Thomas William MISSON

A member of the Metropolitan Walking Club, pharmacist Tom Misson finished fourth in the Southern Area AAA 7 miles championship in 1957. The following year, he was the Middlesex 20 miles champion and, also in 1958, won the International 100 km race at Milan, with Don Thompson in second place. Misson was only the second British winner of the race (after Thompson) in 27 years. In finishing fourth at the European Championship that year, Misson set a new UK record of 4:20:31.8. He won his one and only National title, at 20 miles, in 1959, and finished second to Don Thompson in the London to Brighton walk that year, as well as setting personal bests at 20 km, 50 km and 20 miles. At the 1960 National Championships Misson finished third behind Stan Vickers and Thomson in the 50 km, and second to Thompson in the 20 miles. Misson did, however, win his third successive Middlesex 7 miles title that year, and was fifth at the Rome Olympics, when he made his third and final UK international appearance.

Personal Bests: 20kmW – 1-35:16 (1959); 20MileW – 2-37:30 (1959); 50kmW – 4-14:03 (1959).