Life member Reg Snow dies
Thursday 14 April 2011
One of Cardiff's oldest surviving life members Reg Snow died two days ago, on Tuesday, 12 April.
He was one of the stalwarts of the sport in Wales for over half a century and the photograph (apologies for the poor quality) shows him as team manager to the 1978 Welsh Commonwealth Games team (fourth from the left in the front row).
Reg Snow was, in his day, one of Wales' finest sprinters and a member of Roath Harriers, one of the two clubs in Cardiff that amalgamated to form Cardiff AAC in 1968. He continued his association with Cardiff AAC and followed the fortunes of the club with interest and affection.
After concluding his career as a sprinter, Reg turned his attention to the administration of the sport and for many years he was the Welsh AAA Championships secretary at a time when this position meant that he was in today’s terms the meeting director. But what was different in those days was that he virtually organised the championships on his own, from accepting the entries at his home in Turnham Green in Cardiff, compiling the programme and timetable, and appointing the meeting officials. And all this was done whilst still working full-time as a civil servant.
Apart from his job as championships secretary he undertook a large number of high profile roles including that of Welsh team manager at three successive Commonwealth Games between 1974 and 1982; British team selector for many years including two Olympic Games; and was a Welsh representative on the old British Amateur Athletics Board – effectively the forerunner of today’s UK governing body.
In his competitive days he finished in the first three of the Welsh 220 yards championships on four occasions in the early 1950s, and missed winning a Welsh title only due to the presence of Olympic silver medallist Ken Jones. He also won Glamorgan titles at both sprints. His best 220 yards time of 22.3 in 1950 made him the 12th fastest in Britain that year.
He was awarded the MBE for his services to Welsh athletics in 1986.
Reg was one of those tireless backroom volunteers who for almost half a century served Welsh athletics as an athlete and administrator, and was just as happy working behind the scenes as he was serving Welsh athletics at British level.
He was part of a breed that we are never likely to see again.
We send our deepest condolences to his family.
The funeral of will take place on Wednesday 20th April. There will be a Requiem Mass at 9.30 am at Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral of St. David, Charles St, Cardiff followed by cremation at 11am at Thornhill Crematorium.
Attenders are invited to the Manor Parc restaurant after the funeral for refreshments but Reg's daughter would be grateful if those intending to go would let her know in order to plan for numbers. Please contact her by email at catherinehamill@talktalk.net or by telephone to 07715 622 277.
Other Cardiff AAC members in the photograph of the 1978 team are:
Mike Critchley (back row, second from left)
Mike Delaney (back row, far right)
Dave Roberts (middle row, far left)
John Phillips (middle row, third from right)
Venissa Head (front row, second from right)
Berwyn Price (front row, third from right)
Thanks to Clive Williams for this article.