Goodbye Mary
Friday 3 July 2009
Mary Webb, long standing Cardiff club member and athletics fanatic, passed away peacefully two days ago after finally succumbing to the cancer that she had contracted three years ago. Her final athletics honour was to receive Welsh Athletics' Meritorious Award for services to athletics in Wales which was taken to her by club chairman and Welsh Athletics Vice-President John Penny.
Mary had been involved in athletics since competing as a schoolgirl and joined Cardiff AAC in 1973 when she brought daughter Sue to the club. She and her family (husband Brian and subsequently son in law Rob Hooper) have been members ever since and have all made important contributions to club life.
Mary never stopped competing and regarded athletics as one of the most important elements in her life. Her last competition was only two years ago when, aged 71, she took part in an indoor Masters competition at UWIC. She was very successful as an athlete in the Masters category and her proudest moment was when she took the 200m gold medal in the European Masters Indoor Championships (60-64 age group) in Birmingham. Alongside the gold medal she also took the bronze in the 60m in the same championships. She was an ever present competitor in Masters competitions and gathered an impressive collection of medals, including many British championship gold medals. She even took up race walking at one stage.
Not content with training and competing, Mary was a great organiser, taking up the reins of the Welsh Masters Association where, for more than 10 years, she organised the track league and championships. This role will stay in the family as daughter Sue is to carry on the work. Within the club, Mary did a stint as Welsh League team manager and was also a grade 2 field official.
Mary spent her last days at Holme Towers, Penarth and Sue, Brian and Rob cannot praise too highly the care she received there as well as the skill of the doctors at Velindre Hospital.
Mary's funeral will take place at 11.00am on Tuesday, 14th July, at St Francis of Assisi Church, Cowbridge Road, Ely, Cardiff with interment at Western Cemetery, Cowbridge Road, Ely, Cardiff.
The family requests family flowers only. Those wishing to make a donation could do so to Cancer Research, Velindre Hospital, Whitchurch, Cardiff.
Mary will be greatly missed by all at Cardiff AAC and we extend our sympathy and condolences to her family.