Joss Naylor passed away last night.
The King of the Fells.
10 February 1936 – 28 June 2024.
Gone for a la’al kip. 🙏.
Some sort of human manifeststion of the highest, hardest fells that he was born at the foot of. An incredible ability to tolerate pain and suffering. A humble man, a prolific fundraiser and someone that would always ‘reach down and help up’ newcomers to fell running or those less able than him. However he did also have a sharp word or two for those that in his mind veered from the amateur simple nature of fell running by introducing supplements and spread sheets and GPS etc etc ….
His seven days one hour and 45 minutes round of the Wainwrights stood as a record for 28 years.
His record in the Mountain Trial and the Ennerdale Fell Race will never be bettered nor, probably, will his 47 minutes time for Scafell.
Hard, humble, funny and with an incredible eye for and deep knowledge of the fells of Lakeland.
Rest in peace.
Obituary by Richard Askwith here