Peter Field’s ambition that a book should be written to record, celebrate and preserve the history of our club is now complete.

A group of five people have spent a considerable amount of time researching and compiling the contents, with photographs, and the book was launched on 25th May 2011. The authors had terrific support from both the club and individuals throughout for which they are very grateful. A number of acknowledgements are listed in the book but as always the list is by no means exhaustive.

It is sad that Peter was not there with us on the night but he would be immensely proud of the combined achievement.

What can you expect in this book? Well there are thirteen chapters, two appendices and twenty four photographs.

There is a chapter on the club’s ‘Athletes of the Twentieth Century’ Geoff Wightman and Sarah Rowell, the club’s only Olympian to date and a chapter on a few other outstanding athletes.

The book explores the emergence of the club in 1922, and its initial activity as a cross country athletics club subsequently moving into ‘road running’ and ‘track and field’ and later the much revered Dartford Half Marathon.

Steve Ovett, the winner of the first Dartford Harriers Half Marathon, has written the ‘Foreword’ to the book and recounts some amusing anecdotes on that race!

Another chapter describes the facts, with photographs, surrounding the inclusion of three ‘Dartford Athletes’ in the 1948 London Olympic Torch Relay.

Founding Member Bill Western was chosen and performed his role as an official at those London Olympic Games, a much more muted affair held in times of austerity not long after the end of World War II. Economically not really much different to now except a considerable amount is being spent on London Olympic Games 2012!

One of the appendices that will be of interest to both current and past members is the full club records of all age groups.

The book is priced at £9.99 and can be purchased from Arthur Kimber (Tel 01634 389554) or Richard Drew (Tel 01322 523261). Also available online from Amazon.com and Waterstones Books.

Authors: R. Drew; P. Field; M Holland; A. Kimber and M. Titshall.
Published by Pen Press Publication. ISBN 978-1-78003-164-4

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