Closure of the Arthur Dagger Memorial Fund (ADMF)

On 24th February trustees formally dissolved ADMF, GWR’s small dedicated charity, after 14
years of incredible achievement
While it was a sad moment, both the trustees and the committee agreed it was the right time.
But it was also a celebration of its achievements
Founded in 2008 in memory of Arthur Dagger, who devoted over 25 years to supporting the
Bristol running community and young athletes, ADMF stayed true to his legacy.
However, we were a small charity with limited resources, human and financial, and in recent
years donations had declined. Applications were increasingly coming from young athletes from
established clubs in the area, supported by parents who, by and large, have the means to
support their children, rather than the under-represented young athletes the fund was originally
set up to support. With this in mind, and with fewer current GWR members having a direct
connection to Arthur, which inevitably impacted on donations, the trustees felt ADMF had run its
course.
With limited resources, it made a remarkable impact – providing over £28,000 in grants to
nearly 140 young athletes, with an average award of £205. Over the years, the club donated
£7,800, members’ donations amounted to nearly £8,700, and we received £1,500 via Gift Aid.
Fundraising events raised a further £4,600.
These grants helped aspiring runners with training costs, kit, physiotherapy, and travel. Many of
the young people supported have gone on to achieve at regional, national and in a few cases,
international levels, representing both their clubs and UK countries.
Trustees have decided to give the small amount of remaining assets to the club’s chosen charity
for the current year – Access Sport (https://www.accesssport.org.uk/) – who operate in Bristol
with aims and objectives that align with ADMF’s.
Alongside the acknowledgement of the original support and encouragement of Arthur’s widow
Angela, tremendous thanks goes to trustees who’ve made it all possible over the years, to Hilary
Coe, John Cox, Kelly Dicks, Paul Marshall, Sam Mumford, Simon Richards, Katy Sutcliffe,
Chris Taylor, past trustee Mike Wilcox and, not forgetting one of the founding trustees, Keith
Bonham, who died last year (2025).
We thank everyone who has donated to and supported ADMF over the years. The difference
you’ve made to young runners’ lives has been immense – a legacy Arthur would be proud of.
Thank you.
Mike Campbell, Chair of trustees