Tony Ward, former spokesman for British athletics, dies

Tony Ward, the public relations officer for British Athletics during a golden period for the sport in the UK, died on Sunday 31 October.

He gave a life-time of service to British athletics. From Devon and South-West coaching secretary in the early 1960s he moved to London to become the first Southern Counties administrator. From 1968 he worked for 3M, pioneering the introduction of ‘Tartan’ tracks and from that year was the inaugural secretary and then chairman of the British Athletics League.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s he was a leading public address announcer in Britain and from 1986 public relations officer for British Athletics, being the media contact during the era that he wrote about in his book “Athletics The Golden Decade” (Queen Anne Press, 1991).

A contributor to many magazines and newspapers, his other books included “Middle Distance Running” (1964), “Athletics for the 70s” (with Denis Watts, 1973) and helping Linford Christie with his autobiography.

He continued coaching after moving to the Lake District and regularly posted blogs on his insidetrack website.

His wife Gwenda was a former international high jumper (1.72m and Olympian in 1964) and stalwart campaigner for women’s athletics and their son Tim a 10.59/21.22 sprinter in 2006.

A statement from UKA CEO Niels de Vos on the federation’s website paid the following tribute: “'This is indeed a sad day for the sport.  Tony's contribution to athletics in Britain was remarkable, and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts go out to his wife Gwenda and their family and friends.”

Athletics International for the IAAF