The League are saddened to learn of the death of Brian Kilby. His team mate at Coventry Godiva, Bill Adcocks paid this tribute.
Brian took up running whilst at secondary school in Coventry and was reasonably successful right from the start. It was at cross country running in the first instance and became Coventry Schools champion in the Under 15 age groups. His interest was further developed after leaving school and starting work at the GEC as a draughtsman.
At the age of 18 he faced the medical for joining the “forces”. The story goes that he had run in the Midland 6 mile track championship the evening before the medical without much success but finished with his feet in a poor state. He failed the medical. He reconciled this “failure” by deciding to use the time he would have spent in the army by remaining in his post at the GEC but taking his running more seriously. After discussing possible taking up the marathon with Club member and coaching co-ordinator, Dufrig Rees, himself a marathon runner for Wales at the Cardiff Empire Games of 1958, he upped his mileage and was training twice a day, not common at that time. In 1960.
At the Rome Olympics. Brian finished 29th, Abebe Bikila won in a new world best of 2:12:12
He went on to win the European and Commonwealth marathons in 1963 and 64 and five AAA titles, 1960 t0 64 with an Olympic 4th place in 1964.
His best time was set in 1963 2:14:43 at Port Talbot which as the second fastest time in the world at that point in time.
Racing was his athletic “food” with a race virtually every week.
Brian's funeral is to be held on July 26th at Skegness Crematorium at 2.30pm.
