Bannister, who will celebrate the 60th anniversary of his historic four-minute mile on Tuesday (May 6), has revealed that he was diagnosed with the neurological disorder three years ago.

"One person every hour in the UK will be diagnosed with Parkinson's," Ford said.

"We applaud Sir Roger and his decision to speak publicly about his diagnosis at this stage in his long life."

Bannister, a former neurologist, admitted he is now having trouble walking due to the neurological disorder.

"I have seen, and looked after, patients with so many neurological and other disorders that I am not surprised I have acquired an illness," he told BBC Radio Oxford.

"It's in the nature of things, there's a gentle irony to it.

"I am being well looked after and I don't intend to let it interfere - as much as I can.

"Just consider the alternatives - that is the way I look at it.

"One of my pleasures in life, apart from running, has been walking.

"Intellectually I am not [degenerating] and what is walking anyway?"

Roger Bannister became the first man to break the four-minute mile on May 6, 1954 ©Getty Images


Bannister was helped in achieving his time of 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds by pacemakers Chris Brasher, the co-founder of the London Marathon in 1981, who died in 2003 aged 74, and Christopher Chataway, who died in January this year aged 82.

Six decades on, he has warned a breakthrough in the fight against Parkinson's could still be some way off.

"I know quite a lot about it and have treated a lot of people with it," Bannister explained.

"I am aware of all the research that's been done.

"I think it will take some time before there is a breakthrough, but the management and drug treatments are improving all the time."

To mark the latest anniversary, Bannister will celebrate with his wife of 58 years, Moyra, and family and friends as they gather for lunch at Exeter College, Oxford before taking part in a ceremony at the university city's Vincent's Club, the 150-year-old sporting establishment.

As he reflected once again last week on the moments of high endeavour by his 25-year-old self which indelibly re-wrote the history of track athletics, he commented with characteristic restraint: "It was just something which caught the public's imagination.

"I think it still remains something that is of interest and intrigue."

Read the full story on the 60th anniversary of Bannister's four-minute mile in the Big Read here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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