Tom Farrell

Tom Farrell attended the Liverpool Collegiate grammar school where he was a keen athlete. He was a sprinter and long jumper, and once finished fourth in the All-England Schools long jump with a leap in excess of 20 feet (6.1 metres).

Farrell joined Liverpool Harriers in the 1940s, and after the Collegiate went to Loughborough College. He finished third in the AAA 440 yards hurdles in 1955 and was runner-up in 1956 when, at the start of Olympic year, he was the world’s fifth fastest 400 metres hurdler. Unfortunately he failed to progress beyond the first round at the Melbourne Games. Farrell won the AAAs 440 hurdles title in 1957 and was runner-up again in 1958, when he was the Great Britain team captain at that year’s European Championships.

Shortly before the Rome Olympics, Farrell set a UK 400 metres hurdles record of 50.98 in a match against Italy at the White City. He also won the 880 AAA title in 1960 and that victory gained his selection for the Olympics, where he reached the quarter-final. He was eliminated from his heat, however, which contained the eventual gold and silver medallists Peter Snell and Roger Moens.

Farrell was originally a school teacher at various schools in and around the Liverpool area before taking a theological course at Cambridge in 1969. He was ordained a minister in 1971 and after several parishes was appointed chaplain at Dulwich college from 1974-81.

Farrell was selected for his third Olympics in 1972 but not as an athlete this time. He was one of the eight chaplains who went to München to offer advice and help to competitors. In view of the evens that unfolded, his presence would surely have been needed more than at any other Games.

Farrell continued running in his 40s and ran for Liverpool Harriers in the British Athletics League in 1974. In 2021 Farrell’s book Making of an Olympian was published.

Personal Bests: 800 – 1:48.0 (1960); 400H – 50.98 (1960).