A name you may not be familiar with but one that deserves plenty of recognition, particularly on International Women’s Day is Florence Ilott.
90 years ago Florence Ilott achieved the impossible when she became the first person to sprint across Westminster Bridge within the twelve chimes of Big Ben at noon.
In tweets posted by Florence’s grandson Scott Pack back in 2018, he recounts his grandmother’s achievements and how her run came about, “Florence was an amateur sprinter and one of the MPs suggested she give it a go. So just before noon on April 14th 1934 she donned her running gear and awaited the first chime”.
To put some numbers for your perspective, the speedster that she was, Florence’s run is the same as running 353 metres in roughly 50 seconds. That is applaudingly pretty bloody fast.
Only 19 years old, Florence was employed s a catering staff member at the House of Common’s tea room and achieved something that had never been done before. The attempt created some interest and buzz, attracting several members of the press who were hoping for a story – Florence certainly delivered.
Scott goes on to say in a tweet, “The event was recorded by reporters and photographers from the Associated Press, Daily Sketch and Evening Standard who saw her make it across the bridge by the tenth chime, become the first person to achieve the feat.”
Not only did what was thought as near impossible, but Florence managed to complete it even faster than she needed to. Finishing by the tenth chime meant she could run the length of the bridge in around 41 seconds.
The incredible run turned Florence into a minor celebrity at the time, became an amateur sprinter who fared particularly well in the 220-yard dash (no surprise there) raised a family, and died in 2002 at the grand age of 88.
The newspaper clippings of her achievement were kept by her family, and Scott and his father went through them carefully. What’s more, they had found an amazing surprise, a video of Florence on her run across Westminster Bridge, which is shown above. Simply wonderful. Next time you find yourself on Westminster Bridge, have a little moment to remember the incredible feat achieved by this marvellous woman.