Wheelchairs, Perjury and the London Marathon

by Tim Marshall

  There are several points to make here. Firstly, “The Guardian” refers to Philip Lewis as the BSAD Chairman, but the BSAD headed notepaper at this time says it is someone called Colin Bance, of whom I had never heard. I don’t know who was what, or when the chairmanship changed from Lewis to Bance (or vice versa), but Brasher brought this up at a press conference 9 days later. Secondly, I was delighted to be upsetting Brasher (and presumably, Disley too). After the initial rejection for the 1981 race, by the simple means of “No reply”, and ditto for 1982, the aggressive response by Disley to my post-1982 enquiry (the “perjury” letter), was something I wasn’t going to let go.

  Thirdly, I suppose my role over the last months had been analogous to that of a lobbyist. So what do lobbyists do, other than approach the press, and MPs, and … Fourthly, I had never heard of Alyn Claremont Davies, though he was apparently well-known in London wheelchair sports circles, and would reappear later on. And finally, yet again we had a reported offer – possibly – of jam tomorrow. But by now, my feeling was that people would find some way of having jam today, perhaps even by trying the sort of protest we had discussed at Reading.

  On the Tuesday evening, 29th March, the phone rang at 8.45.

  “Hello, Tim Marshall.”

  “Tim, this is Philip Lewis here. We’ve had various meetings down here, about the London Marathon as you can imagine. The upshot is that Chris Brasher is going to issue the following press release at 9 o’clock, and I’ve been asked to clear it with you.”

  “Why you, Philip, why isn’t he on the line?”

  “He, er, wouldn’t speak to you, and he thought I would be an acceptable intermediary.”

  “Oh, OK.” [He must have been upset].

  “The press release reads like this:

  “‘Although it is against international regulations for wheelchairs and runners to take part in the same race’ [the bastard, he’s twisted things again: same race, no, but same event, yes; and he knows that], ‘in order to allow wheelchair athletes to enjoy the unique experience created by the London Marathon’ – [patronising bastard! …] ””

  I don’t remember the details that followed, but the upshot was that, one way or another, there was going to be a wheelchair section in the race. Hooray, at last. But having made my points about the tenor of the press release – if I objected too strongly there might be a risk that the wheelchair section would be aborted – I subsided. Apparently, though, there were still further negotiations to take place, and it didn’t look as though I was to be included. I don’t remember Philip being clear about what the next steps were, but I could hardly insist on being part of them, for all that my trouble-making had brought us to this stage (for so I thought). The problem was that, not knowing who was in the “negotiating team” I couldn’t be sure that whoever was knew enough about wheelchair marathoning to get the best possible deal. All this could hardly be argued out with someone who was merely, in his own words, an intermediary. So the conversation finished, and next morning at work I took the department out for lunchtime drinks, confident that at last we’d managed to get a wheelchair section, but wondering when I would hear anything more.

  It didn’t take long, though it was in print rather than over the phone. Somehow, probably later than the dateline, but chronologically fitting in here, I had acquired a copy of the “Standard”, London’s evening paper. In the edition for Wednesday 30th, the following appeared:

  “London Marathon runs into trouble

  Disabled athletes hoping to take part in next month’s London Marathon were at the centre of a bitter dispute today. The Labour-controlled GLC is insisting that wheelchair athletes WILL be allowed to compete in the race on April 17th.

  But organiser Mr Chris Brasher said today “Wheelchairs will not be allowed in the London Marathon, let’s be quite clear about that. It would be far too dangerous.”

  GLC deputy Labour leader Mr Illtyd Harrington countered firmly “Mr Brasher has got it wrong. Disabled athletes in wheelchairs will be allowed to take part in the race proper and that is that. There is no doubt on that at all.” It is thought that about 20 disabled athletes using wheelchairs wish to take part.

  Earlier it was understood that the matter had been settled at a midnight meeting at County Hall between the politicians and the race organisers. The hour-long meeting resulted in the following joint statement being issued: ‘Discussions have taken place between Mr Tony Banks, chairman of the GLC’s arts and recreation committee, Mr Chris Brasher, the race organiser, and Mr Colin Bance, chairman of the British Sports Association for the Disabled, in an effort to resolve the matter of wheelchair athletes. ‘The British Sports Association for the Disabled accepts that international rules do not allow people on wheels to take part in running events and that huge marathons such as London, New York and Honolulu could not allow wheelchair athletes to take part because of the danger to other competitors on downhill sections. ‘However, in an effort to allow wheelchair athletes to enjoy the unique experience created by the London Marathon, Mr Banks, Mr Bance and Mr Alex Mackay (a GLC councillor) have suggested to the British Sports Association for the Disabled that they appoint an organiser to work with the GLC to ensure that ‘wheelers’ can share the experience.’

  Mr Brasher interpreted this by saying a special race would be organised for the wheelchair athletes after the London Marathon had taken place. He criticised GLC councillors. “They are politicians. They are not involved with sports people, whether for the disabled or not. They should stay out of it,” he said.”

  This was not at all promising. What had appeared, a few hours earlier, to be a done deal, although with a few (unspecified) details still to be tidied up, now looked rather less secure. The statement about wheelchairs not taking part with runners, and the assertion of the likelihood of accidents, both seemed to give ground where no concession was needed. Just who was in the BSAD negotiating team? Did they know about Chicago, the Orange Bowl, San Francisco, Berlin, Rotterdam, Paris … to offer as counter-examples to Honolulu and New York? (And Honolulu was shortly to reverse its decision to exclude wheelchairs, though New York never did.) [PS: it has now.]

  Furthermore, the quotes attributed to Illtyd Harrington and Chris Brasher seemed to be setting the proverbial irresistible force against an immoveable object. One of them was bound to lose, even if only lose face. Who was more likely to hold sway? Perhaps it was time to contact Julia and the London crowd to see what we could rustle up.

  Matters were nudged a little further by an article which appeared the following day, Thursday 31st March, also in the “Standard”; it was evidently keeping a close watch on things:

  “Marathon wait for wheelchair men

  A decision on whether wheelchair athletes are allowed to compete in the London Marathon is unlikely to be reached before the end of next week – just nine days before the race is due to take place.

  Race organiser Mr Chris Brasher said: “We are having talks with the British Sports Association for the Disabled but a report will not be produced before next Thursday. Until then the matter is closed.”

  The full annual meeting of the GLC’s controlling Labour group last night pledged its “100 percent support” to allowing wheelchair athletes to compete, the council’s deputy leader, Mr Illtyd Harrington, said today. “There is complete unity at the GLC on this. If the disabled do not take part – then nor do we.”

  Race organisers say wheelchair athletes cannot compete with runners under international rules – and also fear accidents if they were to be included.

  The GLC says it will withdraw its considerable support for the marathon – in which 18,000 runners are due to compete on Sunday April 17th – if they are not allowed. Without GLC support the marathon would be extremely difficult to stage. County Hall provides several hundred helpers on the day, besides much office accommodation, administrative help and reception areas, particularly at the Westminster Bridge race finish. Up to 20 wheelchair athletes want to take part.

  E
arly start

  One suggestion being mooted is that wheelchairs should be allowed but with either an early or a late start. Mr Ivor Mitchell, vice-chairman of the BSAD, said members were athletes in their own right and should be allowed in the London Marathon.”

  Several comments seem in order. Firstly, Brasher seemed to have given a little from the absolutist position he was quoted as taking only the day before. But from my point of view, the same questions which arose during and after the phone call from Philip Lewis seemed to loom just as large, if not larger: who was in the BSAD “negotiating team” and what did they know about wheelchair marathoning?

  Set against these concerns was the strong position the GLC had apparently adopted. Allowing a wheelchair section into the race wasn’t any longer just the view of Illtyd Harrington, or even Illtyd plus Tony Banks, but that of the whole council – or at least, the majority Labour group. And the article contained a remarkable threat, that of the withdrawal of support for the marathon, together with some hints as to what that might consist of. It wasn’t possible to determine whether views expressed in the newspaper were those of the politicians, or whether it was the newspaper itself speculating about what “withdrawal of support” might mean. There was obviously much to be worked through before, according to Brasher, “next Thursday”, exactly one week away.

  One other comment is worth making here, though it may seem blindingly obvious: “taking part in the London Marathon” for wheelchairs did not mean that they would be racing against the runners, but only against each other; they would be taking part with the runners, just as men and women run with, rather than against, each other. Astonishingly, this appeared not to be the view of all of what might be called “the opposition”.

  Jenny Ward, I learned, had been instructed by the BSAD hierarchy to drop all her routine work for the London region and devote herself full time to the business of the marathon. Despite her experience back in December with LBC radio, and the apparent continuing uncertainty about the race (Brasher’s “the matter is closed until next Thursday”), on the same day as the newspaper report, Jenny sent out a letter to all those who had taken part in the Isle of Dogs race, plus anyone else she had heard of who might be interested. It ran thus:

  “To Prospective Wheelchair Marathoners

  I am sure you will have heard in the media the enormous, if last minute break-through, in allowing wheelchair competitors to compete in the London Marathon.

  Yesterday I was asked to be Race Organiser for the wheelchair section. This I am prepared to do but it requires an enormous amount of organisation within the next two weeks if wheelchair competitors are to safely compete in the marathon. I spent the day with the organisers yesterday, working out the safest way that this could take place and I now offer you the chance to participate. If the event is to be safely and efficiently organised in the very short time that’s left, I ask that if you enter you accept the arrangements I make are the best possible under the circumstances. [So it was Jenny who was doing the negotiating. What knowledge did she have of wheelchair marathoning, and what advice was she getting? No criticism of her, chucked into the fray with Brasher and Disley at such short notice. I wasn’t, alas, in a position to go down and camp in London for 2½ weeks, even if B&D had been prepared to accept me in a negotiating role.] Tim Marshall, BSAD Marathon Co-ordinator and the most experienced marathon competitor in this country endorses the arrangements which are being made. [I don’t remember giving any such endorsement, and I have no paperwork to this effect, but as I’ve said repeatedly the paperwork covering the whole business is often very incomplete. And while it’s possible I was the most experienced marathoner in the country, I certainly wouldn’t have claimed to be so. It’s quite possible that Gerry Kinsella had done more marathons than me, and he certainly had better times.] This is a fine opportunity to prove that serious wheelchair marathoners can compete alongside runners in a marathon with safety. With the experience gained this year behind us I have the assurance of the Marathon organisers that from the start of the organisation of the 1984 race full participation by wheelchairs will be considered.

  B.S.A.D. LONDON MARATHON 1983 – 17th APRIL

  Up to 20 wheelchair competitors to leave the RED start at GREENWICH at 10 a.m. (this is half an hour after the runners in order that the bulk of the runners will be clear of a hill before the wheelchairs arrive at the hill). [The hill was the descent down John Wilson Street to the roundabout at the bottom.]

  Wheelchair entrants are competing against each other in the race and will be separately numbered.

  Apart from the two points above wheelchair entrants will have parity with runners, including use of all facilities and eligibility for medals.

  [This was the first point at which a back-end start seems to have been instituted. Would anyone else have been able to achieve a front-end start? To be honest, it’s doubtful. Maybe we should have told them to go and talk to Brendan Foster at Newcastle.]

  I am only just beginning on the practical arrangements but I will be grateful if you could confirm below that you would accept the invitation to be a wheelchair entrant. At this stage I enclose some practical details which have been sent to runners, this is in order for you to start to make preparations but not all arrangements apply, particularly in relation to rail transport to the start. It looks as if the most effective way for you to get to the start would be by your own transport with a chauffeur who could then take your transport to the finish. The closing of roads and the enormous amount of traffic will mean a very early assembly at Greenwich and I would be grateful if you would bear this in mind before agreeing to take part. I will be working out the practical details in the next few days but in the meantime I would be grateful if you would indicate by returning the form attached that you are interested in participating in the Marathon event.”

  Jenny added a hand-written note to me: “Initial first blurb which I will send to anyone you name to me by phone. Much organisation problems re transport etc. but I’m hopeful we can sort it out. Regards, Jenny.”

  I set about trying to rustle up more punters from the Midlands and the North to put in an entry. All I can recall was the failures. After his initial success in the People’s Marathon over two years ago, Mark had found races increasingly hard, and declined. The Southport club had just done a sponsored push, a marathon I think, round an old airfield, and whoever I spoke to declined on behalf of the whole club. That was a pity, because having Gerry Kinsella in the mix would have been a great addition to the occasion, and been an eye-opener for the London lot who, as far as I could tell, never ventured outside London and the South-East. So my efforts to increase participation fell completely flat .Other hospital-based sports clubs in the north showed no interest.

  There is another article from “The Sunday Times” about the business. My copy is undated but in the light of its contents it is from April 3rd. Under a banner headline

  “Wheelchairs can roll up for the London Marathon”

  the article went as follows:

  “A selected number of disabled people in wheelchairs is likely to compete with the 17,000-plus runners in the Gillette London Marathon later this month. This is the compromise to be worked out next week after the Greater London Council threatened to withdraw its substantial support because the organisers banned wheelchair athletes.

  Ever since some 20 disabled people – including Alyn Claremont-Davies (pictured) – entered the event, which takes place on April 17th, the race director, Christopher Brasher, has been insisting on the enforcement of an International Amateur Athletics Federation rule which defines a marathon as “road running, walking and cross-country running”. [So he was still refusing to acknowledge that a wheelchair event would be run in parallel with the main running event. Was this a wilful denial of the argument, or did he really believe that the wheelchairs would be competing against the runners?]

  Brasher’s main concern is that wheelchairs threaten the safety of other competitors. But disabled entr
ants, who found themselves barred from the 26-mile circuit through London streets, argue that wheelchair athletes have competed successfully and safely in over 20 different running marathons in Britain… The rift worsened at the end of March with a bad-tempered exchange between Brasher and the disabled people, who were actively lobbying support for their participation. In a letter to the British Sports Association for the Disabled, Brasher said his goodwill towards the disabled was ‘rapidly evaporating’.

  But the GLC, which does not provide any cash support for the event but provides organisational assistance, entered the controversy last week. A Labour group meeting pledged support for the disabled and said that if wheelchairs were not allowed, the council would withdraw its support.

  Yesterday the deputy leader of the GLC, Illtyd Harrington, said that he had talked with Brasher by telephone on Friday and it was clear that there might be a compromise they could work out at a meeting after the Easter weekend. It would probably mean that some wheelchair athletes could participate after vetting for their ability.

  Alyn Claremont-Davies, 24 [NB a previous article had said he was 26] who has been in a wheelchair for two years, is still training hard on runs between five and 18 miles around his home in Deptford, south London, in the hope that he will be allowed to take part. “I know I can control my wheelchair safely and all I ask is the opportunity to prove myself” he said. Yesterday, both Brasher and his deputy director, John Disley, could not be contacted for comment.”

  This article was almost exactly halfway between Philip Lewis’ phone call to me on Tuesday 29th and the meeting in County Hall on Thursday 7th April.

  After all the noise reflected in the articles above, it was hardly to be expected that Brasher would remain silent over the issue; he didn’t. The same day, Sunday April 3rd, his article in “The Observer” provided a brief account of recent events – from his point of view, naturally, as this whole book is from mine – and he included remarks such as “emotional blackmail” to describe the kind of pressure that he and John Disley had experienced. This article attracted the attention of George Wilson, the director of RADAR (a national charity promoting the cause of people with disabilities), who wrote to The Observer arguing the case for including a wheelchair section as part of the London event (Brasher had argued for a separate wheelchair event altogether). There followed a short, pugnacious correspondence between the two, ending with a long letter from George Wilson at the end of May, which brought things to a close.