LES Thomas, who describes himself as an old Malvernian of almost 80 years, has written to Malvern Memories about the origins of the Beacon Race, the annual running contest over the hills.

Mr Thomas, along with local councillor Ken Clarke, founded the race in 1953, primarily to honour Charles Blewitt, a resident of Malvern and an Olympic athlete of earlier years.

He said: "We managed to obtain the support of Normal Worral, who was at that time the manager of Berrows Newspapers, living in Madresfield Road, Malvern, who I knew to be very favourably disposed to support any local amateur sports project that took his fancy.

"We agreed, with his permission, to promote the event as a team competition for all clubs in the Midlands area and, with the agreement of Charlie, to create a trophy named after him for the individual winner."

Mr Thomas said the council let them use Priory Lodge Hall as a changing room and the Winter Gardens for the prize-giving.

He said: "On the first occasion in 1953, the hall was jam-packed with some 500-600 at the presentation, local hotels had also given up rooms to assist with competitors changing, and the entire town almost came to a standstill during the hour or so the event took to complete."

On that occasion, the race went from Orchard Road, via College Road and Thirlstane Road to the common, then up Old Wyche Road and so up to the summit of the Beacon. Runners then went down into West Malvern, coming out on West Malvern Road by the old Westminster Hotel, back round North Hill and along Graham Road, finishing back at Orchard Road.

Mr Thomas said he never completed the race in under 45 minutes, but because he helped organise it for the first couple of years, he was given a medal "more for organisational skills than for running ability".