Running, registration and regular reunions

A former President of the Old Brentwoods Society who achieved exceptional standards in cross-country, road and tracking running and played a major role in organising the Society’s membership records, Timothy Pailthorpe died suddenly on 31 st July. He was 87. The funeral took place at Three Counties crematorium, Braintree on September 3rd . A memorial service was held at All Saints Church, Feering on October 7th.

Tim was born in Hornchurch on 20th November 1938, son to Roy (OB 1917-19) and Margaret Pailthorpe. After early schooling at Ardleigh Green Primary School, he entered Brentwood Prep in September 1947. He progressed under the watchful eyes of Headmaster Mr Robertson, Miss Boardman, Miss Haynes and Mr Gilbert. At eleven, he joined the Main School where he endured the discipline administered by 'Slipper' Kershaw and 'Cockles’ Cockell.

Tim was in South when the House was very successful on sporting fronts. Under Septimus Meek, (juniors) and Colonel Jones (seniors), Tim was a full participant. He developed his abilities at cross-country and at middle distances on the track and was awarded full colours for both. He led House and School cross-country teams to success. With Sir Rodger Bell (1951- 58), Tim was a joint winner of the 1957 Essex Schools Cross Country Championship. After School, he met up with Sir Rodger at various cross-country and road running meetings while the latter was at Oxford University but representing Chelmsford Athletics Club. A generation later, the pair would run for the Old Brentwoods in the Thames Hare and Hounds invitation event.

In the Modern Vith, he benefited from the guidance and tuition of Joe Hodgson, Ikey Slone, Jim Rennie and Wally Waldram, achieving three A Levels. At Brentwood, he was joined by his cousins Michael (1942-19) and David Andrews (1949-1955).

York Minster role
Leaving School in 1957, he joined William Mallinson and Son, timber Importers and merchants of Shoreditch as a trainee. He was seconded to Bury St Edmunds to oversee the preparation of timber for the restoration of York Minster. This stimulated his interest in history, archaeology and old buildings.

In 1962, he joined CTS, metal dealers in the City. Three years later, he moved to the Registration Department of Hambros Bank, taking over from Ken Emery (1947- 53), first in Shenfield and subsequently in Bishopsgate, Tower Hill and finally in Ingrave Road, Brentwood. In 1993 he took early retirement.

Immediately after school, Tim joined the OB cross-country and athletics groups. The OB fixture list included twice-yearly matches against the School. Tim look over from Gordon Parker (1928-34) the administration of OB cross-country, later becoming the sport’s representative on the OB General Committee.

From 1993 to 2003, Tim served as the Society’s Registrar. The records were then held on the School's computer. With Ian Pitwood (1949-60), Tim developed the Society's own stand alone Members Register which proved extremely efficient. He was elected President of the Old Brentwoods Society in 2004, following in the footsteps of his father Roy who had held the office in 1971.

From 1988, in tandem with John Smith (1946-57), he arranged regular reunions for those at school between 1946 and 1957. These proved consistently popular. The 2012 gathering attracted OBs from Mexico, France, Wales and many parts of England.

Tim joined Hornchurch Harriers in 1957, where he established some lifelong friends and trained hard on and off the field. From 1960, he competed in seven to nine-mile cross country events. He helped the Harriers to much success in the cross-country league, road and relay races, notably in the London to Southend and London to Brighton events. He teamed up with hid friend Dave Bland and Fred Hammerton (OB) at a meeting in 1959 in Cologne, where they competed against German, Swedish and French athletes.

Marathon man
Tim represented Hornchurch Harriers and Essex in national competitions over 10 miles, half marathons and 20 miles, always finishing in the top order and occasionally at the front. His personal best times for these events were only very slightly lower than those of Britain’s top performers. In 1965, he competed in the Poly Marathon---from Windsor Castle to Chiswick---in 2 hours 36 minutes which earned him the La Lande Trophy for the fastest first ever marathon. He later lowered his best time to 2 hours 31 minutes. He became club captain, a member of the general committee and then Secretary.

As a veteran, Tim won the Essex Cross Country Championship at the over 40, 50 and 60 age groups and was the Over 60 Southern Counties Champion. He finished fourth in the National Cross Country championships and ran the last leg for Havering AC to win the National Over 50 road relay title.

He married Elizabeth in 1964. Sons Simon and Andrew and daughter Alexandra completed thefamily. They lived in Doddinghurst Road, Brentwood for over 25 years. Tim and Elizabeth formed lasting friendships, particularly with St Thomas’s Church Young Wives and a baby sitting group. Tim’s enjoyment of History, nurtured by Joe and Jim, was maintained through reading and visiting historical buildings and the Brentwood Museum; and later through the Kelvedon and Feering Heritage Society after the pair had moved to the area. He was an active participant and contributor to the Heritage Society, the garden club and other organisations. He enjoyed attending rugby and other sports events and taking pub lunches with Elizabeth and friends. Six-mile walks were regularly on the agenda. His TV favourites were athletics meetings, rugby and soccer matches, Dad’s Army and Laurel and Hardy films.

Elizabeth Pailthorpe died in 2024. Timothy is survived by Simon, Andrew, Alexandra and three grandchildren. Andrew described his father as “a kind, considerate loving man, whose generosity touched so many lives. He was very much the gentleman.”