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WILLIAM E. "BILL" WELLER 1946-2007

Born 6th October, 1946, Bill’s interest in running stemmed from an early age. Among his earliest recollections were 2 mile runs, at the age of 8, along the coast road near Goring, Sussex, having arranged for his father to drive two miles up the road in the car and wait for him. The main awakening came, however, when he changed from primary to secondary school at the age of 11 and found that running was a compulsory sport. To his surprise he found that he could keep going long after his contemporaries had been forced to stop and drop out; from then on he was ‘hooked.’ Running seemed a good excuse for not playing football or hockey and having satisfied the master that he would be participating in some such game Bill would quietly slide off for a one and a half hour run over the Downs from his school in Epsom. Unfortunately games periods lasted just 1 hour so by the time Bill arrived back, search parties were being organised to look for him. These early runs of 9-10 miles over the Downs to Headley and back laid the basis for his stamina in later years, augmented by daily runs from his school into Epsom to catch the early bus home at 4 pm; those less fleet of foot were forced to wait another half-hour.

Bill’s early club days were with Redhill and Reigate A.C., from 1961 to 1965, and he later recalled how, at the age of 15, he raced and trained over 9 miles or more with their senior team members in Reigate Priory Park. Anyone who has ever run in the Reigate Relays will know what that involves. Originally Bill had illusions about becoming a track star at 880 yards but after a considerable amount of track training in 1963 found himself unable to win races. “I soon gave that up,” he later reminisced.

In 1965 he joined Walton A.C. and it was while he was with them, having tried his hand at track, road and country without any great success that he developed primarily into a long distance roadrunner.

Coinciding with the time he joined Belgrave from Walton in 1970, Bill, a Civil Servant, moved with his job from Kingston to Redhill and being thus nearer to his home in Reigate was able to devote more time to training.  From then on a steady improvement was recorded, resulting in rather an impressive tally of victories.  These included, in 1972, winning the Belgrave Open and Surrey 20 miles Championship, the Worthing 11 miles (breaking his own record) and the Wimbledon 10 miles. He was also prominent in the Bracknell 10 miles (2nd), Walton 10 miles (2nd), Epsom 11 miles (4th) and Mitcham 25 km (4th).  Most of these races were against very tough opposition.

Bill often anchored the Belgrave team to similar successes. He had to serve the statutory waiting period of nine months after moving from Walton but once eligible and settled into our teams, he stayed there, producing many sterling performances.  He was no lover of cross country running and, being subject to injury when running over rough ground, tended to 'disappear' in the winter months.  But when a league race or the Surrey Championships came along and we happened to be under pressure teamwise, he'd answer the call, ready to do battle to, as he put it, to “help keep that other lot at bay,” (the 'other lot' being anyone not Belgrave).

When Bill turned out in races he brought with him his own supporters club – his mother and father – who enthusiastically accompanied him in all weathers, supporting not only Bill but also all of the Belgrave team. Having managed to avoid the marriage stakes, his main interest outside athletics was horse racing; and he once recalled putting his training to good purpose while still at school, racing across to Epsom Downs on Derby day to place a bet!  Prior to a race, the way he fitted in his warm up in between the checking of the latest results from Kempton or Newmarket, etc. on the car radio, was an exercise in precision timing.

Bill Weller was a great clubman – quiet and unassuming with a professional no-nonsense approach. From a team manager’s point of view his reliability was refreshing and his attitude rubbed off onto the younger lads in his teams, for whom he always had words of advice and encouragement.

Bill’s job eventually took him away from London to the west of the country.  He continued with his running, competing for Gloucester and then Worcester Athletic Clubs; his love of horse racing also continued unabated.

In late August 2007, one of Bill’s neighbours became concerned that he had not been seen for a few days and reported their fears to the police.  Investigations revealed that Bill had died, at home, from a heart attack.  He was aged 60 and leaves no known relations, his parents having died some time ago.

GIB & ARM

On his way to the Belgrave & Surrey 20 mile title in 1972

Southern 12-Stage duty, when the race was held in Wimbledon - Bill Weller hands over to Bill Curtin.