Len Allen

Wrestler Len Allen was born in the East End of London in 1931. After leaving school at 14 Allen began an apprenticeship as a lithographic printer before doing two years of national service in the Army. After returning to civilian life Allen joined a wrestling club in Norbury in South London. Following years of hard training he was selected to represent England at the 1962 World Wrestling Championships in Toledo, Ohio. During the same year he competed at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth where he won a bronze medal in the freestyle welterweight. Two years later Allen represented Great Britain at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, making it to the third round of the tournament in the same weight category.

Allen was a member of the Tooting Bec Outdoor Swimming and Physical Culture Club for more than 65 years. In addition to being a passionate swimmer, he also was a runner with the club, running in the first ever edition of the London Marathon in 1981. In October 2019 Allen was part of a delegation in London of more than 30 British Olympians who competed at the 1964 Games.