Noel Taylor

Clifford Noel Taylor (20 December 1923 – 23 November 2023) was a New Zealand long-distance runner who won a bronze medal representing his country at the 1950 British Empire Games.

Early life and family Born in Palmerston North on 20 December 1923, Taylor was the son of Ellen (Nellie) Taylor (née Leese) and Horace Arthur Andrew Taylor. He was the nephew of Lew Taylor, who was a military and civil pilot and served as director of Civil Aviation from 1964 to 1972.

After four years in Palmerston North, Taylor moved with his family to Lower Hutt, and was educated at Hutt Valley High School, where he won the school's junior one-mile championship in 1938. Aged 15, he sustained severe lacerations to his head when he ran into the back of a parked baker's van while riding his bicycle. He studied aeronautical engineering at night school, and gained employment with de Havilland at Rongotai not long after they opened in 1940. He also won the New Zealand national 6-mile track title in both 1950 and 1952.

At the 1950 British Empire Games, Taylor represented New Zealand in the men's three miles and six miles events. He raced barefooted, and finished third in the six miles, in a time of 30:31.9, behind teammate Harold Nelson and Andrew Forbes from Scotland. Two days later, in the three miles, he placed eleventh.

Taylor continued running competitively until at least 1956, winning the annual race to the top of Mount Maunganui six times from six starts, lowering his winning time on each occasion.

Later life Taylor participated in motor racing until the age of 75. He died in Pukekohe on 23 November 2023, less than a month before his 100th birthday.