THE man who got Dunfermline running again with the return of the city’s half marathon has died at the age of 61.

John Martindale, who stayed in Crossford, was a sports event organiser who also commentated on races as far afield as Ethiopia and Pakistan.

A popular figure in West Fife sporting circles, he was due to take part in last month’s Queen’s Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games but unfortunately he was too ill.

John had an operation to remove a brain tumour in 2013 but by the end of the year was given the devastating news that the tumour had returned.

Another operation did not prove successful.

The wedding of his daughter, Joanne, took place on 20th June so he could attend the ceremony and he died in the hospice at Queen Margaret Hospital on Tuesday 15th July.

Born in Preston, Lancashire, John married Morag in 1980 – both had been students at Aberdeen University – and they moved to West Fife in 1988. While at Aberdeen John gained a BSc and PhD in genetics.

His company, Interloq, originally provided weather services for the Scottish agriculture industry and ticketing services.

The firm moved into sports event management, founding the (now Sir) Chris Hoy Half Marathon in Edinburgh and helping establish similar races in Dundee and Coventry.

He also did a lot of consultancy work in athletics and John was proud of his efforts in bringing back Dunfermline’s own half marathon, which had first run in 1985. He revived it in 2002 after a three-year gap and it became a prestigious event in the racing calendar.

The race hosted the Scottish Athletics Championships for eight years in a row and also welcomed international competitors for the Stewarts Road Race Grand Prix.

John was the Run Dunfermline race director and it became a hugely popular three-day event with the primary school cross-country and relay festivals on the Friday, the 5K and family fun run on the Saturday and the 13.1-mile race on the Sunday. However, rising costs and dwindling sponsorship cash proved problematic and the half marathon last ran in 2011.

He was also a keen sportsman and was previously president of Aberdeen University’s sports union. He gained a full blue for rugby and athletics and was a former British Universities decathlon champion.

A member of Carnegie Harriers, John was the athletics rep on the Dunfermline and West Fife Sports Council and he hosted their annual sports awards ceremony in the Glen Pavilion.

Press editor Simon Harris said, “It was a privilege to have known John. He was a true gentleman with a terrific lust for life and he made a huge difference to others and to Dunfermline. He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his family, of whom he was so proud, at this awful time.” He is survived by his wife, Morag, daughters Joanne and Amy and son-in-law Adam.

His funeral service will be held today (Thursday) at Culross Abbey at 1pm.