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Fred Bell Obituary
20/05/2026 00:00, In Blog /
Fred Bell Obituary
Former Welsh 1,500m and steeplechase champion Fred Bell has died aged 82 after a long illness at his home in Woking.
Pembrokeshire born, he was a fine all-round middle distance runner winning two Welsh vests in the old International Cross Country Championships (now World) and first came to prominence as a member of Carmarthen Harriers, winning the Welsh junior mile title in 1962. Such was his enthusiasm for athletics, he wrote me a letter, which I still have, congratulating me on succeeding him as Welsh junior mile champion in 1963.
On moving to Surrey he joined Hercules Wimbledon and then Thames Valley Harriers and became a leading member of their teams on the track, road and cross country.
He was the first winner of the Welsh 1500m title after the change to metric distances in 1969 beating Bob Maplestone who would go on to become the first Briton to run under four minutes for the mile indoors. Fred’s win followed three second places in 1965 and 1967/68. To demonstrate his versatility, he also took the 3,000m steeplechase title in 1971.
On hearing the news, former Welsh junior 800m champion Vince James said: “Fred was an inspiration to me when he came to Ystrad Tywi School and got me running. He was a proud Welshman. He was an integral part of Carmarthen Harriers success during their golden sixties period.”
Another tribute came from former teammate and Welsh marathon and steeplechase champion Hedydd Davies who said: “Fred was a staunch Welshman and even though he lived in England for many years still retained his lovely Pembrokeshire accent. He continued: He was a faithful club athlete with both our Clubs, Carmarthen and Thames Valley Harriers.”
Hedydd went on: “I first met Fred in a mile race in Whitland in 1962 when he started out his outstanding athletics career as a young boy. Twenty years later he lapped me in the TVH Club 10,000m championship race.”
His biggest disappointment was failing to make the 1970 Welsh Commonwealth Games team in the 1500m because of an injury a few weeks before the 1970 Welsh senior championships.
Sincere condolences to his wife Jane and his family.
- Clive Williams