East End Women’s Museum: Jean Pickering

Jean Pickering, originally from Forest Gate, is the only British woman to have won gold medals at the European Athletics Championships in both track and field events. She won bronze medals at the 1952 Olympics and the 1954 Commonwealth Games whilst also setting British records in the women’s pentathlon and long jump. In 1991 she founded the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund to help young British athletes fulfil their potential.

© Daily Mirror

Did you know?

Some 70 per cent of Britain’s teams at the London Olympics -including Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Christine Ohuruogu- as teenagers, were among the beneficiaries of the fund. 

‘The fairy godmother’ of sports

In 1951 Jean competed in the hurdle event at the Henske Olympics. At the time, she was also working as a secretary for Rothmans Cigarette company. In her honour, the company halted work for the day and proudly issued a commentary over the radio congratulating her.

When Jean married Ron Pickering (athletics coach and BBC Sports commentator) in 1954, she struggled to maintain her work life, training and all other household duties. She suddenly realised how much her mother had done for her, dealing with all the ‘nitty gritty’ and making sure her daughter always returned home to find a meal waiting for her. 

Ron was hospitable and sociable, always hosting sports people. When Ron bought athletes home, the knowledge of what Jean missed when she left home made her realise what athletes needed to keep going. Like a mother figure, Jean housed, clothed and fed them, just as her mother once did for her.

After Ron’s untimely death in 1991, his presence was missed within the sport, giving Jean reason to set up the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund in his memory and continue his legacy. 

The magazine Athletics Weekly once described her as “the fairy godmother” of the sport.

Image credit: Newham Archives