Robbie Brightwell MBE

27 October 1939 – 6 March 2022

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of alumnus Robbie Brightwell, former British 400m record holder and Olympian, who passed away on 6 March at the age of 82.

Robbie attended Loughborough from 1959 to 1962, studying Physical Education, and again from 1967 to 1970, gaining his Master’s in Human Sciences Research. Later, in 2009, Robbie was awarded a Centenary Honorary Degree from Loughborough 

He won silver medals at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games for the 400m and 4x400m relay, and gold and silver at the 1962 European Championships for the 400 metres and 4x400 metres relay, respectively. He also enjoyed success at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, taking silver in the 4×400 metres and captaining the team. 

Since his retirement from athletics, he earned several coaching qualifications and worked in education - notably as a lecturer at Loughborough Colleges (1965-71) - and held directorships with sports companies, including Adidas and Le Coq Sportif. 

In 2011, Robbie was inducted into the Loughborough Sport Hall of Fame, a celebrated group of Loughborough affiliates with notable achievements in sport. In 2019, he was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame, ten years after his wife, fellow Olympian Ann Brightwell, née Packer. 

Our thoughts are with Ann and the rest of their family. 

Read an obituary by Frank Dick, fellow alumnus and member of the Hall of Fame, via Athletics Weekly.