Walter Rangeley

Walter Rangeley was born in Salford, Lancashire, on 14 December 1903, the eldest son of James Rangeley and his second wife Maggie Brownridge. He had a younger sister, Ethel, and brother, Frank.

Banking career

In 1920 Walter Rangeley joined the staff of London County Westminster & Parr’s Bank (known as Westminster Bank from 1923) at Manchester Corn Exchange branch. In 1929 he transferred to the bank’s main Manchester branch.

Aside from a period on active service during the Second World War, he spent his entire working life with Westminster Bank in Manchester. He retired in 1963.

Athletics

Walter Rangeley was a talented sprinter. He ran competitively for Great Britain, Salford Athletic Club and Westminster Bank Sports Club.

As late as 1937, when his most successful competitive years were behind him, a sports report in The Times declared 'In the 220 Yards one had the usual demonstration of 'how to do it' by W. Rangeley, a runner who loves running and still has the easy grace of the true athlete and artist in one.'

Great Britain - Olympics

Walter Rangeley represented Great Britain at the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the men’s 100 metres, but won silver in the men’s 4x100 metres relay, alongside teammates Harold Abrahams, William Nichol and Lancelot Royle.

Four years later, Rangeley won a silver medal in the men’s 200 metres at the Amsterdam Olympics. He also won a bronze medal in the men’s 4x100 metres relay, with Cyril Gill, Edward Smouha and Jack London.

He did not compete at the 1932 Games, but returned in 1936 for the Berlin Games, where he was part of the men’s 4x100 metres relay team. They were eliminated in the first round.

Great Britain – other

Rangeley represented Great Britain at various international competitions, including victories as part of the relay team competing against France in 1925, 1934 and 1935; Italy in 1933; and Germany in 1935. He won individual victories in the 100m against France in 1925 and in the 200m against both France and Germany in 1935.

In 1928 he competed in the British Empire squad against the United States of America, where he was part of the winning relay team.

At the 1934 British Empire Games he won a gold medal in the 4x110 yard relay and bronze in the 220 yard individual sprint.

Salford Athletic Club

Competing in the 100 yard and 220 yard sprints and the 4x110 yard relay, Rangeley won 20 Northern Counties Championship titles and 21 Lancashire County Championship titles.

He was a finalist at the AAA British championships on 13 occasions; 5 times in the 100 yard sprint and 8 in the 220 yard sprint.

Westminster Bank Sports Club

Walter Rangeley represented Westminster Bank’s Sports Club at annual inter-bank athletics tournaments between 1924 and 1937, winning the 100 yard sprint 10 times and the 220 yard sprint 8 times. He was a member of the winning sprint relay team on 4 occasions. Even after his retirement he remained a supporter of Westminster Bank Sports Club, and later of its successor National Westminster Bank Sports Club. 

Family life

In 1929 Walter Rangeley married Hilda Noel. They had two sons together.

Death

Walter Rangeley died on 16 March 1982.