About the Author
6
George Bunner was born in the City of Liverpool in 1932 and despite a
difficult start, losing his father at an early age, George was already a
promising athlete as a member of Liverpool Harriers. He worked his way
through night school and college to become a Chartered Electrical Engineer
and eventually Managing Director of one of the largest electrical contractors
in the North West of England.
As an athlete George reached a high point in 1950 when he became English
AAA Junior 880 yards Champion before foreign travel curtailed his running
career. George suffered the tragic loss of his wife in a car crash in 1968 that
also left him severely injured and a single parent of their two infant sons. In 1971 he married his present
wife Sheila and the couple had a baby daughter. Having fought back from his injuries, he rekindled his
interest in athletics and with some friends decided to form an athletic club in his hometown of
Frodsham, Cheshire. Realising that traditional track and field would not suit the primary school aged
children in his charge, George set about creating what have become known as the Sportshall Athletics
and Fun in Athletics programmes. Both of these programmes come under the title of "Sportshall". His
Sportshall vision has evolved over the years and his initiatives now form a major part of the UK Athletics
programme with an estimated 350,000 children taking part annually.
George Bunner has always been keen to stress the support he has gained from his friend Ron Pickering
and his business partner George Uren who joined the team in 1982. He has also been keen to ensure
that all Sportshall Athletes are given the right values.
The Sportshall Athletics and Fun in Athletics programmes provide a highly enjoyable way for young
people to try running, jumping and throwing activities as their first steps into athletics. It gives children
their first taste of fun and excitement of track and field events in a safe environment, often in areas
where the lack of facilities or the weather prevents traditional outdoor activity. Following this success,
an outdoor programme has been created.
The programmes emphasise the importance of team competition and fair play and the fact that taking
part and trying your hardest is more important than winning alone. Above all, Sportshall Athletics is an
activity that can bring together children from across the globe in competition and friendship.
George, now recognised as a leading international authority in the development of children’s athletics,
left the engineering profession in 1992 to work full-time in a voluntary capacity and now at over 70
years old has no plans to retire. He can still be found in his office every day developing his programmes
and satisfying his passion for athletics.
George Bunner M.B.E.
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