Robbie Brightwell
Encyclopedia
Robert Ian Brightwell MBE (born 27 October 1939 in Rawalpindi
, British India) is a former track and field
athlete.
He moved to England
with his family in 1946 and grew up in Donnington, Shropshire
. He gained his athletic training at Shrewsbury Technical College and went on to become a sportsmaster at a school in Surrey
, England.
He was known for his quarter-mile running races, with his first major race taking place during 1961. He broke the British record for 440 yards as well as the European 400 metres record .
During the Olympic Games
held in Tokyo
10 to 24 October 1964, he was captain of the men's British Olympic Team
. Running the final stage in the men's 4 x 400 metres relay, he passed Wendell Mottley
of Trinidad & Tobago to finish second to Henry Carr
of the USA. In the individual 400 metres he finished 4th.
His fiancée at that time was Ann Packer
who won a gold medal in the women's 800 metres (run) on the day after he won his silver medal. After winning a silver medal in the 400 metres Ann Packer had no plans to run in the 800 metres and had a shopping trip planned until Brightwell's disappointing 400 metres. She said she ran it for him and broke the world record in the process.
The captaincy of the British Team and his silver medal was the climax of his career. Aged only 24 years early in 1964 he announced that he would retire after the Olympic Games. He and Ann were each awarded the MBE in 1965.
On 19 December 1964 he married Ann Packer. Robbie and Ann are the parents of three sons: Gary, and two former Manchester City players Ian
and David
. Robbie went into teaching before moving to lecture at the then Loughborough College
and before taking up successive directorships with sports companies Adidas UK
and Le Coq Sportif UK
. He also ran a fishing tackle business for thirty years. He lives with Ann in Congleton
, Cheshire
.
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, British India) is a former track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete.
He moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with his family in 1946 and grew up in Donnington, Shropshire
Donnington, Shropshire
Donnington is a hamlet in the English county of Shropshire. It forms part of the civil parish of Wroxeter and Uppington.It lies near to Charlton Hill, which rises to above sea level.- External links :...
. He gained his athletic training at Shrewsbury Technical College and went on to become a sportsmaster at a school 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...
, England.
He was known for his quarter-mile running races, with his first major race taking place during 1961. He broke the British record for 440 yards as well as the European 400 metres record .
During the Olympic Games
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
held in 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...
10 to 24 October 1964, he was captain of the men's British Olympic Team
Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 1964 Summer Olympics
The United Kingdom competed as Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. 204 competitors, 160 men and 44 women, took part in 124 events in 17 sports. British athletes have competed and won at least one gold medal in every Summer Olympic Games...
. Running the final stage in the men's 4 x 400 metres relay, he passed Wendell Mottley
Wendell Mottley
Wendell Adrian Mottley educated at Queen's Royal College is a Trinidad and Tobago economist, politician and athlete...
of Trinidad & Tobago to finish second to Henry Carr
Henry Carr
Henry Carr is a former American track and field athlete who won two gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.-Early life:...
of the USA. In the individual 400 metres he finished 4th.
His fiancée at that time was Ann Packer
Ann Packer
Ann Elizabeth Packer MBE is a former British sprinter, hurdler and long jumper. She won a gold medal in the 800 metres at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo....
who won a gold medal in the women's 800 metres (run) on the day after he won his silver medal. After winning a silver medal in the 400 metres Ann Packer had no plans to run in the 800 metres and had a shopping trip planned until Brightwell's disappointing 400 metres. She said she ran it for him and broke the world record in the process.
The captaincy of the British Team and his silver medal was the climax of his career. Aged only 24 years early in 1964 he announced that he would retire after the Olympic Games. He and Ann were each awarded the MBE in 1965.
On 19 December 1964 he married Ann Packer. Robbie and Ann are the parents of three sons: Gary, and two former Manchester City players Ian
Ian Brightwell
Ian Robert Brightwell is an English former footballer, he played for six clubs, most notably spending twelve years with Manchester City...
and David
David Brightwell
David John Brightwell is an English former professional footballer who played in defence for ten clubs.-Biography:Brightwell was born in Lutterworth, England...
. Robbie went into teaching before moving to lecture at the then Loughborough College
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
and before taking up successive directorships with sports companies Adidas UK
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
and Le Coq Sportif UK
Le Coq Sportif
Le Coq Sportif is a French company producing sports equipment such as shoes, shorts, and T-shirts. It was founded in 1882 by Émile Camuset, but the first clothing items branded with the rooster appeared in 1948...
. He also ran a fishing tackle business for thirty years. He lives with Ann in Congleton
Congleton
Congleton is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Dane, to the west of the Macclesfield Canal and 21 miles south of Manchester. It has a population of 25,750.-History:The first settlements in...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
.