HE SPENT ten years as Scotland’s best ‘miler’, winning the national championship eight times and setting numerous records.
Graham Everett’s achievements are all the more impressive because as a child, he had to overcome early bouts of bronchitis to pursue an athletic career.
The inspirational runner was born in George Street and brought up in Balornock by father George, a bookmaker, and mother Katie.
In this shot from our archives, he and fellow Scottish running legend Andy Forbes are at the Kelvin Hall to launch a summer track and field programme.
Graham, who died in 2017, aged 83, was Scotland’s pre-eminent miler for almost a decade beginning in the 1950s, while Andy, who died in 1994, won a silver medal at the 1950 British Empire Games.
Graham’s obituary in our sister title, The Herald, said that even in his seventies, he was a competitive presence in his club’s Christmas handicap.
He won seven British international vests and was unfortunate not to compete in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, missing the qualifying time for both by three tenths of a second each time. There was a time when he looked favourite to be the first Scot to run the four-minute mile, but that eluded him narrowly.
During his distinguished career he won four Scottish titles over three miles, and two national records. He took national cross-country titles in 1947 and 1951 and represented Scotland six times in the world championships. He was also a UK track international.
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