We were saddened to receive the news of the passing of Old Canfordian David Curle S53. In a touching gesture, his daughter reached out to offer the medals he earned during his time at Canford for inclusion in our archives. This week, we received these treasured pieces of Canford history, a poignant reminder of David’s remarkable sporting achievements.

A closer look at the medals revealed distances that differ from those seen in modern athletics, 880 yards, 1 mile, and 3 miles, rather than today’s 400m, 800m, and 5000m races. Intrigued, we turned to The Canfordian from 1953, the year David left the school, to learn more about his sporting prowess. What we found confirmed that David was not only an accomplished runner but a true standout in Canford athletics.

David was the captain of the athletics team, leading by example and setting records that stood as a testament to his dedication and ability. His performances were so exceptional that he received a dedicated mention in The Canfordian, where his incredible feats on the track were documented in detail. One of his standout achievements was breaking the school’s mile record with a time of 4 minutes 43 seconds, narrowly surpassing the previous record. Additionally, he set a new half-mile record of 2 minutes 4.6 seconds at Winchester and continued to dominate in multiple events throughout the season.

His leadership and talent were key to Canford’s strong performances in competitions against rival schools such as Sherborne and Bryanston. In the School Sports Finals of 1953, David claimed victory in the 880 yards, 1 mile, and 3 miles races, further cementing his reputation as one of the finest middle distance runners of his time at Canford. His talents were also recognised beyond school competitions, he was selected to represent Dorset in the Senior Division at the Schools Athletic Association All-England Inter-Counties Finals at Uxbridge. Unfortunately, his General Certificate of Education (G.C.E.) exams prevented him from attending.

Upon discovering these details, we shared them with David’s daughter, who was moved to learn more about her father’s legacy at Canford. It was a heartwarming moment that reinforced the impact of the school’s history and the lasting memories left by its students.

You can visit the Canford Archive here.