He also got hooked on table tennis after being introduced to it by a mate in the Army, although admitting now that before he played he “thought it was a sissy’s game”. He played football, basketball & hockey, commenting that he was the only “Private” in the hockey team! He also did some wrestling and claims to have been undefeated. Naturally keen on sport, he could see the benefits it brought people. He really loved army life with the regular meals and ready access to sport. Ron did his National Service starting at Blandford Forum (Dorset) in February 1949 eventually coming out in the autumn of 1950. This particular memory stayed in his mind when Ron grew older and went into the Army. It was here he heard talk of Jack Holden, at that time the greatest distance runner in the country, who only lived down the road. As a young boy in the 1930’s Ron’s father would tell him stories around the fire. Ron’s mother went on to have two more sons, Roy & Gordon.Īs well as no gas or electric there was no radio or TV either in those days for amusement. Though Ron was his mothers’ first born there were 5 brothers and 3 sisters in his expanded family from his father’s first wife. Ron’s father was much older than his mother, his first wife having died. It was here in this environment he learned the benefits of good honest hard work. She took Ron under her wing and used to look after him and feed him. She kept pigs and all sorts of other animals. Ron’s grandmother could cook and turn her hand to anything. His grandparent’s lived in a shed in the garden. Ron’s mother was from a large family, one of 14, and the family lived in a two bedroomed house. Lighting was by paraffin lamp and they cooked using a pressure stove by open fire. The house they lived in had no electric or gas supply. Ron Bentley was born on Novemin the Hurst Hill area of the Black Country in the West Midlands, known locally as the “backside”.įrom the outset life was hard for him & his family. The athlete is Ron Bentley from Tipton Harriers. This article aims to celebrate both an athlete and the event that went down in history. November 2013 will see the 40 th Anniversary of this famous performance. The event, the Road Runners Club Accolade 24 Hour Track Race. Stadium, Stompond Lane, Walton On Thames, Surrey, England. The weekend, Saturday 3 rd & Sunday 4 th November 1973. 40 Years on – Ron Bentley & the 24 Hour World Record (Part 1) Details
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |