Hercule Archive: ROGER BANNISTER = When It All Started

ROGER BANNISTER

Roger Bannister in the Daily Mail - May 7th 1954

Starting With A Mile

Leslie Creasey started his Style and Design media archives in the late 1970's. His work as a brand consultant for the sector meant keeping up to date with industry developments was vital. He clipped brands as they were featured in the press, clipped adverts, editorials, financials and as the clippings increased they morphed in to the now 2,000,000+ image archive.

When Leslie was a youngster away at school and in particular on May 6th 1954 he was in the house common room doing his prep when the House Master interrupted the proceedings by announcing that on that very afternoon Roger Bannister had run a mile in under 4 minutes at the Iffley Road Track, Oxford.

Roger Bannister was Leslie's hero. As Leslie was in school, he didn't have a paper to hand but he desperately wanted to see the pictures and read the story.

So, Leslie called his Mother and asked her to collect the press about Roger and keep it for him. Leslie was just 16 at this time but at end of term was able to clip and collate everything about his hero, Roger Bannister.

This was the first example of Leslie 'clipping' to topical events that were of interest.

Leslie still references Roger as a Hero of his - he made quite an impression!

Here is the original article and some press through the years on Roger. It was lovely to see him carrying the Olympic Torch through Iffley Road Track - a legend returned to the track to celebrate the celebration of sport in his home country.