Tom Maley’s has created a statue of Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Jim Alder, which is set to be installed in the runner’s hometown of Morpeth
Jim Alder with the statue commemorating his Commonwealth Games gold medal and sculptor Tom Maley(Image: G B Wade)
The statues of Sir Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer, and ‘Wor’ Jackie Milburn are some of sculptor Tom Maley’s proudest achievements, with thousands of fans walking past them on a St James’ Park matchday. However, sculptor Tom’s latest creation is an adopted North East sporting great who set records alongside working a day job as a bricklayer.
Jim Alder was one of the world’s greatest distance runners in the 1960s. Born in Glasgow, he moved to Morpeth in 1950 in the foster care of a family from the area.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of his Commonwealth Games gold. In one of the most bizarre finishes to a major championship race, Jim was well clear of the field as he approached the stadium after just over 26 miles through the streets of Kingston, Jamaica.
However, his approach coincided with the arrival of the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Anne at the stadium entrance and Jim was sent in the wrong direction away from the track. Though his nearest rival, Bill Adcocks, had entered the stadium and was more than a third of the way through his last lap by the time the mistake was realised, Jim caught and passed Adcocks 15 yards from the finish line.
At the same games, Jim won bronze in the 10,000 metres, and silver four years later when the games were held in Edinburgh. Not bad for a lad who had originally joined Morpeth Harriers in the hopes of being the first club member to win the New Year’s Day race from Morpeth to Newcastle (which he did five times).
Jim also won marathon bronze in the 1969 European Championship in Athens, twice set world records for 30,000 metres, and another world record for running the furthest by an athlete in two hours.
Jim Alder in 1972(Image: Daily Record)
His victories were recorded alongside working as a bricklayer at Stannington Hospital, and his commutes to work saw him covering around 150 miles every week on foot. Jim was awarded an MBE in 2007 for his contributions to athletics.
Sculptor Tom Maley said: “When it comes to North East sporting legends Jim Alder has to be right up there with the best because what he achieved in his career was nothing short of phenomenal. He inspired people like Brendan Foster, Steve Cram, Mike McLeod and Charlie Spedding to follow in his footsteps to make the North East a hotbed of world-class athletes.
He added: “If anyone deserves a statue in his honour in his home town, it is Jim Alder.”
The pose chosen for the statue, which has already been created, shows Jim crossing the winning line in Jamaica, proudly wearing the blue vest of his native Scotland. It is hoped that the statue will be installed in August, on the 60th anniversary of the gold medal race, at an as-yet-undisclosed location in Morpeth Town centre.
Jim, who is now 85, said that seeing the statue in Morpeth town centre will be the ultimate tribute. He said: “I am truly humbled and honoured.”
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