Readers of my blog may remember the sad news of the death of Fred Rogerson last year. Fred was one of the founders of the Bob Graham Club, and he worked tirelessly and selflessly in helping innumerable runners achieve their goal of a successful Bob Graham Round. Throughout the summer evenings his camper van was an almost constant feature parked at the side of the road at Dunmail Raise – the checkpoint between the mountains of Seat Sandal and Steel fell. Following my own successful Round in June, I was back in the Lakes in July to support a Bob Graham attempt by one of my new friends and teammates from Dallam running club. At the same time a team of relay runners were carrying Fred’s ashes around the 70-mile, 42 mountain Bob Graham route; a final, fitting and emotional tribute to a man who did so much for ultra-distance fell running. The weather threw everything at Fred and his team, torrential rain, strong winds, sunshine, thunder and lightning, thick cloud, a beautiful sunset. But nothing could stop him. One of the runners escorting his ashes was the fell running legend, Bill Smith. Legend is a word that is all too easily bandied about. But with Bill its meaning is true. A few days ago, the body of 75-year-old Bill Smith was found on a moor at Saddle Fell in the Trough of Bowland. It is thought he fell into a bog and became unable to free himself. His body lay there for three weeks before it was found. He lived alone, often ran alone (using public transport to get to the hills from his Liverpool home) and wasn’t reported missing until he failed to turn up several days later to marshal at a race. Once found, his body was eventually identified after police tracked down his sister Bill was a pioneer of the sport of modern fell running, and the author of ‘Studmarks on the Summits - A History of Amateur Fell Racing 1861-1983', which has been called the "definite guide" to the sport. His achievements are outstanding and far beyond anything to which I, or any of my friends, could aspire. In 1973 he broke the record for the fastest Bob Graham Round. One of his most outstanding runs saw him conquering 63 Lake District Peaks within 24 hours. Paying tribute to Bill Smith, Graham Breeze, chairman of the Fell Running Association, said: "Fell runners come and go, champions come and go, but no-one will ever be as important to the development and history of fell running as the man who died in September on the Bowland fells." Peter Booth, chairman of Bill’s club, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, said: "Bill was a well respected, almost revered, member of the Fell Runners' Association. A true gentleman, he will be greatly missed by all. He was an absolutely marvellous chap." On the July night of Fred Rogerson’s ashes round, three friends and I were sitting in a car at Dunmail Raise, waiting for our team mate and his pace runners to descend Seat Sandal. We were taking over the pacing and navigating for the next leg over the Langdales and Scafells to wasdale. Occasionally the car would shake in the wind, and the rain constantly hammered on the windows. We couldn’t see much – it was 2o-clock in the morning and the cloud was thick and low. On the other side of the road was parked Fred’s camper van. Where else would it have been that night? Fell running is a tough sport. We got our man to the finish, but only two or three other teams managed it that night. With Bill Smith’s help, Fred was one of the other successes. Last Saturday evening saw the bi-annual Bob Graham Club dinner at the Shap Wells Hotel. This two-yearly event is when the successful ‘Rounders’ are presented with their certificates and become club members. The room was packed with 180 new members - the highest ever in any two year period. This was the first time in its history that Fred was not there. I was proud to have received my certificate from one of his daughters. Also presenting was Nicky Spinks, who recently broke the ladies Lake District 24-hour record by summiting a remarkable 64 mountains in 23 hours 15 minutes. Before the presentations, tributes were paid to Fred and Bill. This wasn’t an easy task for the speakers. Fred’s daughter spoke of his pride in the club. But, as would be fitting for the fell running community, the speeches were more a celebration of their achievements than a mourning of their passing. Applause rang long, hard and loud. Whilst the running world is a poorer place without them, no doubt Fred and Bill are somewhere on the mountains together. May they run in peace. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045915/Body-legendary-fell-runner-75-peat-bog-weeks-disappeared.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Readers of my blog may remember the sad news of the death of Fred Rogerson last year. Fred was one of the founders of the Bob Graham Club, and he worked tirelessly and selflessly in helping innumerable runners achieve their goal of a successful Bob Graham Round. Throughout the summer evenings his camper van was an almost constant feature parked at the side of the road at Dunmail Raise – the checkpoint between the mountains of Seat Sandal and Steel fell.
Following my own successful Round in June, I was back in the Lakes in July to support a Bob Graham attempt by one of my new friends and teammates from Dallam running club. At the same time a team of relay runners were carrying Fred’s ashes around the 70-mile, 42 mountain Bob Graham route; a final, fitting and emotional tribute to a man who did so much for ultra-distance fell running. The weather threw everything at Fred and his team, torrential rain, strong winds, sunshine, thunder and lightning, thick cloud, a beautiful sunset. But nothing could stop him. One of the runners escorting his ashes was the fell running legend, Bill Smith. Legend is a word that is all too easily bandied about. But with Bill its meaning is true.
A few days ago, the body of 75-year-old Bill Smith was found on a moor at Saddle Fell in the Trough of Bowland. It is thought he fell into a bog and became unable to free himself. His body lay there for three weeks before it was found. He lived alone, often ran alone (using public transport to get to the hills from his Liverpool home) and wasn’t reported missing until he failed to turn up several days later to marshal at a race. Once found, his body was eventually identified after police tracked down his sister
Bill was a pioneer of the sport of modern fell running, and the author of ‘Studmarks on the Summits - A History of Amateur Fell Racing 1861-1983', which has been called the "definite guide" to the sport. His achievements are outstanding and far beyond anything to which I, or any of my friends, could aspire. In 1973 he broke the record for the fastest Bob Graham Round. One of his most outstanding runs saw him conquering 63 Lake District Peaks within 24 hours.
Paying tribute to Bill Smith, Graham Breeze, chairman of the Fell Running Association, said: "Fell runners come and go, champions come and go, but no-one will ever be as important to the development and history of fell running as the man who died in September on the Bowland fells."
Peter Booth, chairman of Bill’s club, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, said: "Bill was a well respected, almost revered, member of the Fell Runners' Association. A true gentleman, he will be greatly missed by all. He was an absolutely marvellous chap."
On the July night of Fred Rogerson’s ashes round, three friends and I were sitting in a car at Dunmail Raise, waiting for our team mate and his pace runners to descend Seat Sandal. We were taking over the pacing and navigating for the next leg over the Langdales and Scafells to wasdale. Occasionally the car would shake in the wind, and the rain constantly hammered on the windows. We couldn’t see much – it was 2o-clock in the morning and the cloud was thick and low. On the other side of the road was parked Fred’s camper van. Where else would it have been that night?
Fell running is a tough sport. We got our man to the finish, but only two or three other teams managed it that night. With Bill Smith’s help, Fred was one of the other successes.
Last Saturday evening saw the bi-annual Bob Graham Club dinner at the Shap Wells Hotel. This two-yearly event is when the successful ‘Rounders’ are presented with their certificates and become club members. The room was packed with 180 new members - the highest ever in any two year period. This was the first time in its history that Fred was not there. I was proud to have received my certificate from one of his daughters.
Also presenting was Nicky Spinks, who recently broke the ladies Lake District 24-hour record by summiting a remarkable 64 mountains in 23 hours 15 minutes.
Before the presentations, tributes were paid to Fred and Bill. This wasn’t an easy task for the speakers. Fred’s daughter spoke of his pride in the club. But, as would be fitting for the fell running community, the speeches were more a celebration of their achievements than a mourning of their passing. Applause rang long, hard and loud.
Whilst the running world is a poorer place without them, no doubt Fred and Bill are somewhere on the mountains together.
May they run in peace.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045915/Body-legendary-fell-runner-75-peat-bog-weeks-disappeared.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
..and hopefully their spirit will pass into others. Without people like Fred, who put phenominal amounts of time and effort in, a lot of events wouldn't exist.
Thanks for giving Fred and Bill a mention Matt, they both gave so much to the sport and it's right that we acknowledge their contribution.
I was privileged to be the runner who handed over Fred's ashes (in a commemorative watch case!) to Bill in Portinscale on that wet day in July, and to follow him as he carried Fred on the final procession to the Moot Hall. It was a seriously emotional occasion and one I'll never forget.
As you've titled your entry - may they run in peace.
Thanks tinyman. Having felt the emotion when a normal nobody finishes the BG, I can only imagine what it must have felt like to be part of Fred's round.
Did you know Bill well?
Lovely tribute and congratulations on picking up your certificate.
That was the one and only time I ever met Bill, and it wasn't the kind of day when it's possible to even begin to get to know somebody. I knew Fred better and, for me, the day was about paying back some due's for his friendship, encouragement and wholehearted enthusiasm for the achievements of others.
There were never many like Fred, but happily the Ultrarunning community seems to attract more than its fair share of people who are willing to give great chunks of their time and energy to support others. That's one of the main reasons I love being part of that whole scene.
Indeed, tinyman. How did you know Fred?
Have you done a BG Round yourself? Maybe a Ramsay or a Paddy?