University | Sport

26 Jun 09

Sir Roger Bannister visited The University of Oxford’s University Club this week to talk about life after the four-minute mile.

The event was organised by the Association of Oxford University Pensioners (AOUP) as a way of letting its members know that they are now welcome to join the University Club free of charge.The AOUP, founded in 1985, aims to keep retired staff in touch with each other and with the University department or institution that employed them. Every retired employee of the University - academic and non-academic – is automatically a member of the Association and there are more than 4000 members in Oxfordshire.

Sir Roger, who famously completed the first mile in under four minutes on the Iffley Road track in 1954, said: 'We never had the professional management and support that sports and the University Club now have through Director of Sport Jon Roycroft.'

He expressed how impressed he was with the University Club facilities saying: 'We didn’t have facilities like this when I was an undergraduate.'

In 2004, the construction of the Oxford University Club consolidated the function of outdated facilities and freed the adjacent grounds for the Science Area development. Now the Club provides food & drink, sports facilities – including yoga for seniors, guest rooms, hosts various societies and be hired for functions.

Sir Roger discussed the history of sport and the Olympics talking about competition, genetics, neurology, propaganda, sports participation, and doping. “I presented a doping test in 1972 that proved that 10% per cent of the anonymously tested athletes were using anabolic steroids”. But he said it took much later until any tests were introduced to Olympic sports.

When asked how he felt after breaking the iconic 4-minute mile record, Sir Roger summarised with one word – ‘tired’.
Gillian Sills, the president of Association of Oxford Pensioners said: 'The University broke new ground nearly thirty years ago with the establishment of the Association of Oxford University Pensioners, to support pensioners, keeping us in touch by financing a Newsletter and hiring a Pensions Welfare Officer. Now we've been given the keys to the University Club, for all members, somewhere to see our Pensioners' Welfare Officer and meet each other informally and socially.'

Sam Ellis, Head of Pensions at the University said: 'This is a part our effort to improve the direct contact with our pensioners. From September onwards, a senior pensions officer – together with Marie Hawksby – will be dropping in on monthly basis to assist AOUP members and all University of Oxford Pensioners with any queries.'

As well as new drop-in sessions starting in September and the University Club, AOUP members can enjoy support for life long learning and free access to the Botanical Gardens.