In July the club sadly lost one of its best ever members Marlow Hadler. Her funeral will be held at Falconwood Crematorium on Thursday 31st August at 11.45am.
Marlow at one of the club's celebration dinners
Marlow was a Cambridge Harrier from a very early age – it is where she was to meet and marry her future husband Derek, who was Club Captain for many years.
Marlow was a very versatile athlete. She competed at many events, although the 100m was her best event where she achieved the qualifying standard for the 1968 Olympics. She is still part of the team that holds the Club Record for 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m which was set as far back as 1970 and 1971, and believe it or not, she was also part of the team that won the Junior National Cross Country Championships in 1966.
Later on in life she took part in veteran’s athletics where she competed in numerous events including the shot putt, discus and hammer, that is versatile!! She was great supporter of all the club teams and her son John was a fixture of the young athletes team and then the senior team with Marlow and Derek supporting him and the club at all the matches.
Not content with that, she wanted another athletic challenge, so she decided to run the London Marathon, not once, but twice, the second time carrying a boat along with a team of other Cambridge Harriers. Mad or what!!
Marlow truly loved athletics and for many years worked at The International Athletes’ Club. This was set up in the days before athletes became professionals. She was able to work alongside a team providing services for Britain’s top athletes, which included warm weather training, physiotherapy, private medical services, and televised athletic events.
Marlow was in her element working with the elite of British Athletics, she had such a warm and engaging personality, not to mention a wicked sense of humour. Once the International Athletes Club folded, because the professionals took over Athletics, Marlow worked in The Human Resources department for a Law Firm in the City of London where I believe she made quite an impression. She eventually took early retirement as Derek had also retired, but she continued to compete for Cambridge Harriers. Marlow never lost her love for athletics, and especially the athletes themselves. Once you had met Marlow you never forgot her and so to sum her up – she was a legend and we will never forget her.
The family have requested no flowers at the funeral but donations to the charity of your choice including Cambridge Harriers - Sort code 51 70 14 Account No 78805570.