Running legend celebrates diamond milestone

Ron Hill has spent his whole life running but there was only ever one woman in the running for his heart - and that is his wife May.

The diamond duo celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary together last Thursday (17 September) surrounded by flowers and cards, marking a magnificent 60 years of happy marriage.

May, 83, and Ron, who celebrated his 82nd birthday on Tuesday, tied the knot on September 17, 1960, at St James Church in the village of Church near Accrington.

But it wasn’t Ron’s running shoes that impressed May back then, but evidently his dancing shoes, the couple meeting at a dance hall in Accrington three years before they married.

However, May already knew of Ron.

“He used to walk past me on his way to Accrington Grammar School,” she recalls.

The couple enjoyed a honeymoon to Fleetwood and moved to Fallowfield, Ron going to Manchester University while May worked as a weaver in the mills.

Ron and May on their wedding day

They went on to have two children, Steven and Graham, and they have one grandchild Katie and say the secret to their long and happy marriage is ‘no arguments’ and working and supporting each other.

They later moved to Romiley before settling in Gee Cross.

Dr Ron Hill’s running accomplishments are well documented and May has travelled with him around the globe in support of his athletic endeavours when the couple could afford it.

Certainly one of their highlights together was the proud moment they met the Queen when Ron received his MBE.

But both are celebrities in their own right.

They have streets named after them in Accrington - Ron Hill Way and May Hill Close!

Running legend Dr Ron Hill MBE was presented with Tameside’s Freedom of the Borough accolade only last year, the latest in a string of honours for the running man who won the 74th Boston Marathon in a record 2:10:30 in 1970, plus gold medals for the marathon at the European Championships in 1969 and Commonwealth Games in 1970. Ron founded Ron Hill Sports 50 years ago after completing his PhD in textile chemistry at the University of Manchester.

Ron has run in more than 100 countries around the world - and May was with him many times - although not on all occasions. Ron also lays claim to the longest number of days of consecutive running - being an amazing 52 years and 39 days!

The Reporter and Chronicle would like to congratulate Ron and May on their anniversary.