Efforts to restore grave of Rawmarsh-born sports ace

At George Littlewood's grave are (left) to right the Rev Dave Goddard, Baptist Minister at Treeton Baptist Church, Luke Elmore and Norman Zide.

The grave of Rawmarsh-born George Littlewood, who broke running and walking records in the 1800s, has laid untended along with many others at the now unused Darnall Cemetery.

Norman Zide is part of a group looking to spruce up the cemetery and also two neighbouring ones at Tinsley Park and Attercliffe.

He said: “In the last few weeks one of George's relatives joined our Facebook group and it was from that I thought out of respect it would be nice to put George's headstone back up.

“We think he deserves a bit of respect. Where he is in the cemetery is ideal. It's a lovely spot and to see it back up would be beautiful.”

George Littlewood

A GoFundMe Page has been set up. Click link here

Any surplus monies will be donated to the community group's work in the three cemeteries.

George Littlewood is arguably the greatest ultra long-distance foot athlete the world has ever seen. A sporting superstar of his day, he travelled over to America on several occasions.

To this day he still holds the six-day world record for walking, set back in March 1882 when he pushed his aching limbs 531 miles on a 13-laps to the mile track in Sheffield.

Six years later, at Madison Square Garden in New York, Littlewood set a six-day distance record covered by foot when he travelled 623 miles 1320 yards. That record stood for 96 years.

Anyone with any more information about George’s origins in Rawmarsh is welcome to contact Norman on 07398 236090 or via the Darnall Cemetery Facebook page.