Commander F. W. 'Bill' Collins, RN (1905-1989), was involved in athletics and the organisation of sport both in the Navy and nationally. In particular he coached javelin and was one of a number of coaches who taught at the AAA Summer Schools at Loughborough College in the 1930s. In 1947-48 he was responsible for organising the Olympic Torch Relay from Olympia in Greece across Europe to London for the 1948 Olympic Games. Commander Collins also originated and organised the Queen's Message Relay for the Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff in 1958 and for subsequent Commonwealth Games. In 1962 he founded the Torch Trophy Trust to encourage voluntary work for sport at club or local level.
From the guide to the F.W. Collins Collection, c1933-1964, (Loughborough University Archives, Pilkington Library)
