Life was very simple. My parents had come from the North of England, which is a fairly rugged, bleak, hard-working part of England, and so there was not the expectation of luxury. — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
I came from such a simple origin, without any great privilege, and I would say I also wanted to make a mark. It wasn't until I was about 15 that I appeared in a race. — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the… — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
Mothers, unless they were very poor, didn't work. Both of my parents had to leave education. My mother had to work in a cotton… — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
My concentration was really on getting to university and becoming a doctor. My parents let me know that school marks were important. Achievement was… — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
If there was the opportunity to climb a mountain, or to go ballooning, or some adventurous activity, I would always be keen to do… — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
Sport is not about being wrapped up in cotton wool. Sport as about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at… — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
May is a very early time in the year and the weather is usually bad. You cannot run a fast mile race if there… — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
My family actually lived in the same village for about 400 years. They had great stability until the last century. People lived and intermarried… — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
The human spirit is indomitable. No one can ever say you must not run faster than this or jump higher than that. There will… — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
Doctors and scientists said breaking the four-minute mile was impossible, that one would die in the attempt. Thus, when I got up from the… — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
I had always wanted to become a neurologist, which is one of the most demanding vocations in medicine. Where do you stop, after all,… — Roger Bannister Copy Share Image
