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R.D. "Dave" McMULLEN 1920-2007
Left: Dave McMullen competes in the Club Championships at Hurlingham on 7th July 1973
A regular member of our race walking teams over many years, Dave McMullen died in September 2007.
Born on 8th September 1920, Dave became a Belgravian on 1st February 1940. He and his father Dick, who had been a Belgrave member since 1921, were race walkers. For a time both were active, causing a little confusion when tracking down results as they shared the same initials. The club magazine of April 1940 reports that our walkers were having a successful time, in spite of losing a few men to the Services, and lists R.D. McMullen Junr., among others, who were expected to boost our fortunes still further. The Belgravian also notes that it was good to see "one of a warriors of the past, R.D. McMullen, out again. It would seem likely that Dick had introduced his lad to the club and as a result found his own enthusiasm rekindled.
By May 1942 it was reported that:
"Our most improved walker this season is without a doubt R. McMullen. Starting off at the beginning of the season well down the field, Mac has gradually worked his way up, improving each time out, his best performance being in our own open when he was third in the Scratch Race and winner of the Individual Handicap. Coupled with this were a tie with his club mate, F. Halls, in the Surrey W.C. promotion from our headquarters on 27th December, 2nd place in a club handicap on 29th November, and first in the club handicap on 7th February. Such rapid and consistent improvement augurs well for the future, as Mac is still only a youngster ..."
During the War years, when many facilities were closed down, Belgrave Hall was kept open for athletic activities and therefore hosted many and varied events - including the Surrey W.C. race mentioned above. It is unlikely that Dave was called up for Service duties as he was extremely short sighted.
Immediately post-war Dave was leading our teams over the shorter distances, until the maestro Harry Churcher returned to competition, and he was third behind the Churcher brothers in the 1946 Surrey 10 miles. In the inaugural National 10 miles in 1947 he was third man home for the Club in fourth place and in 1948 he was named as a possible for the London Olympic Games.
Dave continued to be a stalwart member of many Club teams but unfortunately his style often attracted the wrong kind of attention and he suffered DQs when pushing himself to the limit. With times in the low 50 minutes for 7 miles and under 14 mins. 30 secs. for 2 miles he was a hard man to stay with in competition.
In the 1960s he emigrated to Canada but after a while decided it was not for him and he returned to the United Kingdom, rejoining Belgrave in 1968. He soon made up for the lack of competition in Canada by turning out regularly. Later, in his veteran years, he tackled middle distance running with some success in Veterans AC and National Championships.
At one time, we believe, he kept an eel and pie shop at Clapham Junction. He bred Alsatian dogs and worked in the telephone section of the GPO.
Dave was a friendly man at all times who enjoyed talking over Club affairs whenever he met with Belgrave colleagues.
EWH/ARM
Belgrave's winning team in the RWA 20km at Victoria Park, 12th May 1973 with a beaming Dave McMullen in the centre. Left to right standing - John Moullin, John Hall, Dave McMullen, Carl Lawton, Len Duquemin, John Keown, Alan Callow. Kneeling - Ray Middleton.