Many happy memories for track stars

4:17pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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WHEN Leigh Harriers’ historian John Taylor met up with former member Tom Briscoe to discuss his early days on the track it brought back many happy memories.

When he died three years ago at the age of 93 Tom, who also played for Leigh RLFC in the war years, remembered the club in his will.

He asked his nephew, former harrier and international middle distance runner, Dr Frank Briscoe, to buy a suitable trophy to be presented in his memory at the annual club championships.

Now ex-Leigh Grammar School boy Frank, recently retired operations director at UKAEA’s Culham Science Centre, Oxford, who received the OBE last year for his work in astro physics, has handed over an engraved silver trophy.

It will be presented to the winner of the junior one mile track race that Tom, who lived in Oak Street and St Helens Road, Leigh, won in the 1929 championships.

Frank, 60, who is still a veteran champion, tested out the super new track at Leigh Sports Village, before handing over the cup.

He said: “I wanted to find a suitable trophy and I found this silver one which is hall marked 1923, so is from the same era when Tom was running, in a shop in Oxford. I am delighted to hand it over in his memory.”

John said: “It’s great to accept a cup in an ex-member’s memory especially a solid silver one again. All the ones we originally had have gone missing.”