Frederick Keeping

Keeping was employed at the British Embassy in Athens in 1896 and competed despite the wishes of some fellow British residents of the Greek capital who believed that as a servant of the British ambassador he “was not a gentleman and therefore could not be an amateur”. Keeping was the only other finisher in the 12 hour race won by Austria’s Adolf Schmal. After returning to England he opened a cycle shop and garage in the town of Milford-on-Sea in Hampshire.

When he died in 1950 his obituary read “He was not only a great business pioneer, but was also for many years one of the outstanding figures in the public life of the community which he served so faithfully and well and his white Edwardian beard, his distinctive cravat and hats made him a well-known personality”.

His son, Michael, became a professional footballer with Southampton and Fulham in the English Leagues. Between 1948 and 1950 he was the coach of Real Madrid and over the next decade worked in Denmark, Holland, France and England.