Michael Varah
Encyclopedia
George Peter Michael Varah (19 October 1944 - 2 April 2007) was a British
international athlete and later a Chief Probation Officer.
Varah was eldest of triplet
boys born in the vicarage of Holy Trinity, Blackburn to Dr Chad Varah
and his wife Susan. His father was the local Anglican vicar, who founded the Samaritans (charity)
in 1953. His mother was world president of the Mothers' Union
in the 1970s.
Varah was educated at Raine's Foundation Grammar School for Boys
in Stepney
and at Loughborough College
. He was an excellent athlete, and captain of the Loughborough College athletics team. He became a member of the Great Britain athletics team in 1965, and ran the second leg in a 4 x 800m relay that broke the world record at Crystal Palace
in 1966. He ran in the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
in Kingston, Jamaica
and the 1967 Summer Universiade
(the Tokyo
World Student Games). At one point, he held the British Indoor Athletics record at 800 metres
.
He became Master in Charge of Athletics at Rugby School
in 1968. He also worked as a volunteer tutor at Onley Borstal. After post-graduate study at Leicester University, he joined the Warwickshire Probation Service in 1973. He worked as a basic-grade Probation Officer
, then ran Community Service
in Warwickshire
, and then became assistant chief of the West Midlands Probation Service. He became Chief Probation Officer in Surrey
in 1988. His rise from the lowest grade of Probation Officer to Chief Probation Officer was the fastest in the history of the Probation Service. He was the longest-serving Chief Officer in the National Probation Service
when he retired in 2004, having spent 35 years working in the criminal justice system.
He also worked for many charities. He and a friend, James Higgins
, founded the Rugby Mayday Trust in Warwickshire. He also founded the independent Surrey Springboard Trust. He became chairman of Crimestoppers
in 2004. He was a trustee of Samaritans, and of Victim Support
. He also served on employment tribunal
s from 2005.
He was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant
of Surrey, and had been nominated to serve as High Sheriff
of Surrey in 2008-9.
He died of viral
double pneumonia. He was survived by his wife Sally (née Rowat), and a daughter and a son.
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...
international athlete and later a Chief Probation Officer.
Varah was eldest of triplet
Multiple birth
A multiple birth occurs when more than one fetus is carried to term in a single pregnancy. Different names for multiple births are used, depending on the number of offspring. Common multiples are two and three, known as twins and triplets...
boys born in the vicarage of Holy Trinity, Blackburn to Dr Chad Varah
Chad Varah
Reverend Prebendary Edward Chad Varah, CH, CBE was a British Anglican priest. He is best remembered as the founder of The Samaritans, established in 1953 as the world's first crisis hotline organisation, offering non-religious telephone support to those contemplating suicide.-Life:Varah was born...
and his wife Susan. His father was the local Anglican vicar, who founded the Samaritans (charity)
Samaritans (charity)
Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress or at risk of suicide throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, often through their telephone helpline. The name comes from the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, though the organisation...
in 1953. His mother was world president of the Mothers' Union
Mothers' Union
Mothers’ Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. Its members are not all mothers or even all women, as there are many parents, men, widows, singles and grandparents involved in its work...
in the 1970s.
Varah was educated at Raine's Foundation Grammar School for Boys
Raine's Foundation School
Raine's Foundation School is a Church of England Voluntary Aided school in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.Henry Raine, a very rich man who lived in Wapping, decided to create a school where poor children could get an education for free, so that they could go into skilled labour when they left....
in Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
and at Loughborough College
Loughborough College
Loughborough College is a college of Further Education in Leicestershire, England established in 1909. It is located opposite Loughborough University on Epinal Way, and adjacent to the Loughborough University School of Art and Design, situated next to the main entrance of the college...
. He was an excellent athlete, and captain of the Loughborough College athletics team. He became a member of the Great Britain athletics team in 1965, and ran the second leg in a 4 x 800m relay that broke the world record at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
in 1966. He ran in the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica from 4 August to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions....
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
and the 1967 Summer Universiade
1967 Summer Universiade
The 1967 Summer Universiade, also known as the V Summer Universiade, took place in Tokyo, Japan.Eastern Bloc countries including Soviet Union, Rumania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, Cuba, Czechoslovakia and North Korea boycotted the Games due to the naming diputes on North Korea.-Medal table:-Sports...
(the Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
World Student Games). At one point, he held the British Indoor Athletics record at 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
.
He became Master in Charge of Athletics at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
in 1968. He also worked as a volunteer tutor at Onley Borstal. After post-graduate study at Leicester University, he joined the Warwickshire Probation Service in 1973. He worked as a basic-grade Probation Officer
Probation officer
Parole officers and probation officers play a role in criminal justice systems by supervising offenders released from incarceration or sentenced to non-custodial sanctions such as community service...
, then ran Community Service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, and then became assistant chief of the West Midlands Probation Service. He became Chief Probation Officer in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in 1988. His rise from the lowest grade of Probation Officer to Chief Probation Officer was the fastest in the history of the Probation Service. He was the longest-serving Chief Officer in the National Probation Service
National Probation Service
thumb|right|100px|NPS logoThe National Probation Service for England and Wales is a statutory Criminal Justice Service, mainly responsible for the supervision of offenders in the community and the provision of reports to the criminal courts to assist them in their sentencing duties...
when he retired in 2004, having spent 35 years working in the criminal justice system.
He also worked for many charities. He and a friend, James Higgins
James Higgins (rugby league)
James "Jim" Higgins is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at club level has played for Wakefield Trinity, playing at , or , i.e. number 8 or 10, or 9, during the era of contested scrums.-Challenge Cup final appearances:...
, founded the Rugby Mayday Trust in Warwickshire. He also founded the independent Surrey Springboard Trust. He became chairman of Crimestoppers
Crimestoppers
Crime Stoppers or Crimestoppers is a program separate from the emergency telephone number system, that allows a member of the community to provide anonymous information about criminal activity. It thereby allows the person to provide crime solving assistance to the authorities without being...
in 2004. He was a trustee of Samaritans, and of Victim Support
Victim Support
Victim Support is a charity in England and Wales which aims to help victims and witnesses of crime by raising awareness of their needs and by delivering dedicated services to them. It was established in 1974. It is a national charity with branches in every community and each criminal court in...
. He also served on employment tribunal
Employment tribunal
Employment Tribunals are tribunal non-departmental public bodies in England and Wales and Scotland which have statutory jurisdiction to hear many kinds of disputes between employers and employees. The most common disputes are concerned with unfair dismissal, redundancy payments and employment...
s from 2005.
He was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Surrey, and had been nominated to serve as High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Surrey in 2008-9.
He died of viral
Viral pneumonia
Viral pneumonia is a pneumonia caused by a virus.Viruses are one of the two major causes of pneumonia, the other being bacteria; less common causes are fungi and parasites...
double pneumonia. He was survived by his wife Sally (née Rowat), and a daughter and a son.