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BOYD MILLEN R.I.P
Not one with Essex connections,
as far as we know, but one who many readers will have met and will be sorry
to hear of his departure during January at the age of 70 years. We knew him
as a distance walker, both in the UK and on mainland Europe and as a
Centurion (No. 930). Before striding out, he made his name as a top class
fell runner. Indeed he was the first to complete the Bob Graham run twice –
back-to-back. That’s a double 70 miles run visiting every Lakeland peak
over 3,000 feet! Boyd had not been well of late, but still got out onto the
fells with his crutches. You just can’t keep a good man away from his
chosen activity! We extend our condolences to his widow LILLIAN, who is
also a Centurion (No. 907) as is well known in walking circles in her own
right.
Essex Walker |
Vale
Boyd MILLEN
from Tim
Erickson, Australian Centurions |
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It was a
sad announcement but not unexpected by those of us who knew of Boyd's
battle. Lilian and Boyd had made the decision to share their remaining time
to the full and not to publicly announce the details of Boyd's condition.
During the year since the initial diagnosis, Boyd deteriorated gradually but
relentlessly but he continued to lead a full life and do what he loved most
– enjoy the wild country he had so often walked in healthier times. |
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Boyd
climbing Walla Crag on the weekend of the 2005 LDWA 100,
as big a feat as his Centurion walks |
Boyd gratefully accepts a can of Aussie beer after finishing
the Australian Centurion walk in 2000 |
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I
well remember Boyd's trip to Australia in 2000 when he became
Australian Centurion number 41 with a fine walk under adversity. He was
unable to really eat or drink anything during the whole 24 hours and had to
dig deep into his own reserves to somehow keep the pace going and keep on
schedule. With this walk, Boyd became a triple centurion, adding to his 1995
British and 1999 Continental Centurions finish. |
1995
1999
2000 |
British Centurion 930
Continental
Centurion 289
Australian Centurion 41 |
Battersea Park, London
Weert,
Netherlands
Melbourne |
22:28:25
23:13:25
23:25:43 |
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At 64 years of age, he was second oldest person to have achieved the feat in
Australia. (the honour of the oldest Centurion finish belonged to Merv
Lockyer (C30) who achieved his membership at 65 years of age).
Boyd
came to Australia
specifically for this
event and his single minded determination paid off. He confided to me after
the event that this might be his last Centurion race due to his feeding
problems. He planned to restrict himself to the various Fells events and
Long Distance Walking Association events
and this proved to be the case.
To say the Boyd was as tough
as nails was an understatement. He had worked as a stone mason, a specialist
field that meant days on end spent in inhospitable conditions refurbishing
old stonework - he worked for 19 years on Liverpool cathedral and the
memorial service was held for him there. He loved stone work and did stone
carvings as a hobby. When I noticed that he did not wear socks in our event
and commented that he should perhaps rug up a little for the cold night
conditions, he confided to me that this would not be necessary – it was not
really cold and he never wore socks. He was as good as his word, walking
consistently through a cold Melbourne night with seeming nonchalance.
We pass our deepest condolences
onto Lilian Boyd will be sadly missed by us all - walking has indeed lost a
wonderful ambassador.
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