HE SPENT ten years as Scotland’s best ‘miler’, winning the national championship eight times and setting numerous records.

Graham Everett’s achievements are all the more impressive because as a child, he had to overcome early bouts of bronchitis to pursue an athletic career.

The inspirational runner was born in George Street and brought up in Balornock by father George, a bookmaker, and mother Katie.

In this shot from our archives, he and fellow Scottish running legend Andy Forbes are at the Kelvin Hall to launch a summer track and field programme.

Graham, who died in 2017, aged 83, was Scotland’s pre-eminent miler for almost a decade beginning in the 1950s, while Andy, who died in 1994, won a silver medal at the 1950 British Empire Games.

Graham’s obituary in our sister title, The Herald, said that even in his seventies, he was a competitive presence in his club’s Christmas handicap.

Glasgow Times:

He won seven British international vests and was unfortunate not to compete in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, missing the qualifying time for both by three tenths of a second each time. There was a time when he looked favourite to be the first Scot to run the four-minute mile, but that eluded him narrowly.

During his distinguished career he won four Scottish titles over three miles, and two national records. He took national cross-country titles in 1947 and 1951 and represented Scotland six times in the world championships. He was also a UK track international.