Harold Abrahams - a Bedford Olympic Icon

A few weeks ago, local resident and athletics coach Dennis Johnson contacted me to ask for my thoughts on his proposal for a plaque to be installed next year at the Bedford birthplace of Harold Abrahams, the 1924 Olympic 100 metres champion whose triumphant story was told in the film Chariots of Fire. Abrahams is a true Olympic icon, and I couldn't agree more with Dennis that his Bedford roots should be marked in the year of the London 2012 games. Abrahams, who is one of only three British Olympic 100 metre gold medallists, was born at 30 Rutland Road in Bedford. The house was demolished in the 1930s, but Dennis is hopeful that, subject to the agreement of the current householder, a plaque can be put up on display at the current property on the site.

We should celebrate the fact that such a legendary Olympian, whose story is known by people across the world, was born in Bedford in 1899, and attended Bedford School. Bedford has a tremendous sporting tradition of which we area all rightly proud. However, I suspect that many current residents of Bedford Borough are not aware that Abrahams was a Bedfordian, even though they may know the story of his Olympic triumph through Chariots of Fire. By putting up a small plaque on the site of his first home, awareness will be raised amongst current and future generations that Bedford was home to this Olympic great and, who knows, it may help inspire potential future champions to great things.

Dennis's suggestion for the wording on the plaque is as follows: "Harold Abrahams 1924 Olympic 100 Metres Champion, whose achievements were immortalised in the film "Chariots of Fire," was born in a house on this site on 15 December 1899"

I was interviewed for a report on this story by ITV Anglia News. While it remains available on their website, the video can be viewed here: http://www.itv.com/anglia/supporters-want-plaque11047/