Brian Stanford Hewson (Born Croydon 4th of April 1933-Died South Africa 13th of September 2022)
My memories of going to the White City Stadium in the middle to late 1950’s was, to see a stylish two lap runner (6ft 63kg ) blond haired man with great panache, equally elegant in his pin stripe suit.
He used to dash from work in the West End to the White City stadium, on a week day evening or on a Saturday. Brian Hewson was a salesman at Simpsons in Piccadilly. His boss at the time was not always pleased about him leaving work early but, for Brian Hewson’ it was a ‘Godsend’ when clearly beating 1954 European Champion Lajos Szentgali of Hungary over 880 in an Empire record of 1:48.6.
Added to that he loved to go dog racing with his friend four times AAA’s mile Champion, Bill Nankeville.
He was married three times and had three children by his second wife, so one way or another he was a busy man. Brian Hewson’s best times were 1:47.00 for 800;3:41.1 for 1500 and he was only one of five who achieved a sub- 4 minute mile, at the time, with 3:59.6 in 1955. He had some impressive results besides 4 AAA’s Senior 880 titles and one 1 mile AAA’s title. There were times where he did not win but came very close to doing that when, he was 2nd to Roger Moens of Belgium, who was the 800 World record holder at the time. Moens did 1:49.7 and Hewson 1:49.8. The 1956 Olympic Champion Tom Courtney, he also ran very close to in Glasgow 1:49.2 for Courtney and 1:49.3 for Hewson with Derek Johnson 3rd in 1:49.7.Brian’s tally of medals at major Championships was two silvers. over two laps, when coming 2nd in two Commonwealth Games and a 1500 European Gold in 1958.
There were four races he talked to me about that must not be left out.
Melbourne Olympic 1500 in 1956 I Ron Delany (Eire) 3:41.2; 2 Klaus Richtzenhain (GDR) 3:42.0; 3 John Landy (Austrlia (3:42.0) 4 Lazlo Tabori (3:42.4); 5 Brian Hewson (GB) 3:42.6 and 6 Stanislav Jungwirth (TCH) 3:42.6. (12 Finalists) He said:- “I made several mistakes. I had done some fantastic time trials, and training runs and thought in my own mind I would win the race. I thought there was one person I would have to keep my eye on-Merv Lincoln of Australia—and the other mistake I made was that I had one plan. In a race you should never have one plan; you have to be flexible.
My plan was that I knew Lincoln was going to be out in the front setting the pace, so I had to get in a good position behind him and go with 20m or so to go. But with about a lap to go he stepped off the track, and there I was in front. I was shocked; I was not prepared – it was not my plan. I think I really went to pieces! Normally I was very relaxed but because I was unexpectedly in the front I strained. I began to struggle round the final bend, then four people came by me.—Ron Delany being one, whom I had beaten twice that year fairly easily. But that is the way it goes. I think two mistakes emerged
(1) I was over confident; (2) I had one plan, something went wrong and I was left in the front to early”
AAA 880y at the White City won by Brian Hewson in 1:48.3. 2nd was European 800 Champion of 1958 Mike Rawson of GB with the ‘Great’ 1960 Olympic 1500 Champion Herb Elliott of Australia, who did so much training on sand dunes 3rd.
Brian came in to say to me “ I felt tremendous on that day; it just all went like clockwork. I had a slower than usual start but I was able to pick up the pace and feel good, and when I called upon a sprint it was there and away I went. I ran 17 Races against Mike Rawson and never once did he get in front of me at the finish though he was very close!”
Commonwealth Games at Cardiff in 1958 1. Herb Elliott 1:49.3; 2 Hewson 1:49.5; 3.Rawson 1:51.1
“ I respected Elliott as a fantastic athlete. Even though I had beaten him on that one occasion, because he had such a tremendous record. He was the athlete to beat in the Commonwealth 880yds It was a very, very slow first lap, with everyone watching each other and I was behind watching Elliott;
Elliott jumped just before the bell and before I realized he was five yards up. I immediately went after him and down the back straight I was closing up.to get on his shoulder. Then, when I called upon my effort to go past him, as hard as I fought, I could only stay on his shoulder and I could not edge by him
I was timed at sub-50 seconds for that last quarter. I was bitterly disappointed as I fought so hard, but he was so strong”
In 1958 was the European Games in Stockholm and the 1st 4 of 10 was 1 Brian Hewson(GB) 3:41.9; 2 Dan Waern (Swedeen) 3:42.1; 3 Ron Delany (Eire) 3:42.3 and 4 Istvan Rozsavolgyi (Hungary) 3:42.7.
“I had trained that year particularly for the two lap event. I had altered my training to be faster and sharper, and had not done as much stamina running. When the team was announced I was very upset and even went so far as to write a letter to The Times complaining about the British Board. I was so upset I did not really want to go at the time. I obviously wanted to run the 800, so how—I thought—could they possibly put Rawson in, whom I had beaten every time. I had set my heart on the event.
The night before the 1500 final I had a very long conversations, certainly with John Le Masurier, and we were talking over every athlete in the race and their best performance. The final plan was to keep in touch, not to lead till near the finish. There were two athletes I was particularly watching—Ron Delany and Dan Waern. So I was to keep in touch, be thereabouts and, give it all, depending how fast the race, at 300m to go, 200 or on the last bend. The faster the race the longer you would stay from doing anything before making the effort.
‘We were all grouped pretty much together with 300 to go.I was probably about eighth and I moved up to a very close up seventh on the last bend then I kicked as hard as I could. My kick was so fast and so furious that after a few paces I was in the fourth lane. I was really up on my toes and everyone was coming back pretty fast; it was a wonderful feeling! Coming up to near the tape Dan Waern thought he had won it and he did not expect anyone to be on the fourth lane. He thought anyone who was going to pass him would brush his shoulder to get past. With a few yards to go he could not believe it. I felt so elated; everything had worked to perfection, in complete contrast to the Olympic in 1956.”
When the Upward Curve Started for Brian Hewson
It was 1947, being at Mitcham Grammar School, he won a race at the Mitcham School Sports over 440 yards.
The way he won so impressed Cecil Dale he got a scholarship with Mitcham AC and never left the club and even eventually came their President. However after that 440, he went on to win two AAA’s Junior 880 yards titles in 1951 & 1952 1:55.3 & 1:55.5 respectively. Frank Drew was his coach at the time.
“ When Frank Drew unfortunately became ill I went to Franz Stampfl. I used to go to a Friday evening session at the Duke of York’s Barracks and see him over the weekend at Battersea Park. He had quite abig squad, including Chris Chataway, Roger Bannister and Chris Brasher. Often I used to train with Chataway and Brasher at the Duke of York’s. When I went to Stampfl. I did begin to train harder and did a lot of interval and repetition running. That was always in groups and I found that was easier and more enjoyable to run in a group. You kept up if you were feeling bad, because you certainly did not want anybody to know you were feeling bad. We alternated leading, taking each other round in turn.”
Brian Hewson retired from competing with a calf injury, after the Olympics of 1960. Some 20 years later I asked him what job he was doing for a living?
“ I work for Debenhams ,and I am connected with sports. I am senior buyer for the group on sports for all the Debenhams Stores. Part of the job is obviously buying, then there is visiting manufacturers, trade shows, gathering together a range, In addition to that, when I have got a range and put it into the stores, I become a seller and sell to the store directors and staff so they know what we have got and why we have got it.”