Bill Smith

William R. "Bill" Smith (7 May 1936 – September 2011) was a fell runner and author on the sport. His achievements in breaking records for the number of peaks scaled within 24 hours, contributions to fell-running events, plus documenting its history, earned him the accolade of "legend" within the sport upon his accidental death in 2011. His body was discovered on 7 October in a peat bog in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, England, after a three-week disappearance. Smith took up fell running in 1971 and quickly became one of the sport's best-known competitors. Peter Booth, chairman of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, said that Smith "did so much for fell running ... and will be greatly missed by all."

In 1969, 1970 and 1971 he put in respectable performances in the Fellsman Hike, a race that is said to be the "ultimate fell running challenge." Second place finishes were attained in 1973, 1976 and 1977 and he "quickly became a member of the prizewinning team" at the Clayton Harriers. and breaking its record (with Boyd Millen) by scaling 42 Lake District peaks in under 24 hours. He built on the feat by traversing 55 peaks in 24 hours, and in 1975, 63 peaks in 23 hours and 55 minutes. The latter established a new benchmark in fell running, second only to the record of 72 peaks set by Joss Naylor. His conquest of Marilyns, tors and other peaks was renowned.

Smith lived alone in Everton, and was said to enjoy "Cajun ... [and] gypsy music." He eschewed telephones and cars, often walked rather than rode, He constantly acted as a mentor at events, took photographs that he would share for free, and when not running, he acted as a marshal. and Bill Smith, were a trio that "formed part of the bedrock of modern-day fell running." All three died within the span of 18 months. From 1972 he was member No. 172.

Death On 10 September 2011, Smith travelled from Ormskirk to Preston by rail, but never made the return trip. On 25 September, race onlookers and participants became concerned when Smith did not appear at the rendezvous point for the Thieveley Pike race near Burnley, where he was expected to serve as a marshal.

His body was discovered by a walker in a remote location outside the range of mobile phone signals and from which "it took several hours of hiking ... [to] raise the alarm." There was a return ticket in Smith's pocket.

As The Independent article commented: "The rescuers paused for a few moments to pay their respects to the man they found submerged in a peat bog on the remote Trough of Bowland last weekend. It is an honour afforded all those that perish out on the wild Lancashire fell sides." However, the recovery party was largely clueless that the "elderly man, discovered the previous day but thought to have lain undiscovered for up to three weeks, belonged to one of the legends" of British sport. He is thought to have "fallen as he ran across Saddle Fell." and to make sure they carry a full complement of equipment. Believing when he made the statement that a "walker" was involved, Phil O'Brien of the Rescue Team stated "I urge walkers not to take any unnecessary risks and where possible, to use appropriate maps." "They should tell someone where they are going and when to expect them back. They should make sure they are wearing appropriate clothing and footwear and to check the weather forecast before setting off. Inexperienced walkers should make sure they are with someone with them who knows the area well." He refused to wear glasses whilst running, and considered them to be a needless nuisance. A future memorial event by fell running organisations is anticipated. It has been called "the definitive guide" on the sport. Out of print, its internet price exceeded £100 several times. described the book as a "bible for future generations."

The president of the Fell Runners Association, Graham Breeze, published a posthumous encomium and long-belated book review: "Considering the masterpiece that bears his name Bill Smith was a staggeringly modest and unassuming man ... I am privileged to have known him slightly and corresponded with him occasionally ... A few years ago I wrote a short piece about Stud marks on the summits and sent it to Bill for his approval. I wrote that I knew he would hate it but I would like it to appear in The Fellrunner in homage to his masterpiece. As I partly anticipated, he wrote back and asked me not to publish because it would embarrass him. We later talked about the piece at a race and I promised that, since all writers hate to waste material, it would only appear when he could no longer be embarrassed ... Fellrunners come and go, Champions come and go, but no-one will ever be as important to the development and history of fellrunning as the man who died in September on the Bowland fells."

Song Boff Whalley, lead guitarist of Chumbawamba, recorded a song inspired by a chance meeting with Smith. Whalley took up fell running as a result. He was paraphrased as having said Smith "encapsulated the ethos of the sport – its emphasis on self-reliance and nature and its history."

Published works

W.R. Smith, "Runners on the Three Peaks", The Dalesman, 37 (1975–76):966-68. - Total pages: 581