A LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT

1929 Born in Harrow, Middlesex.

1946 (Mile personal best: 4min 24sec) Begins medical studies at Oxford on scholarship and starts running.

1948 (4min 19sec) Inspired by London Olympics, vows to compete in Helsinki in 1952.

1952 (4min 7sec) Finishes fourth in Olympics 1500m. Sets new goal: run a mile in under four minutes.

1954 (3min 58.6sec) Becomes first man to run a mile in less than 4mins. Record lasts 46 days, trumped by Aussie John Landy. Retires to focus on medicine.

1963 Earns medical degree from Oxford to becomes a neurologist, publishing over 80 papers.

1971 Made chairman of England’s Sports Council (now Sport England) and leads anti-doping crusade. Brings in tests for anabolic steroids.

1975 Car crash and broken ankle end casual running days.