Don Tunbridge

Don Tunbridge was a race walker who joined Highgate Harriers in 1946 at the same time as another Olympic walker, George Coleman, and within just two seasons Tunbridge was appointed Highgate captain.

Tunbridge worked on the London Stock Exchange for Giles & Vivian, Stockjobbers, and won the Stock Exchange 25-mile race walking title three years in succession 1948-50. He was also the 7-mile champion on five occasions and was also the Middlesex champion. In 1949 Tunbridge won the coveted Stock Exchange 51-mile walk from London to Brighton.

Tunbridge won the Road Walking Association 50km Championship in 1951 and 1952. He dead-heated with Rex Whitlock, however, in the second year. Whitlock’s brother, the 1936 Olympic champion Harold, finished third. Tunbridge finished 15th in the 50km at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, with the Whitlock brothers ahead of him in 4th and 11th place. Tunbridge also finished second in the Surrey Walking Club’s annual London to Brighton walk in both 1951 and 1952, when he was beaten by Rex Whitlock and Vic Stone respectively.

Personal Best: 50kmW – 4-38:02 (1952).