Nothing like replying to yourself !
Just thought I would add a piece as I have been asked at times how did I come to know Arthur.
I was the first Physical Educator who asked him to do a Seminar (For my Grad School Class) (1978 !!!!!!!)
Simple as that , and I got on with him very well ever since.
That Seminar (in retrospect) was amazing as I just thought I would give Arthur a call as I had no idea what I would present to my classmates and for some reason (cannot recall what) I decided that Arthur would be a good person to do the Seminar with me.
I was really nervous about asking him but he could not have been more obliging.
The Seminar was not advertised, just 21 PE Grads and a Tutor.
Arthur took the floor and within 15 minutes the room began to fill as the word crept out that Arthur was in the building. Figures quoted to me later said there was anything from 50 to 70 people in the room by the time he finished. I did not notice as I hung on every word.
The seminar was supposed to be 40 mins to an hour. 90 mins later Arthur finally came to a halt to a roaring applause.
Everyone just wanted to go out and Run.
However, what really got to me was Arthur then THANKED ME for allowing him to come and speak. He said I was the first Physical Educator in New Zealand that had asked hime to present his ideas.
I know my class mates had never heard or seen him previously. I had attended a clinic he had given about 6 years before.
Prior to that Seminar the Physical Education Faternity in this country did not want any part of him. He told me that himself. Petty bloody Jealousy !!!
In 1983 he signed a copy of his book "Running with Lydiard" for me : " Kim ,I wish you every success and pleasure from your coaching and participation in sport". Needless to say that book is never far away.
From that point on I got on really well with Arthur and as I said above, I met with him infrequently through the 80's and the last real meeting with him was in 1992. By that time I had moved out of Auckland to Rotorua.
The last time I saw Arthur was in 2002 when i was appointed as Manager/ Coach to the NZ Sec Schools Cross Country Team.
His comment to me was the greatest I have ever had from him. "At last they have appointed someone with Brains and commonsense"