Tributes to Fylde coast athletics stalwart David Wood

As Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Athletics Club’s long-serving press and publicity officer, David will also be greatly missed by all at the Lancashire Post and its sister paper The Gazette.

David was among our most loyal and dependable correspondents for many years, providing reports and his own photographs for the weekly athletics page.

Such was David’s dedication that even after coronavirus brought his beloved sport to a halt, he continued to produce material until his tragic passing.

Our thanks to BWFAC secretary Nick Hume for providing the following tribute to David.

“David was a Blackpool lad, who went to school at Thames and Palatine before joining the civil service, where he worked all his life.

“He became interested in running in the early 1990s, initially joining Red Rose Road Runners before transferring in 1995 to North Fylde AC, based at the Norcross Social Security Offices.

“By the time North Fylde merged with Blackpool and Fylde to form BWFAC in 2006, David’s running career was coming to a close due to injury.

“However, instead of moving on as so many do, he found a new interest in sports photography and honed these skills over the years, producing excellent action photos of club members and those from other clubs.

“He would then offer these photos to the clubs for their websites and social media pages, and to the athletes themselves, free of charge.

“David took a keen interest in the performances of the junior athletes and would often talk to them and their parents about their achievements and hopes for the future.

“He became a fixture at the local Inter Club Series, the Lancashire AA Championships and the Mid Lancs Association fixtures.

“When parkrun came to the Fylde coast, David was one of the first to offer his services. He volunteered 225 times for the Lytham Hall parkrun on Saturdays and then the junior parkrun at Park View on Sundays, taking photos which the parents of the young runners really appreciated.

“He also became involved in coaching, working with the growing junior section at Lytham St Annes Road Runners every Monday and earning a place in their hearts too.

“His untimely and tragic death has left many in the Fylde running community and beyond in tears and shock as they start to come to terms with the fact that David is no longer with us.

“David, your race is over but your deeds and actions will live on as BWFAC and the other local clubs look to honour your name.”