Arch Jelley

Albert Archibald Jelley (born 13 August 1922) is a New Zealand athletics coach who has coached leading New Zealand athletes including John Walker and Hamish Carson. He has been an athletics coach for over six decades and coached at Olympic level up until his mid-90s. Jelley has also been a teacher, an athletics administrator, and a bridge tutor.

Biography

Personal life Jelley was born in Dunedin on 13 August 1922, into a family that was heavily involved in sport. His father, Albert Edward Jelley, was a first-class cricket umpire. Arch Jelley has siblings: Charley, Mary, Stan and Effie. and joined the Mornington Harrier Club at the age of 18.

Jelley married Rachel in 1953, and she was his partner until her death in 2000. In 2002, Jelley married Jean, whom he had met through playing bridge, and between them have eight children, 16 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Teaching career Having served in the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II acquiring a commissioned officer rank deployed on Russian Convoy duties, Jelley returned to New Zealand to begin studies at Dunedin Teachers' College and at the University of Otago. He began his teaching career in rural Wanganui and then moved to Wellington. In January 1957, he moved to Auckland. In 1966, he became the founding principal of Sunnybrae Normal School on the North Shore. Jelley served as principal at Sunnybrae for more than 20 years.

At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, in addition to John Walker, Jelley also coached Rod Dixon and Dick Quax. Jelley retired from coaching once more in 2018.

Mt Albert Bridge Club Jelley's first wife Rachel knew he was a keen card player and encouraged him to attend the Mt Albert Bridge Club,

Honours and awards In the 1982 New Year Honours, Jelley was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to athletics. Along with Arthur Lydiard, he was one of four coaches inducted into the New Zealand Coaches Hall of Fame.

Jelley was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2021 New Years Honours, for his work as a coach and an administrator in athletics and bridge.