SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Running star Roger Black calls in for coffee!

STAFF at an Ilminster coffee shop were “on their marks, get set, go” today (Thursday, August 14, 2014) when former British running favourite Roger Black popped in with his family.

Black, now 48, was the golden boy of athletics during the 1980s and 1990s with a string of medals in 400m events and is now a recognisable face on TV with commentary work.

But today he was in Ilminster with his family while on holiday in the area and surprised staff at Bilby’s coffee shop in Silver Street when they went in for some refreshments.

PHOTO – ABOVE: Roger Black is pictured with Bilby’s Claire Timson today (Thursday, August 14, 2014) in Ilminster.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Roger Black in action for Great Britain in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Claire Timson, who works in Bilby’s, told the Yeovil Press: “He and his family were really lovely.”

She managed to get a photo with Black after her supervisor, Adele Morris, asked him on her behalf for a snap.

“I was too shy to ask for a photo,” said Claire.

And while customers and staff, including Emma Carter, looked-on Claire posed for a picture with the running champ.

Emma said: “Roger and his family were great – all very polite.”

During his career Roger Black amassed a collection of 15 medals from major senior athletic competitions – Olympics, World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games – stretching from 1986 to 1996 in 400m individual events and the 4x400m relay.

Claire’s husband, Kenny, is a keen runner himself and would have loved to have met Black – but was at work and so missed out.

You would have thought, however, that Claire would have got an autograph for her hubby.

But – oops!

“I didn’t even think about it,” said Claire. “I went all shy!”

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