Running club pays tribute after death of top athlete

Peter Jarvis who died last week in Anlaby, near Hull, played a major role in the athletics for more than 50 years and was well-known and respected by athletic clubs across Yorkshire.

Mr Jarvis joined Hull Harriers, now City of Hull Athletic Club, in the 1950s, and soon established himself as a swift and versatile runner, competing at various levels in track, country and road races.

Club historian and fellow runner Dr Robb Robinson said: "He was club champion on more than one occasion and recorded a personal best for the mile of 4 minutes 11 seconds in the early 1960s which was then extremely fast.

"Although a superb all-round athlete in his own right, it will be as a mentor, coach and all round organiser that he will be best remembered by generations of athletes."

In the late 1960s City of Hull Athletic Club's youth and junior teams were among the best in the country and young runners encouraged by Mr Jarvis included Steve Rennie, Martin Farrell, Ray Cocks, Carl Nightingale. One protege, Malcolm Prince, become an international 5000 metres runner.

He will also be remembered for his role in organising the Champagne League race series in East Yorkshire. For more than 40 years he helped organise City of Hull Athletic Club's training runs from places like Raywell and Brantingham Dale, and used to run the summer training camp for Hull athletes at Dyffryn Ardudwy, near Barmouth in Wales.

In later years he also made a mark in the sport of bowls. He leaves a wife, Jane, and four children.