Fred Paget died in hospital after collapsing at his home on Tuesday 4th December.  He had been receiving treatment for a serious illness, diagnosed a few months earlier, but was working his way through the treatment with the support of Belgrave colleagues and on the day of his death had spent the morning walking over beloved running country in Richmond Park with club mate Graham Parr.

A popular and regular member of the "Saturday afternoon crowd," Fred's presence at our club house was far more than a once a week affair. Anyone calling in at Belgrave Hall at any time of the day was liable to find him sweeping up some corner, putting the dustbins out, exercising on the machines in the gym, or just generally keeping an eye on the place.

Fred was a rather quiet and private man but his company on runs across Wimbledon Common and into the Park was special and with a twinkle in his eye he would invariably throw some droll remark into the sort of conversations that runners have until they reach the ten mile mark.

Born on 28th May 1930 into a large family, Fred was evacuated to Wales during the Blitz in World War Two. Apparently he had a fairly unhappy time of things but far worse was in store for him as, while he was away in the West, his London home was bombed and both parents killed.

As an active young man he was keen on sport, his first competition involving sculling on the Thames but he eventually gravitated to running and membership of Belgrave Harriers. Fred competed on the track, road and country and travelled to Germany on an athletic tour with the Club in 1963.

Fred disappeared from the Belgrave scene for a while in the 70s, travelling the world and spending a good deal of time in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa before turning up at the club house again in 1983. He was greeted by one of the old codgers of the day with the words: "Hello Fred.  Been on your holidays?"