John Disley

Long standing CC member John Disley, died on the 8th February. He was known to us as a climber, mountaineer and orienteer. Setting the speed record for the Welsh 3000′ peaks, writing several climbing related books including ‘Tackle Climbing this Way’ and ‘The Ascent of Snowdon’ and serving as the Chief Instructor at The National Mountaineering Centre, Plas y Brenin in North Wales.

However he is also remembered as a successful athlete who competed for Great Britain in the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki in the 3000 metres steeplechase where he won the bronze medal. He set five British records in the steeplechase and four at two miles. He also set Welsh records at six different distances. With his friend, fellow athlete Chris Brasher, he co-founded the London Marathon first held in 1981 and is attributed to being the ‘course setter’. Establishing the current route taken by this, one of the world’s biggest marathons.

Our sympathy is with his family and friends.