Thomas Edgar HAMMOND

Thomas Hammond was an ultra-long distance specialist who first won the London-to-Brighton walk in 1904. In September 1908 he set a host of British records for time and distance during a successful attempt on the 24-hour record with 131 miles, 580 yards, which was not bettered until five years after his death, in 1950, and it would be another ten years before his time was beaten by another British waker. His time at 100 miles was 18-04:10.2. Eight weeks earlier he took part in the 10 mile walk at the Olympics, but for Hammond, this was no more than a sprint and he was eliminated in the heats. Among the records he set on the road were London-to-Oxford (1907), London-to-Brighton and back (1907), London-to-Brighton (1908), and Norwich-to-Ipswich (1914). He worked as a stockbroker and took part in the first Stock Exchange London-to-Brighton walk in 1903 and finished third, but the following year won the race. Hammond joined the Surrey Walking Club in 1904 and was to serve the club as secretary and president over the years and was also a member of the Southern Counties Road Walking Association Committee. In 1911 he helped form a group called the Brotherhood of Centurions, for walkers who had completed 100 miles in 24 hours. Hammond was the inaugural club secretary and treasurer and was club captain for 35 years from 1911-46.