For this week’s Nostalgia, we are going back to 1983 when the first Reading Half Marathon took place within the town.
Just like last week’s race, thousands of people took part with all the money going to causes in the area.
Incredibly, local resident David Turner took to our Camera Club Facebook page (which is free to join), where he revealed that he had visited every race since its inception 40 years ago.
The shutterbug would snap pictures of the event, and he decided to share the photos he took at the first race all those years ago.
He said: “All about the Reading [Half] Marathon today [Sunday, April 2].
The cars on show in 1983
“I have photographed everyone, these photographs are from the first marathon in March 1983 - running in the opposite direction to today’s route.
“Vehicles also allowed to continue in the opposite lane.
“These photographs taken on the Basingstoke Road/Bennett Road junction.”
The images were received by those in the group, with some reminiscing about the cars that were popular on the roads at the time.
Since it’s first race on March 13, 1983, the annul event has taken place every year excluding in 2001, 2018 and 2020.
Hundreds of people took part 40 years ago
The 2001 run was called off due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, 2018 was cancelled following the arrival of ‘Mini Beast from the East’, whilst 2020 was shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking in 2014, Kevin Taylor, who took part in the first run, said: “I remember the first event starting and finishing in the grounds of Reading University. #
“It was an exciting day with a number of work colleagues taking part.
A lot has changed in the town since then
“My training took place on the track at Palmer Park, arranged by the wonderful Stan Eldon, who was one of the first organisers. I can still remember "Chariots of Fire" being played across Worton Grange as we ran.
In 2012, I even changed a holiday flight to America from the Saturday to the Monday after the race, so that I could take part.
The first race was 40 years ago
“The family went on ahead but the race really does mean a lot to me.”
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