Since 1985, Willaston-based athletics enthusiast Bob Phillips has used his expertise to provide first class radio commentaries for the BBC.
Responding to an advert published in an athletics magazine, Bob was advised to apply for the job by former English Schools long jumper Margaret Cheetham.
After a one minute microphone audition, 54-year-old Bob didn't think much of his chances until being contacted by the Beeb later that year to cover a track and field meeting.
'It was far from what I expected,' recalled Bob, 'Eurosport commentator Ian Darke, Northern Irish athlete Mary Peters and I were all precariously perched in what could only be described as a garden shed on scaffolds at Antrim in pouring rain for the UK Championship.'
Bob, London-born and for 17 years a journalist on magazines and newspapers, added: 'It was a strange situation as Ian Darke, commentating, knew nothing about athletics and I knew nothing of broadcasting.'
He is now a public relations manager with BNFL at Risley.
Secretary of Wallasey Athletic Club, he progressed as a sprinter with Watford Harriers, and ran distances at Coventry Godiva where he was proud to finish last in the club cross country championships behind winner Brian Kilby.
Highgate Harriers in London and Wirral AC have been other athletic clubs to enjoy Bob's company. He now competes in the occasional marathon.
Asked about his most memorable moment on the air he spoke of his excitement in seeing Mike Powell long jump a world record in Tokyo.
'I'd seen Bob Beamon leap 29 feet in the Mexico Olympics of 1968. Not many people were present to see him launch the tremendous distance. I had to consult my conversion table book after realising that 8.90 metres had seen the record jump from 27 feet to 29 feet.
'Not many thought that record would go, but to see Powell in Tokyo was tremendous.'
Touching on the task of a commentator, I suggested he must have an idol or someone he admired in the profession.
'John Arlott has always been the commentator I've associated with setting a scene and painting a picture for listeners. Cricket lends itself well to radio commentary and Arlott knew his job well,' said Bob.
Bob also admires boxing's inter-round summariser W. Barrington-Dalby, who had 35 seconds between rounds on BBC radio, squeezed around the excellent commentary from Raymond Glendenning.
Bob, who met his wife Daphne through athletics, has two daughters, Francesca and Lisel.
He has an interest in jazz and an eye for cycling, and also loves interpreting statistics to a broader audience.
He adds to John Rawling's commentary by supplying additional information, such as the time when, in the 1987 World Championship Marathon, Douglas Wakahuri was described as the unknown Kenyan in a breakaway group of four.
Then Bob found information in his card file about the talented African who eventually went on to win the London Marathon.
Proof of Bob's enthusiasm is his tremendous records of individual athletes and collection of books on the sport.
While at the Barcelona's Olympics, Bob helped Hugh Porter with the cycling commentary. He also admires the professionalism of Eastham-born cycling commentator Phil Liggett and his Frodsham-based assistant Paul Sherwin.
Ends
Source - Ellesmere Port Pioneer - Wednesday, 20/01/1993 by Dennis Wall
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