Isle of Wight athletics hero Ray Scovell will be honoured this year to remember his sporting legacy.
The Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet unanimously agreed on Thursday to support the bid from the Isle of Wight Athletics Club to rename the Fairway Athletics Centre, in Sandown, after Ray.
A coach for more than 30 years
Ray had been a coach at the club for more than 30 years, as well as working with the council’s sports development unit, but died last year after contracting Covid-19.
Speaking at the meeting last night, cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Julie Jones-Evans said Ray was a person who really deserved the recognition after all he had done for the Island’s athletics.
Andre: He did so much for athletics
Cllr Debbie Andre said Ray had taught one of her children and had an incredible personality.
She said,
“He and his wife, Rosemary, contributed so much.
“He did so much for athletics, not just for the town, but across the whole Island.”
Parkrun founder
Ray founded parkrun and Junior parkrun and was also co-ordinator of the Island Games when it was hosted on the Isle of Wight in 2011.
He coached several Island sporting stars including hammer thrower Andy Frost, World Fire and Police Games gold-medalist Stephen Duff and Island Games medalists Amy Clarke and Wallis Canning.
Lake and Sandown councils were consulted and were in favour of the change.
No date has yet been set out for the renaming to take place, but it is expected to be this year.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
