TRIBUTES have been paid to a giant of Blackburn athletics who has died.

George Kirby was a former president, chairman, coach and official with Blackburn Harriers Athletics Club. He died on Thursday at the age of 95.

Chairman of Blackburn Harriers Tony Wood said: “The club and athletics in general were blessed when George came along all those years ago to play a part in our sport and in particular to put all his energies into ensuring it was enjoyed by so many people over so many years.

“He will be sadly missed and our thoughts go to his wife Marion and his family at this sad time.

“It would not be an over-estimation of George to say that he, more than anyone, had more influence on the sport of athletics in the Lancashire area and beyond than almost anybody since the end of the Second World War.”

George served in the RAF as a bomber pilot and taught in Blackburn and became part of the athletics club after the war.

Mr Wood added: “He enthusiastically argued for the laying of the athletics track at Witton Park, which was opened in 1958, and in the following 60 years became an integral part of everything that was Blackburn Harriers.”

Among his achievements included being appointed as a GB Athletics team coach.

He was athletics correspondent for the Lancashire Telegraph for more than a quarter of a century.

Mr Wood added: “In the 1960s he was instrumental in arranging extremely popular invitation events at Witton Park to which many international athletes came, including Derek Ibbotson, Bruce Tulloh, Ron Hill, Barrie Kelly, Dorothy Hyman and Mary Peters.

“He ensured that Witton Park became the venue for Northern Cross Country Championships, National Women’s Cross Country Championships and the Women’s International Cross Country Championships.

“He was particularly proud to see the club have three Olympians in 2012 and 2016, including a bronze medal in Rio for Sophie Hitchon in one of his favourite events, the hammer.”

Long-distance race champion Ron Hill said: “I used to live close to Witton Park and I know that George did a lot of good work to get those events put on at the park.”

Funeral details are still to be announced.