We have just heard the very sad news that George Bunner MBE died peacefully yesterday.
George set up Sportshall Athletics many years ago.
George joined our club in 1946 and was a AAA Junior champion in 1950 in the 880yds.
On behalf of everyone involved in athletics with Liverpool Harriers & AC we send our sympathy and condolences to George’s family
George Bunner MBE – The Sportshall Founder
Mike Holmes provided the following information:
George Bunner MBE
The Liverpool Harrier was a promising junior athlete winning an AAA title. In the mid fifties to enhance his working career he went to work abroad, but never lost interest in athletics. It was in the seventies that George became founder of the ‘Sportshall Athletics’ that spread across the country having an impact on youngsters at grass root level, many becoming household names.
He was born Alfred George on the 8th of April 1932 and brought up in the Queens Drive area of Anfield. Though losing his father at an early age he was educated at Roscoe Garfield School before moving to Old Swan Technical College on Broadgreen Road (now demolished), going on to a career in engineering. While at school he loved sport, swimming and athletics, and went on to win the School 880 yards championship. In 1946 he won the Lancashire Schools 880 yards and finished second in the English Schools, the following season repeating his County success and finished fourth in the English Schools in the older age group, and also Liverpool Harriers. The conciseness young athlete took part in the yearly Club Championships, taking part in a variety of events ranging from sprints, long jump, and the discus, which he was placed and even won the 2 mile walk one year. In 1950 he won the long jump and what became one of his best events the 880 yards.
The loyal Club athlete showed early promise by winning the Liverpool & District Youth Cross-Country title in 1949 and helped the Club win the West Lancs and Northern Youth Cross-country team medals. He represented the Club in many events, but his strength was on the track, carrying a very strong and aggressive style, which sometimes deceived opponents. He won his County Colours after winning the junior 880 yards title at St Helens and the Lancashire and Cheshire Boys Club one Mile title and showed his ability at the shorter distance by running a close second in the 440 yards in 55secs.
At the Northern Counties meeting at Butlins Holiday Camp he became the 1950 junior 880 yards champion and followed up by taking the junior AAA 880 yards title across the Mersey at Port Sunlight to complete a special Double.
In 1968 George tragically lost his first wife in a car crash in which he was severely injured, becoming a single parent with two sons. He was to marry his present wife Sheila in 1971 and they had a daughter.
He rekindled his interest in athletics and with some friends formed Halton & Frodsham Harriers, and realised that the traditional track & field wouldn’t suit primary school children. In 1976 the former Club athlete founded the now famous ‘Sportshall Athletics which was designed to give youngsters a pleasant taste of sport in a safe environment on the dark winter nights. The events covered jumping, throwing and running, the first steps in athletics. Many of our current Gt. Britain and Northern Ireland team have enjoyed the experience before going onto World and Olympic glory. It’s estimated that 350,000 children take part annually in the sportshall events across the country, but he stresses the support he received from Ron Pickering and his partner George Uren were invaluable.
In 1991 Frank Dick the then British Athletic Federation Chief Coach approached George to write a suitable manual for working with children and assist with the creation of an activity scheme for the use of local authorities. After discussions with friends and associates, in time the original ‘pacesetters Manual’ was produced.
George became a successful businessman working through night school and college, he became a chartered Electrical Engineer eventually Managing Director of one of the largest electrical contractors in the Northwest of England.
George was awarded the MBE for his impact on youngsters in the sport and the Club vice president received a life achievement award in 2007 from the UK Athletics at an award ceremony in Birmingham.
Many people helped and supported the ex Managing director, who retired in 1992 to work voluntary for the sport full-time. With his son Ivan involved and the patient support of his wife Sheila over the years the success goes on. The Club may have lost a promising young athlete back in the fifties, but are proud of what one of their own as achieved for the sport of which many of the Club’s youngsters have experienced.George Bunner MBE
The Liverpool Harrier was a promising junior athlete winning an AAA title. In the mid fifties to enhance his working career he went to work abroad, but never lost interest in athletics. It was in the seventies that George became founder of the ‘Sportshall Athletics’ that spread across the country having an impact on youngsters at grass root level, many becoming household names.
He was born Alfred George on the 8th of April 1932 and brought up in the Queens Drive area of Anfield. Though losing his father at an early age he was educated at Roscoe Garfield School before moving to Old Swan Technical College on Broadgreen Road (now demolished), going on to a career in engineering. While at school he loved sport, swimming and athletics, and went on to win the School 880 yards championship. In 1946 he won the Lancashire Schools 880 yards and finished second in the English Schools, the following season repeating his County success and finished fourth in the English Schools in the older age group, and also Liverpool Harriers. The conciseness young athlete took part in the yearly Club Championships, taking part in a variety of events ranging from sprints, long jump, and the discus, which he was placed and even won the 2 mile walk one year. In 1950 he won the long jump and what became one of his best events the 880 yards.
The loyal Club athlete showed early promise by winning the Liverpool & District Youth Cross-Country title in 1949 and helped the Club win the West Lancs and Northern Youth Cross-country team medals. He represented the Club in many events, but his strength was on the track, carrying a very strong and aggressive style, which sometimes deceived opponents. He won his County Colours after winning the junior 880 yards title at St Helens and the Lancashire and Cheshire Boys Club one Mile title and showed his ability at the shorter distance by running a close second in the 440 yards in 55secs.
At the Northern Counties meeting at Butlins Holiday Camp he became the 1950 junior 880 yards champion and followed up by taking the junior AAA 880 yards title across the Mersey at Port Sunlight to complete a special Double.
In 1968 George tragically lost his first wife in a car crash in which he was severely injured, becoming a single parent with two sons. He was to marry his present wife Sheila in 1971 and they had a daughter.
He rekindled his interest in athletics and with some friends formed Halton & Frodsham Harriers, and realised that the traditional track & field wouldn’t suit primary school children. In 1976 the former Club athlete founded the now famous ‘Sportshall Athletics which was designed to give youngsters a pleasant taste of sport in a safe environment on the dark winter nights. The events covered jumping, throwing and running, the first steps in athletics. Many of our current Gt. Britain and Northern Ireland team have enjoyed the experience before going onto World and Olympic glory. It’s estimated that 350,000 children take part annually in the sportshall events across the country, but he stresses the support he received from Ron Pickering and his partner George Uren were invaluable.
In 1991 Frank Dick the then British Athletic Federation Chief Coach approached George to write a suitable manual for working with children and assist with the creation of an activity scheme for the use of local authorities. After discussions with friends and associates, in time the original ‘pacesetters Manual’ was produced.
George became a successful businessman working through night school and college, he became a chartered Electrical Engineer eventually Managing Director of one of the largest electrical contractors in the Northwest of England.
George was awarded the MBE for his impact on youngsters in the sport and the Club vice president received a life achievement award in 2007 from the UK Athletics at an award ceremony in Birmingham.
Many people helped and supported the ex Managing director, who retired in 1992 to work voluntary for the sport full-time. With his son Ivan involved and the patient support of his wife Sheila over the years the success goes on. The Club may have lost a promising young athlete back in the fifties, but are proud of what one of their own as achieved for the sport of which many of the Club’s youngsters have experienced.
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