2:36pm Friday 5th March 2010
ROMSEY has lost one of its most famous strongmen in Roger “Podge” Gunner, who died, aged 83, on February 18.
Over the years, Podge helped train hundreds of weightlifters in the area, including Olympic hopefuls.
Gunners, in The Hundred, was more than just a shoe repair shop; it was also the gateway to Podge’s weightlifting gym in the back garden.
David Gentle, a former member of Romsey Weightlifting Club, said: “In Podge’s time, the practice of lifting heavy weights was actually frowned upon. In fact, weight-training had a real stigma, with the ancient myth that ‘strong men die young’ or that one becomes ‘muscle-bound’.
“In his youth, Podge overcame the prejudices and such negative warnings, with time proving him right. Now, it seems, everyone trains or has trained with weights.”
Podge rose through the ranks of weightlifters, becoming at first a local and then a regional referee in the official body, the British Amateur Weightlifting and Bodybuilder Association.
He held county records and achieved other successes with heavy poundages at different lifts in his bodyweight class. In 1960, the British Olympic team came to Timsbury Manor to prepare for the Rome games and Podge assisted in their training.
He poured most of his strength into training others. Among the strongmen coached by Podge was Romsey’s Gary Windebank, who earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for lifting tyres.
Another product of Podge’s gym was Ben Read, who became the world record holder for bending nails. John Porter, of North Baddesley, trained under Podge to take the British Championships in his weight at powerlifting.
Podge also organised a successful Physical Culture Show back in the 1960s at the Crosfield Hall, in aid of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign.
Podge was a great supporter of charities and he and his training partners gave free exhibitions at countless events.
In addition to weightlifting, Podge also supported bodybuilding, annually arranging a pilgrimage to the Mr Universe Contest in London.
In 1997, Romsey Conservative Club surprised Podge with a party to celebrate his 50 years in weightlifting. Podge was presented with a special award and he received messages from many former club members from around the world.
When the time came for retirement, Podge had moved from the shop to live with his mother at Luzborough and, of course, part of his house, the garage, was turned into a gym.
On the death of his mother, he moved to Chambers Avenue where, again, his small garage became a gym.
As time passed, Podge, grew too old to cope and so his sister, Joan Bachman, with great reluctance, resettled him in the nursing home Durban House, Woodley Lane. It was there that Podge passed away.
A funeral service for Podge will be held at Romsey Abbey next Thursday, March 11, at 2pm.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisishampshire.net/trade_directory/