Ann Sayer
Ann Rosemary Sayer MBE (16 October 1936 – 15 April 2020) was an English long-distance walker and rower.
Born in Whitstable, Kent, Sayer attended London University, graduating with a degree in geology after which she worked for the oil company BP.[1]
Having taken up rowing at university, Sayer was selected for Great Britain at the Women's European Rowing Championships in 1960, 1962 and 1964.[2] In 1977, she became the first woman to qualify as a Centurion, walking 100 miles in under 24 hours.[1] In 1979 she set the National 3 Peaks Challenge record by climbing the 3 highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland and running between each one in just 7 days. She also took part in several 24 hour races in France.[3] In 1980 she set a still unbroken record for the fastest ever walk by a woman from Land's End to John o' Groats.[1]
Sayer became a vice-president of the Long Distance Walkers Association, and was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for service to sport in the 2005 Birthday Honours list.[4]
In 2018 she suffered complications after breaking her hip during a fall,[1] and died with COVID-19 on 15 April 2020, aged 83.[3]
A memorial bench was installed in the Woodland Gardens, Bushy Park, in 2023.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Welch, Julie (24 April 2020). "Ann Sayer obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Ann Sayer". Rowing Story. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Ann Sayer MBE". World Ranking – National & World Race Walking.
- ^ "No. 57665". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2005. p. 20.
- ^ Higgins, Stuart (30 November 2023). "BUSHY PARK SUPER BENCH MARKS THE LIFE OF ANN SAYER". Teddington Town. Retrieved 26 January 2024.