Phyllis Winger RIP Tributes
From Dave Ainsworth :-
Phyllis was born at Horfield in Bristol on 22nd February 1934 which made her aged 89.
For many years Phyllis resided in Rayburn Road, Hornchurch before moving to Kent. She was a Past President (1974/75), and a former Hon.General Secretary 1997/98 and was a Life Member. As Phyllis Perkins she became the Club’s first Olympian when competing in the 800 metres at the 1960 Rome Olympics. In an event which been restored to the Olympic programme for a first time since the 1928 Amsterdam Games, Phyllis was eliminated in a heat when clocking 2:15.41. Further major events came her way as in the 1962 European Championships in Belgrade, over the same distance, she failed to make the final by just 1/10th of a second when clocking 2:08.4. In the same year over 880 yards at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth she was 4th in 2:09.4. For many years Phyllis headed the Club’s 800 metres rankings with 2:07.3 set on February 29th 1956 in a GB v Hungary Representative Match. In later years she was well known as an athletics official at many meetings throughout the Southern Area.
From past Ilford AC President (1994/95) Bill Sutherland BEM & Kath Sutherland:-
Sad news indeed! May she Rest in Peace after a very memorable athletic life.
From Ernie Forsyth Ilford AC Past President:-
More sad news on the passing of another Ilford AC legend.
From Roger Mills (fellow Ilford AC Olympian & Club Past President):-
Formidable Club member. Would have been up there with lottery funding, pro contracts. 5,10k no problem. RIP.
From June Cork (City of Southend AC & Past Essex County AA President):-
Another loss of our athletic elite. I am very sorry to learn of the death of Phyllis Winger. My condolences to her family.
From Peter Matthews.
Editor Athletics International & International Athletics Annual
With Acknowledgement to Peter’s internationals file:-
Phyllis Elsie Maureen GREEN/PERKINS/WINGER (b, 22 Feb 1034 Horfield, Bristol) died on February 22 in Kent. As Phyllis Perkins she competed at 800m in the 1960 Olympic Games (heat), 1962 Europeans (heat) and 1962 Commonwealth Games (4th). At the International Cross-country she was 4th 1956, 6th 1957, 7th 1968. WAAA champion 880y 1956 and 1963 (2nd 1957, 1959-60m 1962, 3rd 1952) , 1 mile 1954-5, indoor 600y 1962, Won National CC 1951-52 (2md 1956, 1963, 3rd 1968). Southern champion 880y 1959, 1 mile 1952 CC 1951-53.S she set world records at 1500m 4:35.4 (1956), 3000m/2M 10:56.0/11:28.0 (1954) & 10:55.2/11:27.2 (1955), 3x880y 1952. UK records: 3x880y (2) (1952-6), 3x800m (1956); indoor 600y (3) 1:30.0 (1962) to 1:27.1 (1963), 880y 2:16.3 (1962); junior 880y 2:17.8 (1952). Pbs: 200m 25.3 (1959), 400m 55.8 (1960), 600y 1:25.6 (1962), 660y 1:34.2 (1963), 800m 2:07.3 (1956), 1M 4:57.0 (1963), 2M 11:27.2 (1954). Ilford AC. Leading official, President South of England AA 2016-17.
Phyllis also competed at a high level in Cross Country running and was part of the Ilford AC team that won the National Cross Country Championships in 1960 with 4 runners in the first 22.
She is pictured here, on the left, with Muriel Critchley, Pam Jones and Joan Dryden.
