“Just to let you know that Peter has passed away after a two year battle with cancer. I will forward any details of the funeral as I find out.” – Phil
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Although I didn’t know Peter well, I had a few very pleasant conversations with him at races and also via email. He struck me as a thoroughly likeable guy; intelligent, thoughtful and a real pleasure to talk with.
As editor of the website, I’ve found that you get to know a lot about someone from their writings.
Peter kindly sent in a host of old Chevy Chase results from 1975 to 1986 along with his reminiscences, here’s that article.
And I thought folk might like to be reminded of Peter’s thoughtful condolence for Ruth Fletcher:
“It was a great shock to learn of the sudden death of Ruth. She was so full of life, so full of unself-conscious and infectious enthusiasm and so full of running that it is difficult to take in that we will no longer hear her familiar, reassuring voice ringing across the fells.
Over the last few years we had in common a habit of starting fell races from the very back (this because of her medical problem, as she told me later, mine because of laziness). Until I joined NFR this year I was running for NYMAC, but it was characteristic of Ruth to make friends with all-comers. We would frequently pass and re-pass each other, her presence behind being loudly announced by a humorous quip; she would then slow for fell banter before pressing ahead. If you caught her up, there was more banter and generous encouragement. On the Windy Gyle Race this June she was counting out loud as she passed me. I enquired why she was doing this “twenty walking, twenty running.. it gets me there”. It certainly did. On the Chevy this year we were once again both at the very back at the start. Later on the approach to Cheviot heel I was running with Keith Cooper when a voice from behind preceded Ruth storming up at speed. As usual she slackened off to discuss our relative progress. My last memories of her are of her disappearing up Cheviot at a rapid pace and thinking “how does she do that”. When I focussed up ahead I could see she was running twenty and walking twenty and it not only got her there but also to a good time and the v60 prize.
We will all be much the poorer for the loss of Ruth but at the back of the field we will especially miss the camaraderie and humour she brought to our fell-running lives. – Peter Whewell”
And we will be poorer for the loss of you too, Peter.
Rob
Alwinton Show Fell race, 8th October