John Parlett
{{Short description|British track and field athlete (1925–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| headercolor =
| name = John Parlett
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth date|1925|4|19|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Bromley, Kent, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|3|6|1925|4|19|df=yes}}
| death_place = Woodford Green, East London, England
| sport = Athletics
| event = middle-distance
| height = 180 cm
| weight = 62 kg
| club = Dorking St. Paul's AC
| pb =
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's athletics}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|British Empire Games}}
{{MedalGold| 1950 Auckland|800 m}}
{{MedalSilver| 1950 Auckland|4 × 400 relay}}
{{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Championships}}
{{MedalGold|1950 Brussels|800 m}}
}}
Harold John Parlett (19 April 1925 – 6 March 2022) was a British track and field athlete who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pa/john-parlett-1.html |accessdate=9 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130163906/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pa/john-parlett-1.html |archivedate=30 January 2012 }} He was born in Bromley, Greater London.
Biography
Parlett attended Tiffin School, where he joined the ATC. He later joined the RAF, and left in 1947.Daily Herald Thursday 18 December 1947, page 4 In 1942, he joined the Dorking St. Paul's Athletic Club and broke he 880 yards club record before winning the Surrey and Southern Counties title and represeting England against France in 1947.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69375 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=9 April 2025}}
Parlett finished third behind Tom White in the 880 yards event at the 1947 AAA Championships{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19470719/076/0004 |title=Great run follows air-taxi dash |work=Daily News (London) |date=19 July 1947 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19470721/062/0004 |title=Army man steals limelight and 2 titles |work=Daily News (London) |date=21 July 1947 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=9 April 2025}} before becoming the became the British 880 yards champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1948 AAA Championships.{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=9 April 2025}} Shortly after his AAA win he represented the Great Britain team at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.
Parlett won a second AAA title at the 1949 AAA Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=9 April 2025}}
Parlett was the 800 metres champion at the 1950 European Athletics Championships. Representing England, he won the 880-yard run at the 1950 British Empire Games and was also a silver medallist in the 4 × 440 yards relay. His personal best for the 800 m was 1:50.5 minutes, set in 1950.{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/35431|title=Athletes and results|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation|access-date=20 July 2019|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614180211/https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/35431|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/auckland-1950/athletes|title=1950 Athletes|publisher=Team England}}
On 26 September 1951 he set a world record as part of a 4 × 800 metres relay team, that consisted of Bill Nankeville, Albert Webster and Frank Evans. The quartet recorded 7:30.6 at the White City Stadium.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19510927/148/0006 |title=Webster Heo of Relay Team |work=Nottingham Evening Post |date=27 September 1951 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=21 April 2025}}
In 1979 Parlett married Dorothy Manley (then Dorothy Hall, widowed in 1973). He died on 6 March 2022, at the age of 96.{{cite news |title=John Parlett And Dorothy Manley |url=https://www.teamgb.com/article/john-parlett-and-dorothy-manley/di2i7uHN0xkuE58fNM7Pm |access-date=11 March 2022 |publisher=Team GB |date=11 March 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Footer European Champions 800 m Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 800m Men}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parlett, John}}
Category:Alumni of Sir John Cass College
Category:People educated at Tiffin School
Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Bromley
Category:English male middle-distance runners
Category:British male middle-distance runners
Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1950 British Empire Games
Category:European Athletics Championships medalists