Ken and his wife Hilda in 2010
Ken Johnson, from Oadby, competed for Great Britain in the 1952 games
in Helsinki, Finland, in the 3,000 metres steeplechase after a successful cross country career "one-miling" for the county.
He ran for Leicester Colleges of Art and Technology.
Ken, Leicester born and bred, only switched to the steeplechase a year before the Olympics and constructed his own hurdle which he would carry on his shoulder between Belgrave and Rushey Fields for training.
In one of his first official steeplechases he broke a 19-year-old Midlands record.
He finished seventh in the first heat of the Olympic event, in very talented field, and did not make the final.
In 1954 he ran at the Midlands steeplechase championship, run by the British United Shoe Machinery Company at its grounds in Mowmacre Hill.
The company made five heavy wooden barriers as hurdles and dug a water pit filled by the firm's own fire brigade.
Ken won the race and the barriers then took on a new purpose - being donated to the Saffron Lane sports centre for crowd control.
Ken passed away on Saturday December 12, at home and with his family by his side, after a period of illness.
He leaves his wife of 65 years Hilda, daughters Ann and Mary and son Ian, who live in South Leicestershire.
He also leaves granddaughters Vickie and Liz and four great grandchildren.
Ken worked as electrical engineer for Elequip in Wigston.
He was a one-company man joining as an apprentice and working his way up to director level.
He was also a car enthusiast and a particular fan of Morris vehicles - he owned a Morris 12 and enjoyed attending rallies across the country often with his children in tow.
He became chairman of the Morris Register club.
Daughter Ann said: "Dad loved his running and he loved his cars.
"There can't be that many Olympians from 1952 left now.
"We will all miss him."
Ken's funeral will be held on Tuesday January 5 at 3pm at Countesthorpe Crematorium.
in Helsinki, Finland, in the 3,000 metres steeplechase after a successful cross country career "one-miling" for the county.He ran for Leicester Colleges of Art and Technology.
Ken, Leicester born and bred, only switched to the steeplechase a year before the Olympics and constructed his own hurdle which he would carry on his shoulder between Belgrave and Rushey Fields for training.
In one of his first official steeplechases he broke a 19-year-old Midlands record.
He finished seventh in the first heat of the Olympic event, in very talented field, and did not make the final.
In 1954 he ran at the Midlands steeplechase championship, run by the British United Shoe Machinery Company at its grounds in Mowmacre Hill.
The company made five heavy wooden barriers as hurdles and dug a water pit filled by the firm's own fire brigade.
Ken won the race and the barriers then took on a new purpose - being donated to the Saffron Lane sports centre for crowd control.
Ken passed away on Saturday December 12, at home and with his family by his side, after a period of illness.
He leaves his wife of 65 years Hilda, daughters Ann and Mary and son Ian, who live in South Leicestershire.
He also leaves granddaughters Vickie and Liz and four great grandchildren.
Ken worked as electrical engineer for Elequip in Wigston.
He was a one-company man joining as an apprentice and working his way up to director level.
He was also a car enthusiast
and a particular fan of Morris vehicles - he owned a Morris 12 and enjoyed attending rallies across the country often with his children in tow.He became chairman of the Morris Register club.
Daughter Ann said: "Dad loved his running and he loved his cars.
"There can't be that many Olympians from 1952 left now.
"We will all miss him."
Ken's funeral will be held on Tuesday January 5 at 3pm at Countesthorpe Crematorium.
Courtesy
Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicestershire-1952-Olympian-Ken-Johnson-passes/story-28389772-detail/story.html#ixzz3uolEmNX4
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