essex Champs were held at Ashton Playing Fields. He was Club President from 1976-78.