Bill Nankeville

The son of a Surrey milkman, middle-distance runner Bill Nankeville went to the same school as the famous cricketing twins, Alec and Eric Bedser. In 1942 when just 17, Nankeville won an invitation half-mile race at Dorking, in an event to raise money for the Red Cross during the World War II. It was only after being called up for National Service, where he became an Army PE teacher, that he took athletics seriously. Originally a sprinter, he won Army half- and one-mile titles during his time in service and, after selection for the 1948 London Olympics, was given a month’s leave from the Army to prepare for the Games. After the Olympics, Nankeville left the Army and before the decade was out, he was regarded as Britain’s best miler, and in 1948 won the first of three consecutive AAA titles, adding a fourth in 1952 when he beat John Landy. Nankeville also finished second, to Roger Bannister, in 1951 and was third on two other occasions, 1947 and 1953. Within a seven week period in August and September 1953, Nankeville was involved in two world record runs. Firstly, the 4 x 1-mile with Bannister, Chris Chataway and Don Seaman, and the 4 x 1500 metres with Gordon Pirie, David Law and Ralph Dunkley. In the first of those two races, Nankeville ran the fastest lap in 4:06.6.

Nankeville left school at 14 and worked for the Vickers-Armstrong aircraft company before later working for the famous sports goods firm Lillywhites, until he opened his own warehouse and three discount stores. He was married to his wife Janet for 63 years until her death in 2010. They had three children, a girl and two boys. One of the boys went on to become a famous British actor and comedian under the name of Bobby Davro. Their other son David became a professional golfer, and was a one-time top class junior who led the first round of the 1972 British Youth Championship, following a 66 at Glasgow Gailes. He ended up finishing 11 strokes behind the winner Andrew “Chubby” Chandler, later known for his sports management company, International Sports Management (ISM). Nankeville wrote a book about Roger Bannister’s historic sub-four minute mile entitled “The Miracle of the Mile”, published by Stanley Paul in 1956.

Personal Best: 1500 – 3:46.6 (1953).