Chris Lake (JEP) is presently beavering away producing a History of Jersey Athletics. He’s an expert writer and has bashed out a number of books on various topics in the past. This project however has surprised him with its complexity and he’s roped in one or two of us to assist.
I’m always delighted to dig up little forgotten nuggets – here are two. Firstly, the matter of a certain Keith Falle. It’s a matter of record that he represented Jersey in the 1978 Commonwealth Games, in shot putt, in Edmonton, Canada. Yet no one I’ve ever spoken to remembered him; even today the great brains of Colin Campbell and Martin Hebden produced nothing. Then I thought ‘Tony Satchwell’ – it was obvious with hindsight. ‘Satch’ was Jersey throwing for about 25 years, appearing himself in the 1974 and 1986 Games. (Indeed he remains 70th on the all-time list of UK discus throwers, Zane Duquemin lying 78th). Yes, of course he remembered him. Keith is/was Jersey-born but resident in New Zealand. He contacted Tony who advised him about qualification for the Games. Keith came to Jersey, Tony beat him in two trial matches, yet Keith was selected for Edmonton on the basis of his previous record. He did OK but was never heard of again.
Jersey athletics first appeared in the Island Games in Guernsey in 1987. Footes Lane was then a cinder track. The athletics programme was held over a weekend and Rob Currie advanced to the final of the 100m to be held on the Sunday. Checking the weather forecast he saw that monsoon conditions were forecast so he obtained spikes designed for javelin boots i.e. very long. Sure enough the track was under serious water but Rob’s spikes carried him to a silver medal.
Anyone who has snippets that might otherwise be lost please let me or Chris know soonest – he’s looking to publish in February
Back On The Rock 
Very interesting,I was traumatised by the attitude of the other team members and decided to go into powerlifting where I represented Australia and NZ and then concentrated on my family and business
Keith Falle
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I’m delighted you showed up Keith! By email to you I’m making further enquiries in order that the forthcoming History presents the facts correctly. Best wishes.
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http://www.gbrathletics.com/uk/ukotdoor.htm
Hi Roy, I don’t know if its too late for information on this topic but on this site it lists the records for all of the countries that can represent GB. Under Jersey Long jump it lists the record as
J 7.29 Jer? Harry Askew 18 Jun 1949 London (Ch)
I have heard no-one in Jersey ever speak of him but he went to the 1948 Olympics in London.
http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/as/harry-askew-1.html
here is his bio, have you ever come across him before?
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Sorry, got it all wrong. He competed in the 1948 games too and came 9th. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1948_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_long_jump
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He was my Uncle. Competed in the 1936 Olympics – I think he came 11th. And then along came the war and he didn’t compete in 40 or 44. Later became headmaster of Heaton Grammer in Newcastle and trained the Olympic hop-step-jump team I think.
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Hi, yes we know a little bit about Harry. He taught at Victoria College for a short while (1947-1949?) during which time he was actively involved in local athletics. Along with Cyril Gill and one or two others he founded the Jersey Athletics Club in April 1947. And certainly no one has bettered his LJ mark. We claim him as one of Jersey’s very few Olympians.
A few years ago I did a little research and found that Harry is still remembered as a star schoolboy athlete in his home town of Barrow. I was also contacted by his son who told me that Harry left Jersey (in 1949) and was a popular teacher in the north-east of England before retiring to the south coast, where he died. Harry will certainly be featuring in the forthcoming History.
Thank you for your interest!
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His son Roger works in London, and his daughter Joy is a session musician in New York.
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Thanks Rob,
Yes I corresponded with Roger a while back now – I was pleased to hear from him. He’s also a musician and can be found on http://www.rogeraskew.com Thank you for the information on Joy too.
Heaton, that’s the one. I made sure Harry featured in the History of Jersey Athletics, recently published, and that he was included in Jersey’s very short list of past Olympians who were mentioned during this summer’s Games.
Are you able to say why he spent such a short time with us here in Jersey? A couple of years only.
Thanks for the info Rob.
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Has this book been published?
How can I get a copy
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Hi Keith, I’m told a couple of weeks. I’ll be putting full details over at the Athletics Jersey blog.
Best wishes
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Harry Askew was my Geography master at the Royal Liberty Grammar School, Romford, Essex, from 1954-58. He also took an active part in coaching promising young horizontal jump (Triple and Long) athletes whom went on to win National School Titles at the English Schools Championships. Noteably, Eric R. Robinson who was a national champion in the Triple Jump and I am sure still holds the Cambridge University Triple Jump record. I was also one of his athletes and through his excellent coaching, attended 3 consectutive English Schools Championships 1958/59/60 representing Essex Schools.
His other interests were in the Combined Cadet Force where he held the rank of Captain in the Army section plus I believe he played the double bass and belonged to the school’s Debating Society.
I hope this has thrown some light on his teaching career in Essex. I have a feeling he became a Head Master in the Manchester area – not too sure on this matter.
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Many thanks for that Eddie. It certainly answers a few queries. Certainly Jersey’s loss was England’s gain. I’m pleased that others benefited from his expertise. Whilst he might have taught in Manchester I think he spent many years as Head of Heaton Comp. in Newcastle.
Eddie, you’re not by any chance connected with Woodford Green & Essex Ladies are you?
Thank you for your interest and information.
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Glad to know that the information was worthy of note.
I was an athlete with Brentwood A.C. and Hornchurch Harriers back in the 50s. I now coach as an unattached coach but I was head coach with Braintree A.C. for 12 years. Mainly coach girls/ ladies U13- Vet 50s as you can see on the Power of 10 – Long Jump and Triple Jump.
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