It is with great regret that we have to report the death Ray Roseman, the first Sussex Four-minute Miler, at the age of 79 in Bangkok.
It was in 1969 that Roseman, who had pacemaked many top British middle distance runners to their “Four Minutes” at last broke through the magic barrier.
Roseman joined South London Harriers when at school at Selsden in South London and remained with them first claim for most of his career. although, living in Hove. He also became a member of the Brighton & Hove Club and supported Sussex championships right from his early years.
He quickly made an impression winning his first Sussex Youths cross country championship in the 1950s and in the 1950s and 1960s he amassed a host of Sussex titles both over the country and on the track and many of those Sussex titles were accompanied by Championship records.
He moved to the Brighton Club first claim in 1968.
He made several appearances in Great Britain/England teams and he, after several clockings inside 4:01 clocked 3:59.8sec in July 1969 at Motspur Park. However instead of being a stepping stone to greater things Achilles problems put paid to his career. The injury after winning the Maccabiah Games 1500m in record time in 1969 was a suitable swansong.
Although he returned to training in 1970 he was never to compete again but remained in close contact with the sport until his later move to Thailand late last century. He still remains eighth on the Sussex one mile Altime list and won a total of 12 Sussex track titles between 800 and 5,000 metres as well as one Southern Counties and one CAU mile title.
If you have any queries or want more information regarding this post, please Email Reg Hook.