Ann Sayer

Ann Rosemary Sayer MBE (16 October 1936 – 15 April 2020) was an English long-distance walker and rower.

Born in Whitstable, Kent, Sayer attended London University, graduating with a degree in geology after which she worked for the oil company BP.^[1]

Having taken up rowing at university, Sayer was selected for Great Britain at the Women's European Rowing Championships in 1960, 1962 and 1964.^[2] In 1977, she became the first woman to qualify as a Centurion, walking 100 miles in under 24 hours.^[1] In 1979 she set the National 3 Peaks Challenge record by climbing the 3 highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland and running between each one in just 7 days. She also took part in several 24 hour races in France.^[3] In 1980 she set a still unbroken record for the fastest ever walk by a woman from Land's End to John o' Groats.^[1]

Sayer became a vice-president of the Long Distance Walkers Association, and was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for service to sport in the 2005 Birthday Honours list.^[4]

In 2018 she suffered complications after breaking her hip during a fall,^[1] and died with COVID-19 on 15 April 2020, aged 83.^[3]

A memorial bench was installed in the Woodland Gardens, Bushy Park, in 2023.^[5]

Ann Sayer's bench, Bushy Park