Tommy Godwin London Velodrome, 1948 jersey
1948 Olympic medal winner Tommy Godwin has died, aged 91. Godwin won two bronze medals at the 1948 London Olympics and was in the velodrome this year to witness the success of the current Great Britain team.
He died on Saturday, November 3, at the Marie Curie Hospice in Solihull according to British Cycling.
Godwin was an amateur cyclist in 1948, working 49 hours a week in a factory and racing at weekends. At the games he stayed in a private house near the Herne Hill velodrome and his mother came to London to cook for him and his team mates.
When they started their team pursuit all they knew was what order they were to ride in, and little more. Godwin, along with Dave Ricketss, Alan Geldard and Wilf Waters eventually won the bronze medal with a time of four minutes and 55 seconds.
Godwin was involved with the promotion of the 2012 Games, acting as Birmingham's ambassador. He was at the track world cup in February and the Games themselves.
This year he was also awarded an honorary degree by Loughborough University and was inducted in to the Midlands Hall of Fame. He was a former British Cycling Federation President, coach and Solihul Cycling Club President.
Tommy Godwin, 1920 - 2012
Related links
The Tommy Godwin story
Reader comments
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gg/gg
November 05 09:01
R.I.P. Tommy (Ride In Paradise)
Terry
November 05 17:31
I'm so pleased he was involved with the London Olympics given his history- one of the good guys.
roginoz
November 06 01:30
RIP Tommo.Yo war a bostin local figurehead.My daughter lives in Solihull.I remember seeing his frames around .
Geoff Waters. Durban, South Africa
November 06 07:18
Tommy Godwin's passing is noted here with sadness. He toured SA with British track teams first in !948 (Lew Pond captain) and then in 1952 when Tommy was team captain. The '48 British team won the only omnium test against SA at the De Beers stadium, Kimberley by a country mile. It was the British riders' preparation for the '48 Olympics. The two British touring teams did much to stimulate interest in track racing in SA. Tommy was a great British rider and an ambassador for the sport. RIP.
Freddie Whipp
November 08 10:15
I first saw Tommy at the Butts Track in Coventry in 1948 in the Olympic Revenge Match. Then saw Tommy many times at the Butts, Bournville - was there when he won the Gold Vase outright for the 10 mile grass track event., Halesowen, Salford Park, In later years, we became good friends and I'd meet Tommy for lunch in Kings Heath most Thursdays. Tommy supplied his own branded frames to me and also the first commercially sold Raleigh 753 in November 1974. Came as Guest of Honour to the Evesham & District dinner in February 1969 and became a good friend of the Evesham for many years. He was a great Ambassador for our sport and a true gentleman Rest in Peace Dear Friend - Jan & Freddie Whipp