Thomas Hammond

Thomas Edgar Hammond (18 June 1878 – 18 December 1945) was a British track and field athlete who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He was a founder member of the Brotherhood of Centurions (Centurion no.10) and is remembered primarily for his prowess as a long distance race walker. Life Hammond was born on 18 June 1878 in Hitcham, Suffolk. He was educated at Bedford Modern School, and after school became a stockbroker at the London Stock Exchange. In 1899, Hammond signed up for service in the Boer War, becoming cyclist orderly to Lord Kitchener. After war service he returned to stockbroking. In 1903 he came third in the Stock Exchange London-to-Brighton Walk. In 1904 he won the event in 8 hours, 26 minutes, 57 seconds which was then a record. In 1904 he joined the Surrey Walking Club, eventually becoming its President, and also became a member of the Southern Counties Road Walking Association Committee. Prior to his appearance in the Olympics, Hammond set a number of records including London-to-Oxford (1907), London-to-Brighton and back (1907) and London-to-Brighton (1908).