‘4min mile’ hero Roger Banister, 80, arrives at ‘Mile End’ track

19 March 2010

Sir Roger... at Mile End today watching youngsters and (inset) his own 4-min mile in 1954

By Kier Mudie

SIR Roger Banister, the first man in the world to run a mile in less than four minutes, has been watching youngsters today (Friday) go through their paces training for 'the mile' in London's East End.

He offered tips to children from Our Lady RC Primary school at Limehouse taking part in a Sport Aid event at, appropriately, 'Mile End' stadium.

Sir Roger's visit to East London was arranged by his granddaughter Hermione Townsend, who is a teacher at the school.

"It was great to have my granddad along," she told the East London Advertiser. "I enjoyed showing him where I worked.

"The children enjoyed meeting my granddad. We have been doing a lot of work about him in class and even watched film-footage of him completing the four-minute mile all those years ago."

Sir Roger, now 80, who broke the four-minute 'barrier' back in 1954, watched from the trackside at Mile End as 180 children took part in the charity dash.

He saw 30 of them complete a full mile, the youngest just eight years old. No doubt a potential future 'Roger Banister' to watch out for!