Lillian Board
Encyclopedia
Lillian Barbara Board, MBE
(13 December 1948 – 26 December 1970) was an athlete from Great Britain
, who won the silver medal in the 400 metres
at the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
, and two gold medals at the 1969 European Championships in Athletics
in Athens
, Greece. Her career was cut short in 1970 when she developed the colorectal
cancer
that would claim her life.
, England, to South Africa
in April 1947, and she was born in Durban
on 13 December 1948. Growing homesick shortly after the birth of Lillian and her fraternal twin sister, Irene, the family moved back to Manchester in February 1950.
In 1956, the family moved to Ealing
, west London, where Lillian and Irene, then aged 7, started studying at Drayton Green School.
teacher Sue Gibson (a Middlesex
county discus
champion) spotted that Lillian, now aged 12, had a special talent for running. She took her to join London Olympiades, the leading all-female athletics club, which had a training base at Alperton
, north-west London. Here she competed in relays and 100 and 150 yard sprints.
The following year, 1962, she began competing in the Long Jump
and after training through that winter, improved markedly as both a sprinter and long jumper.
In 1963, aged 14, she won the junior long jump title at the All-England Schools Championships (now known as The English Schools Championships
) with a leap of 17 in 3 in (5.26 m), and then finished 2nd (17 foot) in the long jump at the Women's Amateur Athletic Association's national junior championships. She ended the season with victory in the long jump at the Southern Inter-Counties meeting, her leap of 17 foot the best by a British junior girl that year.
Trained by her father George and inspired by an illustrious club-mate, international long jumper and pentathlete Mary Rand
, she concentrated on the sprints from the 1964 season with an emphasis on strength work and with a view to eventually moving up from the short sprints to the 440
and 880 yards, where George felt sure her future lay. She made her debut over both 220 yds and 880 yds in 1964, winning both events in times of 26.2 and 2:30.8, respectively.
In 1965, aged 16, Board was a member of the London Olympiades squad that won the 4 x 100 m relay title at the Women's AAA junior championships. Later that year, she showed her versatility with a career best leap of 5.80 m in the Long Jump and indoor wins over 60 yds (7.2) and 300 yds (42.0). She also lowered her 100y best time to 10.9 and her 220y best to 24.7.
Due to age rules, Board was unable to make her debut at the 440 yds until April 1966 when, aged 17 and now a senior, she finished a close 2nd in an inter-club meeting at Southall
, London, in 58.1 seconds. She then ran 57.3 in the Southern Counties Championships, before taking 4th place in the Women's AAA senior 440 yds final in a time of 54.6, the fastest ever recorded by a 17-year-old in Europe.
held in Kingston, Jamaica
, that August. Here, after winning her 400 m heat (54.7), Lillian finished 5th in the final in a time of 54.7 seconds, just outside her personal best. It was a very creditable effort for a 17-year-old. Disappointingly, she was not then chosen for the Great Britain team at the European Championships in Budapest
, which were held from 30 August - 4 September. However, such disappointment was short-lived as later in September, she made her Great Britain debut, placing 4th in the 400 m (55.9) in a match against France in Lille
.
. She came from last to first with a stunning late surge and won in a time of 52.8 seconds, the second fastest ever recorded by a European woman. The race was broadcast live on British television and made her into a household name. Winning in such style at the biggest meeting of year was clearly a turning point in her career.
She followed this momentous triumph with a run of four wins at 400 m in five international events, most notably securing the only victory for Britain's women (in a time of 53.7) in the European Cup (athletics)
, final in Kiev
in September. That season she also lowered her 200 m personal best to 24.6 and her 880 y best to 2.08.7. Recognition of a highly successful season came when she was chosen as Athlete of the Year by the Athletic Writers' Association.
. After winning her heat (2.05.7), she showed her huge potential in this event by running a superb 2:02.0 (the second fastest ever by a British woman), to finish 2nd to the reigning European 800 m champion, Vera Nikolic
of Yugoslavia
, whose time of 2:00.5 was a new world record.
She continued her preparations for Mexico with a personal best of 23.5 when winning the 200 m in a match against West Germany
in August and taking the 400 m (53.0) against Poland
in September. She also anchored a British relay team to a new 4 x 110y world record (45.0) later that month.
After that excellent build-up, she went into the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
as favourite to win the 400 m gold medal. After finishing a comfortable second in her 400 m heat (53.00), she won her semi-final in a personal best 52.56. In the final itself on October 16, she only took the lead about 100 m from the finish and maintained her advantage well down the home straight. She looked certain to win but was caught just before the line by Colette Besson
of France and beaten into second place by a mere 0.09 seconds. Setting a new UK record of 52.12 had not quite been enough to win gold. Nevertheless, it was an excellent effort by a 19-year-old competing in her first Olympics.
and a 52.9 contribution to a 4 x 400 metres world record (3:37.6), but in early July she strained ligaments in her back, forcing her to miss five weeks of the season. She returned in August with a 52.5 anchor leg in the 4 x 400 m relay to help Great Britain defeat the USA in an international match at London's White City
; and then gained revenge on her Olympic nemesis, Colette Besson
, when taking the 400 m (53.7) in a match against France in Middlesbrough
.
However, her back was still painful, more so when she ran shorter distances, so she decided to go for the 800 metres at the European Championships in Athletics
in Athens
, Greece, that September. Still inexperienced at the longer event and ranked only 8th in Europe on her performances that season, she was not strongly fancied for 800 m gold. She won her heat comfortably (2:04.2) and then, two days later, produced a superb performance in the final on 18 September sprinting away from her rivals on the final bend and winning by eight metres in a personal best time of 2:01.4, a new championship record. She remains the only British woman ever to have won this European title.
Just two days later, Board lined up for Great Britain in the 4 x 400 m relay. Running the last leg, she came from ten metres down entering the home straight to beat her old rival Besson
, who was anchoring the French squad, in a dramatic photo finish
, not only winning gold for Britain but also helping to set a new world record
of 3:30.8. Having claimed two gold medals, it was no surprise that she was named as 'Best Woman Athlete in the Games'.
A further accolade came when she was awarded the Member of the British Empire, for services to sport, in the 1970 New Year's Honours List. Known as the Golden Girl of British athletics for her blond good looks and medal success, Board had become a very popular public figure, earning herself another nickname: 'Britain's favourite girl'.
on 16 May. Here she improved her personal best to 4:44.6, finishing second to a former mile world record holder, Paola Pigni of Italy
. Her time moved her to No 2 in the UK all-time lists for the women's mile, behind only another former world record holder at the distance, Anne Smith.
. She ran exactly the same time six days later when winning her 800 m heat at the Women's AAA championships at Crystal Palace
, London, despite being doubled up in pain before the race. Pale and underweight, she then finished a tired third (2:05.1) in the 800 m final on 20 June.
and her condition was initially diagnosed as Crohn's Disease
, forcing her to halt training and ruling her out of July's Commonwealth Games
in Edinburgh. However, after further X-rays, tests and two biopsies she was correctly diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer
(or bowel cancer) in September 1970. An exploratory operation at St. Mark's Hospital
, London, on 8 October, revealed that the cancer had spread to her stomach and she was given two months to live.
Seeking a cure, she travelled in November 1970 to the village of Rottach-Egern
, in the Bavarian Alps near Munich
, West Germany
, to be treated by the controversial physician
, Dr Josef Issels
, at his Ringberg Cancer Clinic. Adhering to his belief in non-mainstream treatments, she was placed on a strict diet of healthy food and with spring water and herbal tea as her only drinks. She then had her tonsils and two front teeth removed as Issels believed they helped spread infection.
She continued to fight bravely against her illness but her condition worsened. On 11 December she was moved to an intensive care unit at the clinic and the following day underwent an operation to drain water from her abdomen
.
was suspected, she was transferred to Munich University Clinic. She was found not to have peritonitis but still needed to undergo an operation to remove a stomach blockage. This was done on 23 December. She recovered from the after-effects of the operation, but, on 24 December, she lapsed into a coma
from which she would not emerge. She died in Munich
two days later, aged 22. She was cremated at Putney Vale Crematorium
on 1 January 1971.
A memorial service was held for her at St Paul's Cathedral
, London, on 21 January 1971, and she is commemorated in Munich with an avenue bearing her name that leads to the Munich Olympic Stadium
.
Notes
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(13 December 1948 – 26 December 1970) was an athlete from Great Britain
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...
, who won the silver medal in the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, and two gold medals at the 1969 European Championships in Athletics
1969 European Championships in Athletics
The 9th European Athletics Championships were held from 16 September to 21 September 1969 in the Karaiskaki Stadium of Athens, the capital of Greece. New at these championships were the women's 1,500 metres and the women's 4x400 metres relay event....
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece. Her career was cut short in 1970 when she developed the colorectal
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
that would claim her life.
Early life
Lillian's parents, George and Frances Board, along with son George Alfred, had emigrated from ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England, to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in April 1947, and she was born in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
on 13 December 1948. Growing homesick shortly after the birth of Lillian and her fraternal twin sister, Irene, the family moved back to Manchester in February 1950.
In 1956, the family moved to Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, west London, where Lillian and Irene, then aged 7, started studying at Drayton Green School.
Developing athletics career
In 1960, at the age of 11, Lillian and her sister moved to Grange Secondary Modern School, also in Ealing. It was here in 1961 that Physical EducationPhysical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
teacher Sue Gibson (a Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
county discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
champion) spotted that Lillian, now aged 12, had a special talent for running. She took her to join London Olympiades, the leading all-female athletics club, which had a training base at Alperton
Alperton
Alperton is a district in the London Borough of Brent in northwest London.There is a high incidence of Indians living in Alperton . There is also a small Sri Lankan community in Alperton , and 10% stated as others....
, north-west London. Here she competed in relays and 100 and 150 yard sprints.
The following year, 1962, she began competing in the Long Jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
and after training through that winter, improved markedly as both a sprinter and long jumper.
In 1963, aged 14, she won the junior long jump title at the All-England Schools Championships (now known as The English Schools Championships
The English Schools Championships
The English Schools Championships is an inter-county athletics meeting for under 15, under 17 and under 19 athletes, which have been held since 1925. Athletes compete for the county in which their school is located. Athletes may only compete in one main event and in the relay for their county...
) with a leap of 17 in 3 in (5.26 m), and then finished 2nd (17 foot) in the long jump at the Women's Amateur Athletic Association's national junior championships. She ended the season with victory in the long jump at the Southern Inter-Counties meeting, her leap of 17 foot the best by a British junior girl that year.
Trained by her father George and inspired by an illustrious club-mate, international long jumper and pentathlete Mary Rand
Mary Rand
Mary Denise Rand, MBE, is a former English track-and-field athlete. She won the gold medal in the long jump at the 1964 Summer Olympics by breaking the world record, becoming the first-ever British female to win an Olympic gold medal in a track and field event.-Early life:She is the daughter of...
, she concentrated on the sprints from the 1964 season with an emphasis on strength work and with a view to eventually moving up from the short sprints to the 440
440-yard dash
The 440-yard dash, or quarter-mile race, is a sprint race in track and field competitions.In many countries, athletes previously competed in the 440 yard dash – also referred to as the 'quarter-mile'...
and 880 yards, where George felt sure her future lay. She made her debut over both 220 yds and 880 yds in 1964, winning both events in times of 26.2 and 2:30.8, respectively.
In 1965, aged 16, Board was a member of the London Olympiades squad that won the 4 x 100 m relay title at the Women's AAA junior championships. Later that year, she showed her versatility with a career best leap of 5.80 m in the Long Jump and indoor wins over 60 yds (7.2) and 300 yds (42.0). She also lowered her 100y best time to 10.9 and her 220y best to 24.7.
Due to age rules, Board was unable to make her debut at the 440 yds until April 1966 when, aged 17 and now a senior, she finished a close 2nd in an inter-club meeting at Southall
Southall
Southall is a large suburban district of west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Yeading, Hayes, Hanwell, Heston, Hounslow, Greenford and Northolt...
, London, in 58.1 seconds. She then ran 57.3 in the Southern Counties Championships, before taking 4th place in the Women's AAA senior 440 yds final in a time of 54.6, the fastest ever recorded by a 17-year-old in Europe.
1966 season
Board's performances at 400 m in the 1966 season earned her a place in the England team for the Commonwealth GamesCommonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
held in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, that August. Here, after winning her 400 m heat (54.7), Lillian finished 5th in the final in a time of 54.7 seconds, just outside her personal best. It was a very creditable effort for a 17-year-old. Disappointingly, she was not then chosen for the Great Britain team at the European Championships in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, which were held from 30 August - 4 September. However, such disappointment was short-lived as later in September, she made her Great Britain debut, placing 4th in the 400 m (55.9) in a match against France in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
.
1967 season
In July 1967, Board firmly announced her arrival onto the international scene when, still aged only 18, she won the 400 m race in a Commonwealth v USA match in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. She came from last to first with a stunning late surge and won in a time of 52.8 seconds, the second fastest ever recorded by a European woman. The race was broadcast live on British television and made her into a household name. Winning in such style at the biggest meeting of year was clearly a turning point in her career.
She followed this momentous triumph with a run of four wins at 400 m in five international events, most notably securing the only victory for Britain's women (in a time of 53.7) in the European Cup (athletics)
European Cup (athletics)
The European Cup is a now defunct athletics competition, replaced by the European Team Championships from 2009 onwards. The Europa Cup saw most of the major nations of Europe compete. Originally known as the Bruno Zauli Cup, it first took place in Stuttgart and Kassel , Germany in 1965...
, final in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
in September. That season she also lowered her 200 m personal best to 24.6 and her 880 y best to 2.08.7. Recognition of a highly successful season came when she was chosen as Athlete of the Year by the Athletic Writers' Association.
1968 season and Olympic Games
Board began the 1968 season by winning the 440y race at an inter-club meeting in Brighton, her time of 54.8 comfortably inside the Olympic qualifying standard. She then leapt to the top of the world rankings after winning over 400 m (53.5) at an international meeting in Moscow. However, at the Women's AAA championships in July, she spurned the chance of an almost certain victory in the 400 m and instead decided to contest the 800 metres800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
. After winning her heat (2.05.7), she showed her huge potential in this event by running a superb 2:02.0 (the second fastest ever by a British woman), to finish 2nd to the reigning European 800 m champion, Vera Nikolic
Vera Nikolic
Vera Nikolić is a former Serbian track and field athlete and coach...
of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, whose time of 2:00.5 was a new world record.
She continued her preparations for Mexico with a personal best of 23.5 when winning the 200 m in a match against West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
in August and taking the 400 m (53.0) against Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in September. She also anchored a British relay team to a new 4 x 110y world record (45.0) later that month.
After that excellent build-up, she went into the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
as favourite to win the 400 m gold medal. After finishing a comfortable second in her 400 m heat (53.00), she won her semi-final in a personal best 52.56. In the final itself on October 16, she only took the lead about 100 m from the finish and maintained her advantage well down the home straight. She looked certain to win but was caught just before the line by Colette Besson
Colette Besson
Colette Besson was a French athlete, the surprise winner of the 400 m at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.-Athletic career:...
of France and beaten into second place by a mere 0.09 seconds. Setting a new UK record of 52.12 had not quite been enough to win gold. Nevertheless, it was an excellent effort by a 19-year-old competing in her first Olympics.
1969 season and European Championships
In 1969, Board began the season with a personal best 11.9 for 100 metres100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
and a 52.9 contribution to a 4 x 400 metres world record (3:37.6), but in early July she strained ligaments in her back, forcing her to miss five weeks of the season. She returned in August with a 52.5 anchor leg in the 4 x 400 m relay to help Great Britain defeat the USA in an international match at London's White City
White City Stadium
White City Stadium was built in White City, London, for the 1908 Summer Olympics, often seen as the precursor to the modern seater stadium and noted for hosting the finish of the first modern distance marathon. It also hosted speedway and a match at the 1966 World Cup, before the stadium was...
; and then gained revenge on her Olympic nemesis, Colette Besson
Colette Besson
Colette Besson was a French athlete, the surprise winner of the 400 m at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.-Athletic career:...
, when taking the 400 m (53.7) in a match against France in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
.
However, her back was still painful, more so when she ran shorter distances, so she decided to go for the 800 metres at the European Championships in Athletics
European Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece, that September. Still inexperienced at the longer event and ranked only 8th in Europe on her performances that season, she was not strongly fancied for 800 m gold. She won her heat comfortably (2:04.2) and then, two days later, produced a superb performance in the final on 18 September sprinting away from her rivals on the final bend and winning by eight metres in a personal best time of 2:01.4, a new championship record. She remains the only British woman ever to have won this European title.
Just two days later, Board lined up for Great Britain in the 4 x 400 m relay. Running the last leg, she came from ten metres down entering the home straight to beat her old rival Besson
Besson
Etymology:In central France dialects the word "besson" or "bisson" means "twin" and comes from Latin adverb "bis" .Besson may refer to:* Besson , a manufacturer of brass instruments...
, who was anchoring the French squad, in a dramatic photo finish
Photo finish
A photo finish occurs in a sporting race, when two competitors cross the finishing line at near the same time. As the naked eye may not be able to discriminate between which of the competitors crossed the line first, a strip photo, a series of rapidly triggered photographs, or a video taken at the...
, not only winning gold for Britain but also helping to set a new world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
of 3:30.8. Having claimed two gold medals, it was no surprise that she was named as 'Best Woman Athlete in the Games'.
A further accolade came when she was awarded the Member of the British Empire, for services to sport, in the 1970 New Year's Honours List. Known as the Golden Girl of British athletics for her blond good looks and medal success, Board had become a very popular public figure, earning herself another nickname: 'Britain's favourite girl'.
1970 season
Board ran two mile races early in the 1970 campaign, partly to build up stamina for the 800 m and partly with the aim of becoming the first athlete to represent Britain at all distances, the 1500 m being the only one missing from her collection. After running a solid 4:55.7 on her miling debut, she was selected for an international mile race in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
on 16 May. Here she improved her personal best to 4:44.6, finishing second to a former mile world record holder, Paola Pigni of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Her time moved her to No 2 in the UK all-time lists for the women's mile, behind only another former world record holder at the distance, Anne Smith.
Initial health problems
Soon after this mile race, however, she began to suffer from stomach upsets. These were diagnosed as a virus and she was prescribed pills. She continued to feel unwell but still managed to contribute a 2:06.8 leg to a 4 x 800 m world record on 13 June in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. She ran exactly the same time six days later when winning her 800 m heat at the Women's AAA championships at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
, London, despite being doubled up in pain before the race. Pale and underweight, she then finished a tired third (2:05.1) in the 800 m final on 20 June.
Diagnosis and treatment
That 800 m final proved to be her last race. X-rays revealed inflammation of the bladderUrinary bladder
The urinary bladder is the organ that collects urine excreted by the kidneys before disposal by urination. A hollow muscular, and distensible organ, the bladder sits on the pelvic floor...
and her condition was initially diagnosed as Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease, also known as regional enteritis, is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, causing a wide variety of symptoms...
, forcing her to halt training and ruling her out of July's Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in Edinburgh. However, after further X-rays, tests and two biopsies she was correctly diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
(or bowel cancer) in September 1970. An exploratory operation at St. Mark's Hospital
St. Mark's Hospital
St. Mark's Hospital is a hospital in the Harrow and Wembley border as well as the London Borough of Harrow and London Borough of Brent border in northwest London, UK. It is the only hospital in the world to specialise entirely in intestinal and colorectal medicine and is a national and...
, London, on 8 October, revealed that the cancer had spread to her stomach and she was given two months to live.
Seeking a cure, she travelled in November 1970 to the village of Rottach-Egern
Rottach-Egern
Rottach-Egern is a municipality and town located at Lake Tegernsee in the district of Miesbach in Upper Bavaria, Germany....
, in the Bavarian Alps near Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, to be treated by the controversial physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, Dr Josef Issels
Josef Issels
Josef M. Issels was a German physician known for promoting an alternative cancer therapy regimen, the Issels treatment. He claimed to cure cancer patients who had been declared incurable by conventional cancer treatments...
, at his Ringberg Cancer Clinic. Adhering to his belief in non-mainstream treatments, she was placed on a strict diet of healthy food and with spring water and herbal tea as her only drinks. She then had her tonsils and two front teeth removed as Issels believed they helped spread infection.
She continued to fight bravely against her illness but her condition worsened. On 11 December she was moved to an intensive care unit at the clinic and the following day underwent an operation to drain water from her abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
.
Early death
On 21 December 1970 when peritonitisPeritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
was suspected, she was transferred to Munich University Clinic. She was found not to have peritonitis but still needed to undergo an operation to remove a stomach blockage. This was done on 23 December. She recovered from the after-effects of the operation, but, on 24 December, she lapsed into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
from which she would not emerge. She died in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
two days later, aged 22. She was cremated at Putney Vale Crematorium
Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London is surrounded by Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park, and is located within forty-seven acres of parkland. The cemetery was opened in 1891 and the crematorium in 1938...
on 1 January 1971.
A memorial service was held for her at St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
, London, on 21 January 1971, and she is commemorated in Munich with an avenue bearing her name that leads to the Munich Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Munich)
Olympiastadion is a stadium located in Munich, Germany. Situated at the heart of the Olympiapark München in northern Munich, the stadium was built as the main venue for the 1972 Summer Olympics....
.
Honours and awards
- Voted 'Sportswoman of the Year' for 1968 by the Sports Journalists' Association.
- Named 'Best Woman Athlete in the Games' at the 1969 European Championships in Athletics1969 European Championships in AthleticsThe 9th European Athletics Championships were held from 16 September to 21 September 1969 in the Karaiskaki Stadium of Athens, the capital of Greece. New at these championships were the women's 1,500 metres and the women's 4x400 metres relay event....
. - Awarded the MBE, Member of the British Empire, in the 1970 New Year's Honours List.
- Voted 'Sportswoman of the Year' for 1970 by readers of the Daily ExpressDaily ExpressThe Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
newspaper.
Achievements
| Year | Tournament | Venue | Event | Result | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Summer Olympics 1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country... |
Mexico City Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... , Mexico Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... |
400 m | 2nd | UK record (52.12) |
| 1969 | European Championships | Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... |
800 metres | 1st | Championship record (2:01.4) |
| 1969 | European Championships | Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , Greece Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... |
4 x 400 metres | 1st | World record (3:30.8) |
- Won six titles at the WAAA's Championships, including the 440 yds title in 1967.
- Set 11 UK records, including a 400 m record of 52.12 in 1968.
- Won the 400 m at the final of the 1967 European Cup (athletics)European Cup (athletics)The European Cup is a now defunct athletics competition, replaced by the European Team Championships from 2009 onwards. The Europa Cup saw most of the major nations of Europe compete. Originally known as the Bruno Zauli Cup, it first took place in Stuttgart and Kassel , Germany in 1965...
, Britain's only winner in the final. - Helped set four relay world records (at 4 x 110 yds, 4 x 400 m (twice) and 4 x 800 m) between September 1968 and June 1970, running the anchor/last leg each time.
Personal bests
| Event | Mark | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 11.9 | 1969 |
| 200 m | 23.42 | 1968 |
| 400 m | 52.12 | 1968 |
| 800 m | 2:01.4 | 1969 |
| Mile | 4:44.6 | 1970 |
| Long Jump | 5.80 m | 1965 |
Notes
- 1 mile (4:46.6). Only competed in this event twice (in 1970).
- Long Jump (5.80 m). Did not compete in this event after 1967.
Cultural references
- She was a member of the only Great Britain relay squad ever to have won the women's 4 x 400 m title at the European Championships in AthleticsEuropean Championships in AthleticsThe European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
(Athens, 1969). The other members of the winning quartet, which set a world recordWorld recordA world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
of 3.30.8, were Rosemary Stirling, Pat Lowe and Janet SimpsonJanet SimpsonJanet Simpson was a British athlete who competed in sprint events and the 400 metres....
.
- In December 1969, she was the 'mystery runner' at the Nos Galan (New Year's Eve) festival, held annually in the WelshWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
village of Mountain Ash to commemorate the legendary Welsh runner, Guto Nyth BranGuto Nyth BrânGriffith Morgan , who was known better by his Welsh name, Guto Nyth Brân was an athlete. Many of Guto's running feats have since become merged with legend, and were disseminated by poets and authors such as I.D...
.
- A talented dressmaker and designer, Lillian often made her own clothes, including a pink coat she wore to receive the MBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
from Queen Elizabeth II in January 1970.
- She was the only female panellist on the first edition of BBC TV's quiz show A Question of Sport, broadcast on 5 January 1970. The other panellists were footballers George BestGeorge BestGeorge Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
and Tom FinneyTom FinneySir Thomas Finney, OBE is a former English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his league club, Preston North End, and for his performances in the English national side....
and cricketer Ray IllingworthRay IllingworthRaymond Illingworth, CBE is a former English cricketer, cricket commentator and cricket administrator. He was one of only nine players to have taken 2,000 wickets and made 20,000 runs in First class cricket, and the last one to do so...
. (The team captains were boxer Henry CooperHenry Cooper (boxer)Sir Henry Cooper OBE KSG was an English heavyweight boxer known for the effectiveness of his left hook, "Enry's 'Ammer", and his knockdown of the young Muhammad Ali...
and rugby player Cliff MorganCliff MorganCliff Morgan is a former Welsh rugby union player who played for Cardiff RFC and earned 29 caps for Wales between 1951 and 1958.-Rugby career:...
, and the presenter was David VineDavid VineDavid Martin Vine was a British television sports presenter. He presented a wide variety of shows from the 1960s onwards.-Early life:...
.) The recording of this historic edition of one of television's most popular and durable programmes (now in its 39th year) is missing from the BBC archives.
- British athlete Rebecca Lyne dedicated the bronze medal she won in the 800 m at the 2006 European Championships in Athletics2006 European Championships in AthleticsThe 19th European Athletics Championships were held in Gothenburg, Sweden, between 7 August and 13 August 2006. The competition arena was the Ullevi Stadium and the official motto "Catch the Spirit"...
to Lillian Board.
- The footway from the Munich Olympic StadiumOlympic Stadium (Munich)Olympiastadion is a stadium located in Munich, Germany. Situated at the heart of the Olympiapark München in northern Munich, the stadium was built as the main venue for the 1972 Summer Olympics....
to the subway station was renamed as the Lillian-Board-Weg.
- The Lillian Board Trophy, a memorial trophy provided by Irene Board and by Dame Marea Hartman,Chairwoman of the Woman's Commission of the IAAF and of the Women's AAA following Board's death is awarded each year for outstanding fundraising for cancer.