Local Olympic hero honoured with road name unveiling in Croydon
On Friday 19th August, the Mayor of Croydon, Councillor Wayne Trakas-Lawlor officially unveiled an extra-special road name at Penhurst Square, Bellway Homes’ new development in Addiscombe, Croydon. Nihill Place commemorates local Olympic hero Paul Nihill MBE, who won silver in the 50km walking road race in 1964. Joined by Mr Nihill himself, the occasion celebrates the day the same event is being competed in Rio, with Team GB represented by Dominic King, an athlete who has been mentored by Paul.
Paul Nihill said: “It is a great honour to be recognised with such a permanent accolade. I’ve always been proud to have been raised in Croydon, and actually lived just round the corner from where Bellway is developing the exciting new homes at Penhurst Square in Addiscombe. Watching the Olympics in London four years ago and in Rio this summer is very exciting, and brings back lots of memories!”
Nathan Stevenson, Regional Director of Bellway Homes South London comments: “Bellway would like to thank the Mayor, Councillor Wayne Trakas-Lawlor, and especially Mr Paul Nihill for joining us and officially unveiling the road name on this special day. We are very excited to have a local sporting hero such as Paul with us today, to help celebrate the new homes being built in his hometown of Addiscombe, Croydon.”
The Mayor of Croydon, Councillor Wayne Trakas-Lawlor comments: “I’d like to thank Bellway for inviting me to officially unveil the road name at Penhurst Square. This is a great tribute to Croydon’s sporting history, especially as the 2016 Olympic Games are currently being competed in Rio. Paul Nihill is a very deserving recipient of this honour and it’s fantastic that over the years he has given up so much of his time to encourage others to follow in his – very fast – footsteps. This development is providing much needed family housing in Croydon and this event is a touching reminder of the Olympic motto of developing community.”
Councillor Pat Ryan, who was present at the naming ceremony, explained why the event gave him particular pleasure, because he remembered the 1964 Olympics personally. He said: “Paul lived in the same road as I did at that time. I can recall joining with all the other people who lived in Whitworth Road, South Norwood, and giving him a big welcome home from Tokyo.”
Bellway’s Penhurst Square comprises a superb mix of stylish 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and 4 bedroom homes, ideally placed for connections into Central London. The Tramlink service lies just half a mile from the development to East Croydon, West Croydon and Beckenham Junction stations. East Croydon station is less than a mile away and offers frequent trains into Clapham Junction and London Bridge as well as Gatwick Airport.
The next generation of Olympians will enjoy the sports facilities at nearby South Norwood Leisure Centre, just over a mile from Penhurst Square, with its two swimming pools, gym and exercise studios. Keen golfers are catered for too with Shirley Golf Course nearby, and Addiscombe recreation ground, just 10 minutes’ walk away, offers tennis and basketball courts and football pitches. Residents will be well placed for day-to-day necessities, with several convenience stores and supermarkets in close proximity, whilst an extensive selection of shops, restaurants and bars are available in in Croydon, which can be easily reached.
Starting prices for the apartments at Penhurst Square are from £287,995. To register your interest, visit bellway.co.uk
About Paul Nihill
Born in Colchester, Essex, in 1939, Paul and his family relocated to Croydon when he was aged two, and has proudly considered himself a ‘Croydon boy’ ever since, living just around the corner from Bellway’s Penhurst Square development, even drinking his first pint in the Alma pub, at the end of Grant Road.
He started to run and joined Sir Philip Game Centre Boys Club, where the coach encouraged him to try cross country running. He moved to walking after answering an advert in the paper, and came second in his first ever walking race to a famous competitor thirty years his senior.
Mr Nihill competed for Great Britain in the 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympics, winning a silver medal in his first games in the 50km walking road race. He turned his attention to the 20km race and won a European title in the event in 1969, a bronze in 1971, and set a world record in July 1972, and finished sixth in that year’s Olympics. He also competed in the 1976 Olympics in the same event, and retired from professional sport the following year. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that the septuagenarian finally hung up his walking shoes.
Paul is a Life Member of Croydon Harriers, and competed for them throughout the 1960s and 70s. He is also a past president of Croydon-based Surrey Walking Club, for which he has also been an active member since the competitive racing years, and given the honour of being President of the Race Walking Association for the Millennium year of 2000-01 and again in 2006-07. He retains close links with the Sir Phillip Game Centre, and has been recognised there already as one of the halls bears his name for his sporting achievements and the time he has put back into the club over the years.
