Selby Brock

Teacher and athletics coach

SELBY BROCK, who has died at 79, was a long-serving Yorkshire teacher who inspired several generations of youngsters to fall in love with running.

His former pupils at Bradford Grammar School included two Olympic medallists, the brothers Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, and the British international Richard Nerurkar, as well as countless others with a less competitive interest.

For nearly 40 years was in charge of the school’s successful cross country club, having taken up the role in 1961, with no background in athletics, reasoning that if he didn’t do it, “no-one else would’. Within a few years it was being thought of as one of the best schools clubs in the North.

His trick in persuading so many out on to the track was to make a gruelling race seem like fun, his former colleagues recalled. His commitment extended even to driving them to weekend fixtures across England.

INSPIRATIONAL: Selby Brock, who inspired generations of runners including the Brownlee brothers. PICTURES: BRADFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL

In an era before anyone had invented the mantra of Sport For All, he was the quintessential, old style school master who

managed to combine his racing schedule with a full teaching timetable – he specialised in maths and history – and his duties as a form tutor.

He encouraged students of all running abilities to try their best, and those who continued to run today did so because of him, said his fellow teacher, Tony Kingham.

Even in retirement he continued to support the school team and the wider running community in West Yorkshire, and could often be seen overseeing a time trial in Bradford’s Lister Park.

The school’s headmaster, Dr Simon Hinchliffe, said: “He devoted much of his life to BGS and our cross country club and his influence cannot be overstated.”