Fylde coast athletics community saddened by death of popular stalwart David Wood

Everyone involved in Fylde coast athletics has been saddened by the death of David Wood, one of its most dedicated and popular figures.

As Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Athletics Club’s longserving press and publicity officer, David will also be greatly missed by all at The Gazette.

David was among our most loyal and dependable correspondents for many years, providing reports and his own photographs for the weekly athletics page in The Gazette and in our junior sport supplement, AllStars.

Such was David’s dedication that even after coronavirus brought his beloved sport to a halt, he continued to produce material for these columns until his tragic passing.

Our thanks to BWFAC secretary Nick Hume for providing the following tribute to David.

“David was a Blackpool lad, who went to school at Thames and Palatine before joining the civil service, where he worked all his life.

“He became interested in running in the early 1990s, initially joining Red Rose Road Runners before transferring in 1995 to North Fylde AC, based at the Norcross Social Security Offices.

“David soon made a name for himself with his friendly manner and keenness to compete, and he would always volunteer to make up the team if ever they were short.

“He was an athlete you knew would never let you down, and if he said he would compete, he would be there – a true man of his word.

“By the time North Fylde merged with Blackpool and Fylde to form BWFAC in 2006, David’s running career was coming to a close due to injury.

“However, instead of moving on as so many do, he found a new interest in sports photography and honed these skills over the years, producing excellent action photos of club members and those from other clubs.

“He would then offer these photos to the clubs for their websites and social media pages, and to the athletes themselves, free of charge.

“David took a keen interest in the performances of the junior athletes and would often talk to them and their parents about their achievements and hopes for the future.

“He became a fixture at the local Inter Club Series, the Lancashire AA Championships and the Mid Lancs Association fixtures.

“Wherever these took place, he would usually travel there by public transport rather than asking for a lift.

“When parkrun came to the Fylde coast, David was one of the first to offer his services.

“He volunteered 225 times for the Lytham Hall parkrun on Saturdays and then the junior parkrun at Park View on Sundays, taking photos which the parents of the young runners really appreciated.

“He also became involved in coaching, working with the growing junior section at Lytham St Annes Road Runners every Monday and earning a place in their hearts too.

“His untimely and tragic death has left many in the Fylde running community and beyond in tears and shock as they start to come to terms with the fact that David is no longer with us.

“He crossed the club boundaries in a way that not many have done before with his own unique style and interest in others.

“He taught a lesson to us all in that it is not the club that really counts but the love of running and athletics that unites us into one caring body.

“And that is what his photos portrayed – runners battling in competition but friends and comrades at the finish line.

“David, your race is over but your deeds and actions will live on as BWFAC and the other local clubs look to honour your name.”