Godfrey Brown
Encyclopedia
Arthur Godfrey Kilner Brown (21 February 1915 - 4 February 1995) was a British
athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x400 m relay
at the 1936 Summer Olympics
. He later became Headmaster at the Royal Grammar School Worcester
, a post which he held from 1950 until his retirement in 1978.
Born in Bankura
, Bengal
, India
, Godfrey Brown was a highly talented runner at distances from 100 yd (91.4 m) to the half mile. He won the British AAA championships in 440 yd (402.3 m) in 1936 and 1938 and in 880 yd (804.7 m) in 1939.
At the Berlin
Olympics
, Brown was narrowly beaten by Archie Williams
in the 400 m individual event, but Brown anchored the British 4x400 m relay team to a gold medal ahead of the United States
.
In 1937, Brown won 400 m at the World Student Games, with additional gold medals at both relays.
At the 1938 European Championships
, Brown won the individual 400 m, anchored the British 4x400 m relay team to a second place and won the bronze at 4x100 m relay.
Brown was educated at Warwick School
, where he was Head Boy, before going to study English and History in Cambridge University
and worked after graduation as a History Master at Bedford School
. Because his sight was poor he was not mobilized in the Army, staying as school master at Rochester School
and evacuated during the World War II
to Lamberhurst
and then Taunton
. From 1950 till 1978, Brown was the headmaster of Worcester Royal Grammar School
. He died in Sussex
, aged 79.
His sister Audrey
and brother Ralph were also notable athletes, Audrey winning a silver in 4x100 m relay at the 1936 Olympics and Ralph won the British AAA championships title in 440 yd (402.3 m) hurdles in 1934.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x400 m relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
at the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
. He later became Headmaster at the Royal Grammar School Worcester
Royal Grammar School Worcester
The Royal Grammar School Worcester is an independent coeducational school in Worcester, United Kingdom. Founded before 1291, it is one of the oldest British independent schools....
, a post which he held from 1950 until his retirement in 1978.
Born in Bankura
Bankura
Bankura is a city and a municipality in Bankura District in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Bankura District.-Etymology:...
, Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Godfrey Brown was a highly talented runner at distances from 100 yd (91.4 m) to the half mile. He won the British AAA championships in 440 yd (402.3 m) in 1936 and 1938 and in 880 yd (804.7 m) in 1939.
At the Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, Brown was narrowly beaten by Archie Williams
Archie Williams
Archibald Franklin Williams was an African-American athlete and teacher, winner of 400 meter run at the 1936 Summer Olympics....
in the 400 m individual event, but Brown anchored the British 4x400 m relay team to a gold medal ahead of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1937, Brown won 400 m at the World Student Games, with additional gold medals at both relays.
At the 1938 European Championships
1938 European Championships in Athletics
The 2nd European Athletics Championships was a continental athletics competition for European athletes which was held in two places in 1938. The men's event took place in Paris, France between 3–5 September while the women's events were in Vienna, Austria on 17 and 18 September...
, Brown won the individual 400 m, anchored the British 4x400 m relay team to a second place and won the bronze at 4x100 m relay.
Brown was educated at Warwick School
Warwick School
Warwick School is an independent school with boarding facilities for boys in Warwick, England, and is reputed to be the third-oldest surviving school in the country after King's School, Canterbury and St Peter's School, York; and the oldest boy's school in England...
, where he was Head Boy, before going to study English and History in Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and worked after graduation as a History Master at Bedford School
Bedford School
Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Modern School or Bedford High School or Old Bedford School in Bedford, TexasBedford School is an HMC independent school for boys located in the town of Bedford, England, United Kingdom...
. Because his sight was poor he was not mobilized in the Army, staying as school master at Rochester School
Rochester school
The Rochester school was an influential movement in the Political Science Department at the University of Rochester. Among its key figures were William H. Riker and Kenneth Shepsle, who popularised the study of public choice following a large donation from Xerox, a company based in the same city as...
and evacuated during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to Lamberhurst
Lamberhurst
Lamberhurst is a village and civil parish in Kent although the latter parish was at first in both Kent and East Sussex. The line of the county border was adjusted following the Local Government Act 1894, which required that parish boundaries be aligned with counties...
and then Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
. From 1950 till 1978, Brown was the headmaster of Worcester Royal Grammar School
Royal Grammar School Worcester
The Royal Grammar School Worcester is an independent coeducational school in Worcester, United Kingdom. Founded before 1291, it is one of the oldest British independent schools....
. He died in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, aged 79.
His sister Audrey
Audrey Brown
Audrey Kathleen Kilner Brown MBE was a British athlete who mainly competed in the 100 metres.She was born in India and was the younger sister of Ralph Kilner Brown and older sister of Godfrey Brown....
and brother Ralph were also notable athletes, Audrey winning a silver in 4x100 m relay at the 1936 Olympics and Ralph won the British AAA championships title in 440 yd (402.3 m) hurdles in 1934.