I can remember the time and place I met Morgan. It was approximately 9.35am on 4^th July 2009, on the finish line at Banstead Woods parkrun, when he handed me a round metal disc with a number on it, and said “Well done.” That was my first ever parkrun, and Morgan was the finish tokens volunteer. After that, Morgan was a regular part of my Saturday mornings, as he was part of BWp’s core-team, and we were regularly volunteering together.

Almost exactly two years after that first meeting, Riddlesdown parkrun began – in July 2011 – Morgan & Kaye were two thirds of the founding core-team. Of the three of us, Morgan was definitely the quietest, but he was often the voice of reason, and looking back, without his rocklike stability, Riddlesdown might not have gotten through the first six months.

Morgan volunteered on 143 occasions at Riddlesdown, and the vast majority of those occasions fell within the first three years, which is a huge achievement. His volunteer total of 222 occasions is also impressive.
Morgan didn’t like doing pre-run announcements – but he did them, on 14 occasions. His starring role, however, was that of Timekeeper - a task feared by many - which he fulfilled 110 times.
He also ran – 15 parkruns in total, 7 of those at Riddlesdown, and whilst he always looked as if he was enjoying himself, he also swore blind that he was never running again every time!

At Riddlesdown parkrun’s third anniversary, we presented collages of photographs to all those who had run or volunteered 100 times at Riddlesdown – Morgan was one of only 4 people to receive the latter. He was also presented with the ‘Skylark Award for Courage and Dedication above and beyond the Call of Duty’ in recognition of the fact that he had done 20+ of that year’s volunteering stints on crutches, following a fall and a broken leg whilst on holiday.

Morgan was a really special man – I’ve spent a lot of time in the last 10 days looking at photos and thinking about those early days at Riddlesdown. He was generous with his time and his compassion. Always willing to help out others – he regularly ended up with numerous children in his care whilst their parents were running, and there are photos of him looking a little like the Pied Piper.
He had a quietly wicked sense of humour – which would often result in me spluttering uncontrollably at inappropriate moments whilst he smiled angelically nearby – and he was amazingly loyal.

The last time we saw Morgan at Riddlesdown was on 13^th April 2019, at Kaye’s 500^th parkrun. His health wasn’t great, but he asked for a marshalling role, which he fulfilled, and he was overwhelmingly grateful for the fuss we’d made for Kaye that day. If I’d known then then what I know now I’d have made a huge fuss of him too.

Morgan didn’t grab attention, but he made life happier for those around him, and we are all better for having known him.

He will be missed.

Nicki Clark
Event Director
Riddlesdown parkrun

 
 
 
It is with great personal sadness that I share this
 
 
Morgan Quinn, co-founder of Riddlesdown parkrun, died peacefully last night after a long illness.
Rest in peace, Morgan, you will be much missed.
 
 
I’m sure that I speak for all the team at Riddlesdown in saying that our hearts and out thoughts are with Kaye, and the rest of Morgan’s family.
 
 
 

Nicki Clark
Event Director, RIddlesdown parkrun

Julie ran her first parkrun at Riddlesdown during our first summer, in August 2011, and she ran regularly for 2 years, until a diagnosis of and treatment for breast cancer made running impossible. Nothing if not determined, Julie returned to us in June of 2017, and once again parkran regularly, clocking up a total of 104 runs at Riddlesdown – 124 in total. Julie was justifiably proud of her black 100 tee, and I can remember her determination out on the course – a run-walker after she returned in 2017, but always striving to run more than she walked, and being absolutely delighted when she ran the entire path from Barrie’s bend to the finishing field.
 

 
Julie ran her last parkrun on 27th April 2019 – I was behind her on the path through the woods on that Saturday, and although I didn’t catch her, I noticed that she seemed to be weaving about a bit, and at the end she said that she wasn’t feeling too well. Doctor’s appointments followed, and although she wasn’t feeling up to running, Julie volunteered, marshalling at the picnic bench when she told me that she had a scan booked, and the word ‘cancer’ entered the conversation.
Julie always saw parkrun as more than just a form of exercise, and she volunteered on 45 occasions, most notably as a tailwalker with her tiny (but fierce) little dog, Perry, and her good friend Jill Edwards. Julie volunteered for the 5 weeks after her diagnosis, but was then just too ill for a while. However, in September I had a text message asking if she could volunteer as a barcode scanning, so that she wouldn’t have to walk too far but could still come and help. And she did – sat down, but smiling, and enjoying herself.
The final text message I received from Julie was absolutely typical of her – she told me how much she had enjoyed her parkrun time, both as a runner and a volunteer, and asked us to take care of Jill, because she was worried about her friend.
Julie died on 7th November.
 

 
She was a remarkable woman, a generous and caring human being, and an genuinely lovely lady.
Event 455 was dedicated to her memory.

Nicki Clark
Event Director