Latest news with #Noggins
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The emotion of a Kenilworth Custard Corner marathon runner
Custard Corner is not for the street's yellow colour, hence its name, only the brave need apply - at least when running enough laps of it to cover the equivalent distance of a marathon. And in a heatwave no rather than "exhausted", what Ian Beasley had to say of Saturday's feat - on a jaundiced section of Station Road in Kenilworth - was "awesome" and "emotional".He was running in memory of his best friend and best man, known as Noggins, who took his own life in February 2024. Mr Beasley notched up roughly 600 laps of Custard Corner during the event he organised, raising money for the Samaritans charity as he said members of the public turned out to support him and fellow runners, with the marathon taking place against a backdrop of "Mexican waves, people singing along to buskers [and] bells ringing".He told BBC CWR that his Custard Corner challenge, which saw him run 26.2 miles, had raised more than £12,600 for the cause so far, and he would like to organise another one next year. Mr Beasley, an optometrist who lives in Kenilworth, has previously described Noggins as "a one-off" who was "adored by everyone".For the final 0.2 miles, Mr Beasley arranged for the group of participants to run in silence while he carried a photo of his friend. Noggins' favourite song, Find the River by REM, was played."I was in tears during that 0.2 of a mile," Mr Beasley said."That was really emotional." Mr Beasley said he was delighted that the marathon had raised thousands of pounds for charity, but his personal highlight of the day was seeing men open up about their mental health had three conversations at the event with men who spoke about the issues they faced, he added."I don't think that would have happened had we not created the environment [for it]," he said. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kenilworth man to run Custard Corner marathon for Samaritans
Ian Beasley's life changed when, in February 2024, his best friend and best man at his wedding took his own Beasley described his friend - known as Noggins - as "a one-off" who was "brilliant at everything without even trying".On Saturday, he will run a marathon in his memory, raising money for the Samaritans charity which offers mental health the 26.2 miles is on no ordinary route - he will race around a small section of street in Kenilworth, dubbed Custard Corner because of its yellow-painted tarmac. Custard Corner, on Station Road, was given the nickname after it was painted by Warwickshire County Beasley said it measured just 0.045 miles (72 metres) on his sports watch."It depends a little bit on how well the public behave, each lap is a little bit different depending on scooters, pushchairs and so on... but I would estimate about 600 laps," he told BBC CWR. Other runners are turning out to keep Mr Beasley going."I've had lots of support, I run for Kenilworth Runners and I've got at least one runner for each mile... joining me," he said."My wife will join me at mile 13."Others looking to support him will run with him virtually - including his daughter in Montreal, and two members of the running club in the Isle of Man and Isle of Wight."There's someone joining from the Golden Gate Bridge as well I think," he added. Of the challenge, Mr Beasley said: "It's very personal.""My best friend, best man at my wedding in 2001, sadly struggled for quite a while with mental health issues, and he didn't get the help he needed."On his fundraising page, which has a target of £10,000, he said Noggins "packed a lot into his half-century", and was "adored by everyone"."Noggins had this annoying habit of being brilliant at everything without even trying," he wrote."For example, he rocked up late to run Coventry Half Marathon after a boozy night out – without any proper training and barely enough time to stub out his cigarette before the race started... he finished it in 89 minutes."Mr Beasley told the BBC the idea for his inaugural "Custard Corner Marathon" took off, after he posted it on Facebook."The support was just phenomenal - from people who I've never met, through to local businesses that have really got behind the concept to support that financially, logistically, in any way they can.""The whole idea of mental health just resonates with people, you don't have to step too far within your own friendship circles to know someone who has a mental health struggle." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
