71-year-old Eastbourne hotelier breaks world record

Neil Kirby is the owner of Langham Hotel in Eastbourne. Twenty months ago, he broke the world record for running the fastest marathon (42km) on a treadmill, in the over 70s age category. Despite turning 72 next month, he now has another world record under his belt having run 50km on a treadmill in 5 hours 37 minutes 38 seconds.

Although the run was “very hard”, Neil said there was a “fantastic turnout” with a few famous faces. Among them was 82-year-old Dec Cluskey, former member of 1960s Irish pop band The Bachelors, who came and sang to Neil and even got on a treadmill himself. He also had the mayor, the hotel’s general manager and chef and his “lovely” wife Wendy keeping him company.

Eastbourne resident and former member of The Bachelors Dec Cluskey kept Neil company (Image: Submitted) Three students from Brighton University stayed by Neil’s side throughout, sustaining him with water, gels, salt tablets and melon. He said: “I hate treadmills – they’re hard to run on because they’re a conveyor belt, it’s not natural. I would rather have run it on the road, but it wouldn’t have had the same impact in terms of raising awareness”.

Neil has raised £6,000 for Race for Dementia, a charity set up by racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart. Neil, who was general manager of the Park Lane Hotel for 28 years, often looked after Sir Jackie, who frequently stayed at the London hotel.