The athletics community of Kent has been left shocked by the death of highly-regarded coach Chris Newman.

A senior club coach at Medway and Maidstone AC, he died after a year of illness and hospital treatment that rarely kept him away from the sport he loved.

The former Brighton AC member and multiple Sussex 3,000m steeplechase champion ran in the junior men’s 880 yards race at the opening meeting of Withdean Stadium, Brighton, in 1955.

After a successful competitive career on the track, roads and cross country in Sussex, Chris turned his attentions to coaching and administration in Kent. At the time of his passing, he was serving on the Kent County AA Executive as well as holding posts on the cross country, coaching and development and track and field sub-committees.

He was KCAA president in 1996 and had been a member of the KCAA Council for more than 20 years, attending his last meeting in June when most would have offered their apologies due to ill health.

He has also served as Meeting Manager for many years at the annual County Track and Field Championships and discharged his responsibilities as usual in May this year.

Chris was one of the first Athletics Development Officers for Kent, helping to introduce squad training days and raising the standards of both coaching and competition. He was a founder member of the newly-created KCAA Executive Committee, where he brought his wide knowledge, expertise and wit.

He leaves wife Hazel, son Tim and daughter Colette.

Taken from KCAA website tribute by David Ralph