Comrades Marathon legend dies

Past race organiser and official Comrades Marathon historian, Morris Alexander, died last week.

Alexander, who was born in Glenwood in Durban, won three gold medals for placing fourth, fifth and sixth between 1939 and 1952. This would have been more had it not been for the war years which saw four races cancelled.

Alexander was passionate about the Comrades and led the organizing team from 1950 to 1956, during which time the race date moved from Empire Day on May 24 to the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II on 14 July. Alexander was a key figure in ensuring the resurrection of Comrades after the break for the Second World War. Without his input the race could easily have failed to become the world famous event it is today.

In 1960 Alexander produced the first of three editions of “The Comrades Marathon Story." This work is universally acclaimed as a definitive and passionate history of the race and had its final update published in 1985.

In 1990 Alexander became the first living person to be awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Comrades Marathon Association.

Outside his dedication and love of Comrades, the 94-year-old had a passion for travel and adventure, particularly by sea.

He sailed on five troop ships during the Second World War and took 30 other long sea journeys on mail and cruise ships including the Astor, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Mary 2.

King Farouk of Egypt invited Alexander to tea after being part of the official reception for the king’s sister, Fawcia, at the station in Alexandria. He also climbed the Great Pyramid of Giza, flew in a Concorde and was a guinea pig in the first airsickness detection tests while training as a navigator in the air force in World War 2.

In all Alexander, who spent 47 years working for Standard Bank and was a trustee on a Cape bank when he retired, travelled to 83 countries.

Morris had recently returned from travels to Thailand when he passed away peacefully on Wednesday, 23 October in the Oasis Retirement Resort in Century City in Cape Town where he lived with his wife Huibrecht.

He had two daughters, Merle and Francis, and a son Keith, who passed away a decade ago.

The Comrades Marathon Association will hold their Annual General Meeting and elections for the new Board on Wednesday 30 October 2013 at 18h30 in the Comrades Marathon House.

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

- Norrie Williamson

Twitter - @SportswaveAndre @ECRSportswave