Some Sad News about Mickie Gray

We have heard from UKA that Mike (Mickie) Gray died on 19^th February 2010. His colleagues in Hampshire Southampton sent the following information:

Mike was a well known sprinter who continued competing well into Veteran ages (and at a time before Vets Athletics became fashionable).  He was however probably better known as an accomplished and highly qualified starter.  Sadly he was struck down by a debilitating stroke some 11 years ago and was unable to continue any active role within athletics.  The subsequent years brought great despair and distress to both Mike and his family. Whilst his death is of course tragic I think everyone can be comforted by the knowledge that his suffering is over.

Richard Float (Starter and L&RAA stalwart) has sent this additional information:

I doubt that many people apart from Bob Turner and me will remember Mickie Gray.   Not to be confused with the slim dark 440yds runner of that name (known as Mick Gray) in LCAT AC at the same time, Mickie was rotund and balding by the time I first met him.  He was a starter and ex-runner at 100 and 220yds although by the time I came to Leicester in 1961 he had more or less given up senior competition as an athlete.   He worked for the GPO and, in their service, moved to Southampton in, I guess, the early/mid 1960s.

He kept contact with Leicester for some years as his mother still lived here and in the late sixties and possibly early seventies, he used to turn up for the County Championships to officiate and/or run as a veteran.   For some years afterwards he featured prominently in Hampshire athletics as an official.

Mickie would have been a regular attender at L&RAA Committees and events.

We send out condolences to his family and to all those who knew him locally.