Arthur Farrimond
Encyclopedia
Arthur Farrimond was a noted athlete in the early part of the 20th Century eventually competing for Great Britain
in the marathon in the 1924 Olympic Games
.
, Lancashire
.
He won his first race at the age of seventeen at the Westhoughton town sports in 1910. He joined the Bolton club then Leigh Harriers in 1911. In February 1914 he became a medal winner in the Junior East-Lancashire cross country championships.
.
In March 1915 one of his letters home was published in the local newspaper, speaking of his ordeal in the trenches and also saying he had made up his mind to try to get to Berlin in 1916 for the Olympic Games, but unknown to him, there would be no 1916 Summer Games and he would not resume his training until 1919, too late even for the 1920 Summer Olympics
.
Farrimond finished seventeenth in Paris
and had to suffer the last few miles with a twist of his ankle, which he received trying to avoid a civilian who would insist on running alongside him.
In later years Farrimond ran a newsagents shop at Hindley
. He died at the age of 85, and his ashes were placed in the family grave at Hindley cemetery. His wife Emily died in 1984 aged ninety; they had no children.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in the marathon in the 1924 Olympic Games
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
.
Early years
Arthur Farrimond was born to James and Margaret Farrimond at Hill Street in HindleyHindley, Greater Manchester
Hindley is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. Lying three miles east of Wigan it covers an area of 1044 hectares. Historically a part of Lancashire, Hindley which includes Hindley Green borders the towns of Ince-in-Makerfield and Leigh within Wigan...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
He won his first race at the age of seventeen at the Westhoughton town sports in 1910. He joined the Bolton club then Leigh Harriers in 1911. In February 1914 he became a medal winner in the Junior East-Lancashire cross country championships.
First World War
When war broke out he enlisted in the 9th Royal Scots on November 11, 1914. While serving in France he won the French medallion in a 1½ mile race for his regiment. He reached the front line in January 1915 where he was wounded in the knee; he was again wounded in the stomach in August 1916 as a result of a bayonet charge, and made a full recovery while in Merry Flatts Hospital, Govan in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
In March 1915 one of his letters home was published in the local newspaper, speaking of his ordeal in the trenches and also saying he had made up his mind to try to get to Berlin in 1916 for the Olympic Games, but unknown to him, there would be no 1916 Summer Games and he would not resume his training until 1919, too late even for the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
.
Post War athletic career
Farrimond married Emily Birch in 1922 and also regained his running fitness after the war and was becoming well known as a distance runner. He ran 2nd in the 1923 and 1924 Manchester marathons, and it was from these races that he was selected to run for Britain in the marathon in the 1924 Paris Olympics.Farrimond finished seventeenth in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and had to suffer the last few miles with a twist of his ankle, which he received trying to avoid a civilian who would insist on running alongside him.
Later life
Farrimond returned home to his job as an electrician in the employment of the Wigan Coal and Iron Company. He continued to run in races for the next fifty years with the club.In later years Farrimond ran a newsagents shop at Hindley
Hindley, Greater Manchester
Hindley is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England. Lying three miles east of Wigan it covers an area of 1044 hectares. Historically a part of Lancashire, Hindley which includes Hindley Green borders the towns of Ince-in-Makerfield and Leigh within Wigan...
. He died at the age of 85, and his ashes were placed in the family grave at Hindley cemetery. His wife Emily died in 1984 aged ninety; they had no children.