A Tribute to Dave Hart

The club is deeply saddened by the recent passing of one of our coaches, Dave Hart. His fellow coach and friend, Chris Elson, has shared the following obituary reflecting on Dave’s life and his contributions to the club:

A running life Aspiring to mediocrity by David Hart

The subtitle of Dave’s book tells you a lot about its author. Dave was born in Sileby, Leicestershire, in December 1948. He attended a local grammar school, Loughborough College, and Leeds University. Throughout that time, he played with running despite his obvious talent. His first race at school as a 13-year-old was run in plimsols on a freezing cold day. With no training, he was first in his age group. Dave did some running while at Leeds University and on the way acquired a BSc and PhD. After graduating, he joined Professor Peter Gray’s research group, whose interests included combustion flame and explosion oscillatory reactions and chaos in chemistry. Dave spent an unrewarding year before taking a temporary teaching role in Maths at Leeds Grammar School. Scanning the Times Educational supplement he applied successfully for a post as a physics teacher at the Blue school in Wells. Thus, he moved to Glastonbury in October 1975. Dave settled into the job well and enjoyed teaching and running the 5 miles to and from Glastonbury to Wells when light permitted. Three years later, Dave’s attention was drawn to a student teacher in the Arts department, Rosie Randall. Dave conspired repeatedly to bump into Rosie. Eventually, it was Rosie who made the decisive move: “Are you going to ask me out or not?” He did. Fortunately, she was under no illusions about Dave’s hobby, which was about to get even more serious. They moved to Bristol in 1979 when Dave began to work for British Aerospace. On the morning of August 6^th, Rosie and Dave were married. In the afternoon, Dave started work! 

Shortly afterwards, Dave met and started to run with one of Bristol AC’s real characters and stalwarts, Bob Pike. They ran together at lunchtimes from the British Aerospace sports ground. Bob persuaded Dave to the Sun Life 5.6-mile road race in September that year. I think this was the first time Dave put his mind to serious running. At the time, the race attracted people from all over the country. Dave finished 29^th in 31.09, a Nippy time by any standard. Dave met his Mentor and coach, Bristol AC legend Ron Pannel, in 1980, and for Dave a period of structured training and racing ensued. A group formed round Ron, that included Dave Taylor (Young Dave), Bruce Willerton, Dave Cordwell, Keith House and eventually Chris E. 

Dave was persuaded to run the Master’s and Maidens marathon. Dave qualified as a maiden. His experience will resonate with many. Dave told of the pain of the last 6 miles, but worth it for a time of 2.55. His second marathon, the Nikes Peoples, was on 10^th May 1981, when he ran one minute faster. A little to the fore, yours truly was “enjoying” one of the most painful experiences of his life, namely the last six miles of a maiden marathon. Dave ran the undulating Kingwood marathon a week later on a cold, wet day.  He survived, just. I watched in awe. Three months later, again at Kingswood, Dave’s training paid off, 2.44. Dave went on to run 2.23.52 on Sunday 4^th October 1987, just short of his 39^th birthday. He went through the first 10 in 52.57, the half in 1.09.50 times close to his PBs for those distances. Awesome! Dave continued to pick up medals at the territorial and National level and to dominate his category in local races for the subsequent 20 years.

Training with Dave was always enjoyable, provided you ran a foot or so behind him. You knew the run would be at a pace, but nothing silly. When you complained, Dave responded that it’s your fault, you were pushing it. We did have time for some conversation. I can remember at the time of the Falklands war, Dave saying that he couldn’t understand why the Argentinians had any interest in an island off the north coast of Scotland. There was the equivalent of a stunned silence in the group of us running, and to this day, I do not know if Dave was pulling our legs or really meant it.

Dave became a life member of Bristol & West AC in 2015. This was so well deserved. He was the Race Director of the club’s Bridge Inn 5K series for several years around the millennium. He became an England Athletics Leader in running fitness in 2013. Dave Bedwell suggested that he help with coaching the 15–17-year-old young men, and our Dave took him up on the offer. Dave gave a leg up to lots of our youngsters over the next 10 years. I saw Dave for the last time in the Autumn of 2025, coaching Max McKinstry amongst others. Would that I’d given him a hug. He managed the club’s Avon Track & Field team for years and became a qualified official. Steve Grant told me that Dave’s favourite event to officiate was the high jump and that he and Dave were doing just that at September’s event. 

So farewell, Dave. To quote from the Corry’s ballad, “when will we see his likes again”. A life lived to the full by a remarkable friend with multiple remarkable talents.

Everyone at Bristol and West AC extends their heartfelt condolences to Dave’s family and friends.