For Mr Tillott, it was all too much. It was do something, or risk becoming one of the naysayers. “Because of my background in running – and I had just set up a small event for a local school – and because I knew people were looking for someone to do this, I decided to get involved.” He added: “There was a lot of resistance to a new event because of what had happened before. I had to spend quite a lot of time with the police and local authorities to convince them we could actually do something. “But they were onside with the messages. We all wanted to do something Gloucester could be proud of. “So we had to have a really good route, we wanted to bring the community together – so we involved a lot of stakeholders, we wanted to get people involved in running, doing something good for themselves, and we wanted to raise money for the local community. “It turned out there was a greater desire to do something. The message hit and sparked, and it was ‘come on, we’re Gloucester, we can do this, we can buy into this’. Suddenly we were pushing at an open door.” Names which should be high up in lights alongside Mr Tillott are his colleagues at Davies and Partners, head of the planning department and director, Jude Rodrigues, and the firm’s IT expert, Dan Smith. Gloucester Quays Rotary bought into the concept and commitment straightaway. And then there is a very long list including sponsor of three years, building firm E G Carter & Co Ltd and other businesses such as GTE Ltd and Creed Catering,
county-based running clubs, including Kingsway runners and also Gloucester Quays Rotary Club and The Quays itself. “Without the many people who mobilise, this would simply not be possible. Because of their efforts, the event has been able to deliver for charities across the county every year, which is great.” Last year The James Hopkins Trust and Young Gloucestershire each received a £5000 cheque as a result. “The commitment has been incredible. Logistically it is a very challenging race. We have to get everything ready on the morning of the race. You need a lot of volunteers to achieve that. And it is a busy city now. There is always something going on.” So involved is he, that he has not been able to run the race yet himself. For runners of all abilities who are able to take part, it is a fast, scenic course, showing off a Gloucester to be proud of - the Cathedral, the Quays, Docks and and canal side. “In terms of pride in the city? I think that has changed a lot over the last few years.There is a lot more - and a lot more reasons to see why that should be so.” If you think he should have a medal hung around his neck, Punchline’s advice is don’t dress it up as CSR. Better it be a medal for having finished the 10k. One of those would make him really proud l www.daviesandpartners.com www.rungloucester.co.uk
May 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com | 97
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