Jack Thomas C606

John ‘Jack’ Thomas passed away on 17th May a month after his 90th birthday.

Born in South Wales, Jack began his race walking journey in the mid-1950s on a bumpy grass track that doubled as a rugby pitch. He later moved to Newport Harriers, a prominent club of its time. Upon taking up a teaching position in Essex, Jack joined the strong walking squad of Woodford Green AC. Jack specialised in shorter distances and twice won the Welsh 3,000 Metres Championship, in 1973 and 1976.

In 1977, Jack returned to his native Wales for a senior teaching post and joined Bristol RWC. He claimed Centurion No. 606 in the Bristol 100-mile race with a time of 21:57.19, becoming the last Bristol RWC Centurion before the club disbanded. Jack had never walked beyond 20 miles in training or competition before that race, nor shown any particular interest in long events but modestly commented that he just kept on going.

The Centurions and race walking in general remained important to Jack and he made many contributions: as Welsh Athletics Honorary Walks Secretary, as a Chief Judge at Centurions events, as an athletics historian with contributions in Welsh Athletics and RWA centenary handbooks, as a founding member of Penhow Striders and as an enthusiastic and encouraging supporter of all.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and his family, to whom we extend our heartfelt condolences. The funeral service will be held at St Mary’s Catholic Church Chepstow, NP16 5JE, on Wednesday 18th June at 11.30am. The family invites friends to celebrate Jack’s life and share stories over light refreshments at the Old Barn Inn, Magor Road, Newport, NP18 2EB.