The Bodleian Libraries to show highlights of Sir Roger Bannister’s never-before-displayed archive to mark 70th anniversary of his four-minute mile

The Bodleian Libraries are pleased to announce an upcoming display of never-before-seen highlights from the archive of athlete and neurologist Sir Roger Bannister. This display will be on show in Blackwell Hall at the Weston Library from 4 - 6 May, and will commemorate the life and legacy of Bannister on the 70th anniversary of his record-breaking achievement of the first mile-run under four minutes. Many objects in the display will be shown publicly for the first time since joining the Bodleian’s collections.

Sir Roger Bannister (1929-2018) was a neurologist, first chairman of the Sports Council, Master of Pembroke College Oxford, and record-breaking athlete. On 6 May 1954, at the University of Oxford’s Iffley Road Track, Bannister broke the four-minute barrier, set almost a decade earlier, with a mile-run lasting 3:59.4 in front of a cheering crowd of about 3,000 spectators.

Throughout the first weekend of May, the Bodleian Libraries will display some of the most exciting items from the Bannister archive, which have never been seen by the public, to celebrate the anniversary of this record. These include photographs of the record-breaking run, an original programme from the day of the attempt, congratulatory correspondence with supporters and friends following his achievement, and Bannister’s personal training records, among which is the notebook he used to track the results of his training.

Also included in the display will be material relating to Bannister’s Olympic career, in particular some of his athletic clothing and an official badge taken from Bannister’s Team GB uniform from the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Bannister’s participation in the event is believed to have been the driving force behind his desire to complete a sub-four-minute mile and the materials on display, especially relevant in this Olympic year, offer a unique insight into the genesis of Bannister’s world-famous achievement.

Richard Ovenden OBE, Bodley’s Librarian, says:

Roger Bannister is both a sporting legend, a medical scientist of renown and has been a hero of the city and university of Oxford. He has also rightly become a ‘national treasure’. The Bodleian is absolutely thrilled to be able to offer the public the chance to see for the first time archival materials from his illustrious career, on the anniversary of his historic achievement.

The archive material has arrived at the Bodleian via the Government’s Acceptance in Lieu scheme, administered by Arts Council England, where the material was accepted in lieu of inheritance tax from the estate of Lady Bannister. The scheme transfers important cultural, scientific or historic objects to the nation, making them available for all.

Michael Clarke CBE, Chair, Acceptance in Lieu Panel, says:

I am delighted that the Sir Roger Bannister archive will be on display at the Bodleian Libraries to celebrate the 70th anniversary of his being the first person ever to run a ‘sub-four-minute mile’, an achievement which places him in the ranks of sport’s immortals. In addition to being one of this nation’s most famous sporting heroes, Roger Bannister also enjoyed a very distinguished medical career as a neurologist. This archive, acquired through the Acceptance in Lieu Scheme administered by Arts Council England, provides a rich source of study of the life and achievements of this remarkable man. I hope that this allocation encourages others to use the AIL Scheme and continue to support our national collections.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and Libraries, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, says:

Roger Bannister's record-breaking four-minute mile ushered in a new era of human achievement which continues to inspire people today. I am delighted that, thanks to the Acceptance in Lieu scheme, the Bodleian Libraries are able to celebrate his extraordinary feat and open up his collection to the public.

The display will coincide with a series of events taking place at Iffley Road, the site of Bannister’s record-breaking run. This will include the ‘Bannister Community Mile’, a mass participation road mile finishing on Iffley Road, and a series of track miles on the Iffley Road Track, where a new generation of athletes will attempt to break the men’s 4.00 and women’s 4.35 marks. These elite miles will set off at 6pm on 6 May, marking exactly 70 years since Bannister’s own record-breaking attempt.