Alan Woodward

It is with great sadness that we have to report the loss of one of Serpentine's long-standing members. Alan Woodward passed away before Christmas at the age of 86.

Alan was the 12th Life Member of the club, made Life Member in 2006 for his many years of coaching for the club, going back to the very early days, and then as a first-aider for the Last Friday of the Month 5k and other races. Alan was nicknamed "odd-socks" as he ran wearing one red sock and one yellow one – a true Serpie!

Alan had the distinction of having membership number 1, even though he wasn't quite a Founder Member. Nevertheless, Alan was very involved with many of the club's activities from the outset. He completed 167 Handicaps before retiring in November 2004.

He was very involved with the coached sessions at Battersea from the early days of the club and instigated the Sunday morning Richmond Park run. Long after he ceased running, he would go to Richmond Park to set the runners off and give them encouragement. Alan was also Hilary Walker's "supporter" in a number of her world record breaking Ultra events.

Alan had marshalled and provided first-aid cover at the Last Friday 5k races for many years. In the early days, the club only had 3 marshals and they had to be adept at moving around the course, each covering several turns and hoping to keep ahead of the race leader. Malcolm recalls one occasion at the 5k when Alan was stationed by the Dell Restaurant (now, of course, the Serpentine Bar and Kitchen). BBC1 were about to start a live London lunchtime news transmission featuring the then Mayor, Ken Livingstone and Graham Norton when up popped Alan to tell them "you can't stand here, there's a race going on, you've got to move!" Seconds later 200 people began streaming past! Sadly Alan didn't feature in the evening news version, although you did get the startled expressions on the faces of Livingstone and Norton when the runners appeared!

Alan’s funeral is on 19th January at Hanworth Crematorium, Hounslow Road, TW13 5JH at 13.20. Sid Wills is planning to attend to represent the club.

Fraser Johnson
hon.chairman@serpentine.org.uk

Submitted: 5 January 2017

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