Eric Hall

Eric Hall attended the Tiffin Grammar School, Kingston, where he participated in both cross-country and cricket, but with little success. His eventual career as a race walker stemmed from regular family weekend rambles and he soon found he was timing himself on walks from his home to his grandmother’s house. This came to the attention of his father, and he suggested he joined some of his colleagues at London Transport, who were keen competitive walkers.

Eventually, Hall joined Belgrave Harriers as a 16-year-old in November 1948, having been bitten by the competitiveness of athletics, thanks to that year’s London Olympics. That would be the start of a 73-year relationship with the Harriers. Shortly after leaving school, Hall passed the Civil Service entrance examination and he joined the Customs and Excise Office.

Allen won the first of nine Surrey County Road Walking titles (at two, seven, and ten miles) in 1955. That same year Stan Vickers also joined the Belgrave club, and was emerging as a great walking prospect, and the pair motivated each other and brought out the best of each other and Hall finished third in the 1955 National Road Walking 20 Miles Championship. After finishing second to Don Thompson in the National 50km in 1956, Hall was selected for that distance in Melbourne. Unfortunately, the Olympic race was run in very hot and humid conditions which did not suit the British walkers, and Thompson ended up in hospital for three days.

The year after the Olympics, Hall won the National 20 miles title by beating George Chaplin (Coventry Godiva Harriers), and Albert Johnson (Sheffield United Harriers) into second and third place respectively. After making his international début for Great Britain against Switzerland at Lugano in 1959, a second Olympic appearance followed for Hall at Roma in 1960 and, while conditions this time were again warm, they suited the British contingent better than at Melbourne four years earlier. In the 20 km, Hall finished 10th while his friend Vickers won bronze, and this time Thompson ended up with gold in the 50 km race.

Despite his career nearing its end, largely because his job took him away from London, Hall still took part in the 50 km trials for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics but missed out on selection after finishing fifth. Despite his job taking him around the country, Hall still supported Belgrave Harriers and walked in veteran events whenever he could. A life member since 1957, Hall was made president of the Club in 1999. Over the years he obtained many degrees after studying at the Open University. He served as treasurer of the British Olympians Society and had a large collection of athletics memorabilia.

Personal Bests: 20kmW – 1-33:37 (1959); 50kmW – 4-31:41 (1956).