Latest news with #BobEmmerson
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
More than 500 runners remember 'Mr Northampton Parkrun'
Almost 540 people took part in a Parkrun dedicated to keen athlete who died aged 92 in Emmerson, who was referred to as "Mr Northampton Parkrun", completed 537 of the weekly 5km running events at the town's Racecourse park, and volunteered at a further 53. Many runners answered the call to wear green T-shirts, similar to the ones Mr Emmerson wore, and bring food to donate to a charity. His son, also called Bob, joined in on Saturday, wearing one of the green Silverstone 10k T-shirts belonging to his dad and he said he was overwhelmed by the support. Mr Emmerson, who died in his sleep on 27 May, kept active despite having both his hips was rarely seen at Parkrun with anything other than a distinctive green Silverstone 10k 30th anniversary took part in many other Parkruns, including at Brixworth Country Park, Daventry and Kettering, in Northamptonshire, plus ones in Darlington in County Durham, Market Harborough in Leicestershire, and Bushy Park in south-west London, where the first Parkrun took Bushell, co-event director of the Northampton one, said: "It was lovely to have Bob's son Robert back running at the event and to see so many Parkrunners wearing green - the colour of Bob's usual running top." The 92-year-old was also a keen gardener at his home in Walgrave."The inspiration for 'Bob Day' was his love of handing out food grown in his allotment to Parkrunners on a Saturday morning," said Mr Bushell. "It felt fitting to support the McCarthy Dixon Foundation with a collection of food for the most vulnerable across the county."The charity supports people in the county facing financial hardship and mass participation 5km run celebrated its 20th anniversary last year having been started by 13 participants in London in 2004. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bob Emmerson, known as 'Mr Northampton parkrun', dies aged 92
A county's running community has mourned the passing of a nonagenarian referred to as "Mr Northampton parkrun".Bob Emmerson, 92, who died on Tuesday, had completed 537 parkruns - primarily at the event hosted at Northampton's racecourse - and had volunteered at a further 53 Bushell, co-event director at Northampton parkrun, said Mr Emmerson was "a huge part of the event" and recently attended the 600th race at the site on 17 said: "People turned up [to Northampton parkrun] because they wanted to see and speak to Bob. He really inspired and encouraged parkrunners, especially those taking part for the first time". Mr Emmerson, from Walgrave, Northamptonshire, started taking part in 2012, when he was runner - who kept active despite having both of his hips resurfaced - completed 528 editions of the Northampton event, but had also ran at others in Northamptonshire at Brixworth Country Park, Daventry and Kettering, plus ones in Darlington, County Durham, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, and Bushy Park in London, where the first parkrun took place. In a post on Facebook, Northampton parkrun said Mr Emmerson "quite simply was Mr Northampton parkrun".The event also confirmed its intention to "pay our respects" to Mr Emmerson, who passed away in his sleep, at future editions of the Northampton Emmerson was rarely seen at parkrun with anything other than a distinctive green Silverstone 10k 30th anniversary a post of their own reflecting the "truly sad news", the Silverstone Grand Prix 10k race said: "He appears in the top 10 times in five age categories M65 (three times), M75, M80, M85, and incredibly, last year he achieved his goal by completing the race and setting a M90 age record." Mr Emmerson previously told the BBC he was a "proper, serious, ultra-runner" in his younger days, completing ultradistance and 24-hour races, and his fastest time for a marathon was two hours, 40 minutes and 25 said he enjoyed parkrun as it was a "friendly get-together"."I must have made hundreds of new friends since I've done the parkrun," he added. The mass participation 5km run celebrated its 20th anniversary last year after it was started by 13 participants in London. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
