Arthur McAllister, who died on Monday at the age of 85, was one of the most respected men in Northern and National athletics.

He began running at school in his native Hull as an 11-year old in 1931 winning his first race - much to his surprise - a cross country against 120 other boys.

Despite this encouraging start the war interrupted his promising career and it was to be on the administrative side of the sport that he would make his mark.

The ultimate accolade came in 1994 when he was awarded the OBE in the New Year's Honours List for a lifetime of service to athletics.

Blackburn Harriers' President George Kirby was a contemporary and formed a friendship when Arthur was Coaching Secretary to the Northern Counties AA. George recalls: "He was head of the school at Wrightington Hospital so lived within a few miles of Witton Park where he frequently visited what was then our new track.

"I was becoming involved in coaching at that time and often looked across to see him watching one of our sessions from the fence around the track.

"He would walk across and say a few words of encouragement to the athletes and to me before moving on."

Arthur helped set up the UK Coaching Scheme and was Chairman of the UK Coaching Committee from 1972-75.

From 1978-80 he was Chairman of the British Amateur Athletic Board and headed the Great Britain Team at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Coe, Ovett, Cram and Thompson were among the stars.

He became President of the Amateur Athletic Association in 1986, then President of the ill fated British Athletic Federation which brought the men's and women's AAAs together in 1992.

He took charge of the 1992 Olympic Team in Barcelona before retiring in 1995. Dame Mary Peters succeeded him as BAF President.

"He performed all these duties in the same quiet and unassuming manner that was always his way," said George Kirby He added: "He will be sadly missed by those who knew him and I count myself lucky to have been one of them."

Arthur had retired to Beverley in East Yorkshire where he died after a short illness. He leaves a wife Maud and three daughters.

The funeral will be at Beverley on Wednesday January 18.

For more details please contact Andy McAllister 01254-263497.