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    Florence Ilott

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 3 min

    Florence Ilott
    Born(1913-09-20)September 20, 1913
    DiedMay 31, 2002(2002-05-31) (aged 88)
    Known forrunning across Westminster Bridge

    Florence Ilott (20 September 1913 – 31 May 2002) was the first person to run across Westminster Bridge within the twelve chimes of Big Ben at noon.[1][2]

    Running across the bridge before the clock struck noon was a long-standing tradition with unknown origins for staff at the Commons.[1] When Ilott accomplished this feat on 14 April 1934, she was a nineteen year old employed as a catering staff member[1] in the tea room at the House of Commons.[3] A news agency captured the achievement on film and sent it to cinema houses as part of a newsreel.[4]

    Ilott was an amateur sprinter with particular success in the 220-yard dash.[1] She died on 31 May 2002.[1]

    External links[edit]

    References[edit]

    1. ^ a b c d e "The Shakeout Podcast: Reliving Florence Ilott's Historic Westminster Bridge Sprint". Canadian Running Magazine. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
    2. ^ "We take our off our hat to". The Sketch. Vol. 166, no. 2152. Illustrated London News. 25 April 1934. p. 157 – via Proquest.
    3. ^ Low, Valentine (5 November 2018). "Florence Ilott's grandson pays tribute to the woman who raced Big Ben". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
    4. ^ "This Guy's Twitter Thread About His Remarkable Grandmother Has The Best Ending". HuffPost UK. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
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