Colin Simpson obituary

My father, Colin Simpson, who has died aged 82 after a heart attack, was a lifelong runner, a member and secretary of Small Heath Harriers (later Solihull and Small Heath Athletic Club) and a founder member and treasurer of Midland Masters Athletic Club. His sporting career began when, at the age of 15, he outpaced a policeman after an incident involving matches and some dustbins. The breathless officer gasped, "With speed like that, son, you should take up running!" He joined Small Heath Harriers in 1944 and became Warwickshire mile champion four times in the 1950s – an unequalled feat.

His achievements continued with appearances representing Great Britain in, among other events, the World Veterans (now World Masters) championships in Toronto in 1975, where he won silver in the 800m and 1500m. He was also a member of the winning UK cross-country team at the 1990 world championships in Gateshead.

Born in Birmingham, he was educated at the King Edward VI Camp Hill school for boys. He later joined the old boys association and helped to raise funds to build a new swimming pool.

A well-respected administrator for Birmingham city council and the University of Aston, where he worked as a personnel officer, he ran lunchtime training sessions along the canals, encouraging students and staff to take up the sport. When he retired in 1981, he became a great supporter of several charities and joined Solihull Blind Tandem Club, enabling blind people to enjoy the exhilaration and freedom of cycling. When my mother became involved with the Variety Club Children's Charity, he could always be called upon to help her at events, especially at the West Midlands Safari Park, where he enjoyed acting as unofficial traffic controller for the coaches and buses, and at discos for children with special needs. An eternally busy man, he nevertheless actively sought opportunities to help others.

My father was an avid jazz fan, film buff, wit, raconteur, bon vivant and loyal West Bromwich Albion season-ticket holder. His early retirement at 52 allowed him to pursue his beloved athletics and enjoy the company of his grandchildren. His heart condition forced him to reduce his pace to slow walking and his last diary entry, five days before his death, read simply: "End of an era."

He is survived by Margaret, whom he married in 1953, myself, his daughter, Lyn, and three grandchildren, Oliver, Matthew and Sarah.

• Running
• Other lives
• obituaries

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEoKyaqpSerq96wqikaKSZm7KiusOsq7KklWR%2FcX2QaKqeqF9mfnCvzqWgp2Wjnrqxv86nZKiamanCor7Y