It all started back in 1973, when our late life president, Mr Jack Prescott, came to my school, Saint Joseph’s Horwich, and asked me would I run for the Harriers in a x-c relay at Oldham.  Overawed by the presence of the man, I said yes.

Little did he or anyone else know, that one of my teachers that very same week, was going to take me down to Bolton Harriers to join.

The rest is history.  What’s gone is done, and who knows what the next race will bring.  One thing that is guaranteed - that’s good company.  The sport we all enjoy is so full of down-to-earth people, that it’s been a pleasure to have taken part over the years, making friends for life.

I have had many a good race over the years and my fair share of bad ones too, but what the hell - that just keeps us on our toes.  You can learn just as much from bad runs as you can from your good ones.

Horwich has been good to me, both as a person and an athlete, I have tried to repay in kind over the years, both running and what I call behind the scenes work, that a lot of our members do, and what really makes Horwich the club it is.

I am always open for a chat and a laugh.  If you want to get to know me better, a meal and a nice bottle of red wine will do fine.