Hundreds of tributes paid to Harwich park run 'legend'

Ole Petersen died aged 82 on February 2 following a battle with cancer.

Mr Petersen had been a stalwart in the community for years, described as a big member of the Harwich Peninsula church community; he had also volunteered in the Electric Palace.

More notably, nicknamed ‘Lolly Ollie’, he had been a lollipop man in the area up until about 2007.

Volunteering at parkruns and other running events was a passion later in his life which gained him so many friends in the community.

Ole started off walking in the parkruns at Cliff Park, Dovercourt, before his illness meant he couldn’t continue, but he wanted to carry on his support and so began volunteering every Saturday.

Missed - Hundreds of tributes poured in from those who knew Ole

Peter Gooding, chairman of Harwich Runners, explained how he will be greatly missed.

He said: “He would be seen at the bottom of the slope going onto the promenade, always smiling and offering encouragement to those taking part.

“Ole will be greatly missed by members of Harwich Runners and all those who take part in the local Parkrun event.”

A notification of his death posted on Facebook has since received hundreds of messages of condolence, as people flooded to pay their respects and share fond memories.

Read more: Police remind motorist to clear snow from windscreen after 'close call'

One commenter, Lian Meachen, joked: “So sad to hear this, my thoughts are with his family. Ole was a true gentleman - even if he did tell me to run faster up the hill.”

Another added: “It was always great to run down the slope or prepare to run up it and see his big smile and his words of encouragement, he was a great man and will be missed.”

Other tributes described Ole as “such a lovely bloke who put a smile on everyone's face” and “a parkrun legend”.

Ole, who leaves behind four god-children, moved to Harwich from Denmark in 1973, having been born in a small town called Askov in 1938.

In his homeland, he served in the army until he was 20-years-old and later even sailed as a sea captain on a vessel which travelled all over the world with his wife, Shkilla, onboard as a crew member.

A fundraising page set-up last Friday has already seen £900 donated, which is hoped will fund a bench in the Dovercourt park where he would stand and marshal the parkruns.

To donate you can visit: https://gofund.me/411c9066