ATHLETICS: Harriers founder Strange dies at 74 (From Herald Series)

ATHLETICS: Harriers founder Strange dies at 74

6:21pm Wednesday 17th June 2009

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Barrie Strange, the founder of White Horse Harriers, has died after a battle with cancer at the age of 74.

Mr Strange, who was also president of the Oxfordshire AA, and an active member of Oxford City AC, was a stalwart of the county for more than 50 years.

While living in Wantage, he was involved with the formation of White Horse Harriers in October 1981, and became the club’s first chairman.

The expertise he brought to the newly-formed club en-abled Harriers to host the Oxfordshire Cross Country Championships within the first three months of their existence.

He was honoured to become the club’s president, and he regularly officiated at athletics competitions with his wife.

Until illness intervened last year, Mr Strange had officiated at every White Horse Half Marathon.

His service to athletics went far beyond White Horse Harriers.

Having first been elected to the county committee in 1960, he was county track and field championships secretary from 1965 to 1974, and returned to the role again in recent years.

He was elected as Oxon AA president in 1997 – and his support for younger members of his clubs was always appreciated.

As an athlete, Mr Strange competed in the 1948 Oxfordshire Schools Champ-ionships in the 220 yards.

By the late 1950s and early 1960s, he was specialising in the 880 yards, where he consistently ran sub-two minutes.

He also represented Oxford City in heavy throws events in the Southern League and British League, and was City’s club captain between 1957 and 1963. He was elected a life vice-president of the club in 1990.

He leaves a widow, Mar-garet, daughter Alex and son Andrew.

His funeral will take place on Friday at noon in St Andrew’s Church, East Hagbourne.

It will be followed by a celebration of his life at the Conservative Club, Foxhall Road, Didcot in the afternoon.

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