John Parlett
British track and field athlete (1925–2022)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harold John Parlett (19 April 1925 – 6 March 2022) was a British track and field athlete who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.[1] He was born in Bromley, Greater London.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 19 April 1925 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 6 March 2022 (aged 96) Woodford Green, East London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 62 kg (137 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event | middle-distance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Dorking St. Paul's AC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biography
Parlett attended Tiffin School, where he joined the ATC. He later joined the RAF, and left in 1947.[2] In 1942, he joined the Dorking St. Paul's Athletic Club and broke he 880 yards club record before winning the Surrey and Southern Counties title and represeting England against France in 1947.[3]
Parlett finished third behind Tom White in the 880 yards event at the 1947 AAA Championships[4][5] before becoming the became the British 880 yards champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1948 AAA Championships.[6] Shortly after his AAA win he represented the Great Britain team at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.[3]
Parlett won a second AAA title at the 1949 AAA Championships.[7]
Parlett was the 800 metres champion at the 1950 European Athletics Championships. Representing England, he won the 880-yard run at the 1950 British Empire Games and was also a silver medallist in the 4 × 440 yards relay. His personal best for the 800 m was 1:50.5 minutes, set in 1950.[8][9]
On 26 September 1951 he set a world record as part of a 4 × 800 metres relay team, that consisted of Bill Nankeville, Albert Webster and Frank Evans. The quartet recorded 7:30.6 at the White City Stadium.[10]
In 1979 Parlett married Dorothy Manley (then Dorothy Hall, widowed in 1973). He died on 6 March 2022, at the age of 96.[3][11]