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Godfrey Lionel RAMPLING (GBR) (b. 14 May 1909 Greenwich, London) died in Bushey, Hertfordshire on June 20 at the age of 100.
He was Britain’s oldest Olympian and most famous for his spectacular second leg in overcoming an eight-metre deficit to the USA and handing over a two-metre lead to help Britain to the Olympic gold medal at 4x400m in 1936. Earlier he had been 4th in his semi-final at 400m in a pb 47.5 (47.65a).
Ideally built at 1.85m and 76kg, after winning the Army 880y title in 1930 in 1:57.8 he concentrated on quarter-miling and made the first of six international appear-ances for Britain with a 48.0 400m win against France in 1931.
Later that year he ran a 46.6 relay leg against Germany. Service in the Royal Engineers restricted his opportunities (and training) but he won a relay silver medal with 4th in his 400m semi-final at the 1932 Olympics and he won gold medals at 440y and 4x440y at the 1934 Empire Games.
AAA champion at 440y in 1931 and 1934, he had a 220y pb of 22.0 (1931). He retired from the army as a lieutenant-colonel in 1958.
His daughter is the film actress Charlotte Rampling.
With thanks to Peter Matthews - Athletics International
