The president of a Dartford-based athletics club has paid tribute to one of their late coaches.

Arthur Head, 92, passed away following a short illness last December and president of the Dartford Harriers Athletic Club Tony Durey insists he was a very likeable man.

The 52-year-old revealed how Mr Head joined the club in the 1950s and became an extremely popular coach.

News Shopper:

Arthur Head holding his Clubman of the Year award

Mr Durey told News Shopper: “I knew him fully well. He was a member here for 60 years and was one of the first coaches at the club.

“He was here when the club was based in Hesketh Park and we only had ten or 15 members then.

“Everyone was very fond of him and he was great with the kids. He’s a big part of the club’s history.

“There were about 150 people at his funeral on Friday.

“He was like a father figure to the kids that he looked after and a likeable character who kept himself to himself.

“Since I have been here, I never really saw him that much. He coached the juniors and from that point of view, he had a very active role at the club.”

Mr Head, born in Belvedere, received the Mayor’s Civic award for outstanding service to the community in 1997.

Mr Durey became involved with the club 28 years ago and admired Mr Head for all of his hard work.

He said: “Arthur would drive the kids in his van to tournaments and then drop them home – he went the extra mile for them and always put people first.

“I joined the club in 1988 and Arthur must’ve been there since the 1950s. He had a less prominent role in recent years because of his illness.

“I remember he had our club colours on his van – he just loved the club so much.”

Mr Head stopped coaching about ten years ago after falling ill but will be remembered as a Dartford Harriers club legend.

Dartford Harriers is among the leading athletics clubs in Kent, with a history stretching back to the 1920s - making it one of the oldest ones in the country.

Mr Head’s son Geoffrey, 63, added: “He was an exceptional coach - there are records set by athletes he trained that haven’t been beaten since the 1980s."

“He saw potential in everyone, not just the natural athletes, and he helped everyone to channel whatever abilities they had to achieve that potential.

“No one was turned away, no one was considered too unfit to train. This is what made him an outstanding coach.”