Ben Jacobs – one year on

“Ben was a great runner and a greater man”

These were the words of my predecessor as Club Chair, Stuart Mason, this time last year when he had the sombre task of announcing Ben Jacobs’ passing, following a cycling incident in May 2023.

These words could not have summed up Ben better. Ben was someone who was not only a club member and exceptional athlete, but a dear friend to many of us. Ben was also someone who, despite his phenomenal ability, was very humble and supportive to all those around him. I, like I suspect many of us, received nothing but encouragement from Ben at both Tuesday night club sessions and during events and have often found myself wishing over the last 12 months I could tell him about my achievements, knowing how pleased he would be for anyone no matter what they’d done.

Today marks a year since Ben’s passing and I know the grief at his loss is still as keen today as it was at last year’s Woodbridge 10K, when a huge number of Reds ran together at the rear of the field in tribute to him alongside another club member who was injured in the same incident. In Ben’s memory the club will be making a donation to the East Anglian Air Ambulance, who responded to Ben’s incident.

I would encourage everyone who knew Ben to not dwell on his absence, but to remember the good times we had with him as a club member and clubmate and the happiness that he brought into our lives, and try to not only emulate his running style but his unfailing kindness towards other athletes.

Matt Makin
Chair of Felixstowe Road Runners
18 May 2024