Athletics: Supermum Mavis was family's driving force

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The Tivey family – father John, daughters Gillian, Christine and Joy, and sons Mark and Phillip – are all well-known Derby athletes. But it was the encouragement of their mother, Mavis, which set them on the road to success. Sadly, Mavis died earlier this year but her family have produced a commemorative album dedicated to her which they showed to Pat Parkin.

The Tivey family

MOST people have their mothers to thank for so many of the successes in their lives.

Mavis Tivey, of Chaddesden, who died earlier this year, was such a mum to her five children.

Though she never took part in exercise herself, she devoted her whole life to encouraging them to succeed in athletics.

Now, to mark the 60th anniversary of their wedding day this month, her husband John, has produced an album of photographs and press cuttings about the family’s successes – and dedicated it to Mavis.

With a large star on the front, it begins: “None of the following would have happened without this lady.”

Said John, who was himself an outstanding sportsman: “Mavis really was an amazing person. My kids were all athletes and she helped them all. She fed them the right food, encouraged them with their training and just provided them with the right incentive to do well. She was their inspiration; we all miss her terribly.”

The couple’s daughters, Gillian Heath, Christine Wheatley and Joy Walsh were all very successful runners. Gillian was the only English woman of her time who was an international at cross country, outdoor track and indoor track events, and won a gold medal at the World Championships in America in 1970.

Christine was a county champion and schools runner at 880 yards. Joy ran for Derby Ladies and was a good all-round club athlete.

Their elder brother, Mark, was a Derbyshire quarter mile and 800m runner and also National Police Champion, while their younger brother, Phillip, was a county champion as both junior and senior at 400m hurdles, and also ran in the national English Schools Championships.

Added John: “All of them say that their mother was their inspiration.”

Mavis was also a second “mum” to countless numbers of local athletes. She regularly catered for them at their weekly events at Moorways and, as a “thank you” for her efforts, was made the only lady vice-president of the then male-only Derby & County Athletics Club.

In the 1970s, when for two years running Derby staged the national inter-county cross country championships at Allestree Park, she got together a group of friends to help her cater for more than 1,000 competitors, including one of the winners, Steve Ovett.

Said John: “So many of the athletes over the years used to regard her as their second mum.”

Mavis Tivey died, aged 77, in May, and St Mary’s Church, Chaddesden, was packed with family and friends for the funeral and service to celebrate her life.