Sydney Sarel

Sydney Sarel, whose father died when he was five-years-of-age, was educated at Tonbridge School and then Keble College, Oxford, from where he graduated with honours in Natural Science. He became science master at Borlase School, before training for the priesthood, and was ordained in 1898. He was appointed curate at St.Saviour’s, Hoxton until 1908 when he became a Bethnal Green vicar, rector and in 1916, a rural dean.

At university, Sarel narrowly failed to win a blue as a half-miler and after entering the Church, took up walking and cross-country running. Although placing sixth in the 7 mile walk at the 1908 AAA Championships, he was elected for the shorter of the two walking events at the Olympics and was eliminated in the heats of the 3,500 walk.

He became a legendary figure for his missionary work on London’s East End and his obituary in The Times reported, “For many years, he made a practice of changing into running kit at 11 PM sharp and running round the streets of Bethnal Green with a stop-watch in his hand. He was a beloved figure throughout the Borough, to the interests of whose people he devoted his life.” He served as President of London AC in 1928.