George Beecham MBE 1931-2020

George seen competing in the London to Brighton leading 24-hour record-holder Hughie Nielsen through Croydon.

It is with regret that we announce the death of Life Member George Beecham MBE, at the age of 89. He was a Belgravian for 69 years.

As a youngster George suffered from asthma. When he was eighteen he decided to take up race walking to help improve his health, and continued doing so ever since.

As a young man he represented his county of Surrey as well as Great Britain in race walking. In 1957, aged 28, he came third in a Belgian race won by Don Thompson, the only British man to win a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics.

The following year he came first in the tough Hastings to Brighton race which is 38.5 miles over the rolling Seven Sisters hills. When he took part in the London to Brighton race in 1951 he came fourth.

George scored three times for the winning Bels National 50kms team - in 1957 (2nd scorer), 1960 (1st scorer - in 5th place) and 1961 (3rd scorer). He was also in Belgrave's winning team in the 1954 RWA National 20 Miles (4th scorer). 

Since then he has walked many marathons and in 1981 he first took part in the 24 hour  track race at Brighton in very wet conditions and passing the 100mile point to become Centurion 716 in 22hrs  45m 12s and continuing to complete 104m 557yds.

London to Brighton. George, third from left, is wearing the number 1. Number 100 is worn by Don Thompson.

In later years he was an athletics coach who helped train Commonwealth gold medal winner Dean Macey.

George, who had lived on  Canvey Island for many years, had worked tirelessly to raise money for charity and promote sport among young islanders.

He was one of the founders of the Canvey Athletics Club, and had run in many London Marathons.

George was born in Hackney in 1931 but moved to Surrey during the Blitz.

He married his wife, Marlene, in 1957 and the couple moved back to London before settling on Canvey in 1963, with daughter, Catherine, who was born in 1967.

George continued to work as a Post Office engineer, but became involved in the  fundraising branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute on Canvey and had been chairman.

As well as the marathons George took part in many of the annual Nijmegen, Holland, four-day 200km charity marches, with up to 45000 competitors, raising funds for Canvey charities, while his marathons have raised thousands for asthma charities and the RNLI.

Despite ill health for many years George has always fought through it with great courage and determination. Although Canvey Island was his home Belgrave was always in his heart.

Please send any written tributes to:

51 Tewks Avenue, Canvey Island Essex CO8 8 HG

Or Catherine  mrslilley@hotmail.co.uk, 

Thanks to Canvey Island.org for some of the information.

Tributes to George Beecham MBE

Thanks, Carl, and sorry to hear the news. - Paul Warburton, Belgrave

Another warrior down. I remember George, but not well, as a cheerful chap, but then I was a funny runner and not one of the walking brethren. - John Thresher, Belgrave

 We are sorry to hear this very sad news. It was a great pleasure and an honour to know George. George was a true Centurion, very proud of his membership, and we greatly enjoyed his company on the Centurions’ Canvey Island social walk – a very good walk made all the more memorable and special by George joining us there. It’s excellent that George gave the Centurions some wonderful photographs and press cuttings – these were added to our official archive at the Surrey county archives and will be a permanent and treasured tribute to his memory. - Sandra C735 and Richard C760

We are really sorry and sad to hear of the passing of George Beecham MBE a truly remarkable Centurion 716 achieved on the track at Brighton in pouring rain throughout. He was an extraordinary Clubman with Belgrave Harriers and a great team walker of a very high standard during the Golden Years of GB Race Walking.   Being my handler in the Ewhurst 100 Miles when I qualified as a Centurion 890 we hold him and his family in the highest esteem.  May he Rest in Peace.   He will be massively missed by all who knew him. With sincere condolences, Bill and Kath Sutherland, BEM

Sad news and a great loss - Andy O'Rawe

Sad news. George had been so supportive to the Metropolitan Police Walking Club annual dinner and reunion.  He was also very generous by donating many gifts for the raffles.  May George rest in peace. - Dr. Kitty Hung

What sad news indeed.  I recall George on many Centurion social walks, that he turned up and walked with us and showed tremendous strength of character. - Kathy Crilley

I only met George once at an event on Canvey Island, about everything genteel years ago, obviously a staunch Belgravian. RIP. - Lionel.Mann, Belgrave Harriers

Sad news re death of George Beecham R.I.P M.B.E. A walkers walker who was everything good about our sport not forgetting Marlene who gave him great support over many years, this was a guy you could look up to as a team member none better who did it all with great pride in a club he was so proud of  

We will miss our dear friend. - Ray Middleton

WITH THE PASSING of George BEECHAM Belgrave has lost a walker who had a unique record.  Joining the Club in 1950 serving his apprenticeship as the RWA introduced the 1 hour races to give awards based on the distance covered.  At the same time a Junior event over 5 miles was introduced with George in the Belgrave team and it was then we heard that in preparation he had walked from his home in Sutton to Brighton for a work out!  Soon he was selected for the National Ten at Stockport where he was in the third placed team - the first placing for some years.   Within in a few years he found a liking for the longer distances.  One name in particular appears with Beecham - Nijmegen.  In 1923 a British group had taken part in a then famed Dutch Walk in Nijmegen and were presented with an award which was adopted by the RWA for the first club team finishing all 8 men in the National 20 miles championship.  Belgrave, won over the years, the  Nijmegen Trophy several times, few Clubs recorded more than three occasions.   George was a member of the Belgrave winning team on 8 occasions.   That trophy is no longer competed for but  George went to Holland to take part in the original marches on at least 17 occasions covering 55kms a day for four days. George worked tirelessly for our sport and as an example it was usual to see him doing a walk round the course for the Nicola 5 held on Canvey, then probably racing in the event and clearing up afterwards.  Over the years we always parted by agreeing that we had competed in the best of years, having the best of times with the best of Clubs - RIP George. - Eric Hall, Belgrave