A POEM FOR SIR ROGER BANNISTER

In November 2016, 61 years after the late Sir Roger Bannister set the four-minute mile at Oxford’s Iffley Road Track, fellow student Roger Shakeshaft (Lincoln, 1953) shared unique memories of watching the record being set in 1954 (Link below). Following the death of Sir Roger on March 3rd, 2018, and as 2018 approaches its close, Roger has offered QUAD a poem recalling that remarkable early Spring day so long ago:

On Witnessing the First Running of a Mile in under Four Minutes

Cross, at Oxford, Magdalen Bridge, follow round

To find, tucked in the river Cherwell’s basin,

The fabled Iffley Road Athletic Ground.

Here, a year from Everest and the Coronation,

Three Achilles meet and plan to carve their notch.

One of them will run four circuits on the track

Against the second hand’s four circuits on a watch.

Is it on? The wind is strong; let’s wait a sec;

Saint George’s flag is dipped to start the race.

Three laps on time, then Bannister’s let free;

The second hand is breathing down his neck.