When the race walker Paul Nihill won the European championship in 1969, rather than put the trophy on his mantelpiece he gave it to Surrey Walking Club. They, in turn, put it up as a prize for a schools’ competition.
My school, Langley Park, won the trophy from 1970 to 1972, and a number of us were encouraged to join the club. What an opportunity – on at least one occasion I got to be in the same race as Paul.
