V. P. Boot

Mr. V. P. Boot, the famous New Zealand athlete began his record-breaking athletic career at the Timary Boys' High School, where he ran the half-mile in 2 minutes and the mile in 4 minutes 26 4/5 seconds, both wonderful times for a school boy. 

He took the Diploma Course at Lincoln 1934-35 where his student record was good and his athletic attainments phenomenal. In 1934-35 when good competition existed, he won the events-100, 220, 440, 880 yards, one mile and Cross Country, and established records in 440, 440 hurdles, 880 and 1 mile. He was in the 1st XV and gave both players and spectators many thrills.

He joined the Dept. of Agriculture in 1937 as an Assistant Fields Instructor Ashburton. Later he acted as Assistant Certification Officer, Wellington. 

Boot had many great days as an athlete. He represented New Zealand at the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936 .

Boot's war service was distinguished. He was a member for some time of the 20th S. I. Battalion, later the 20th Armoured Regiment, of the Second Div., and was an officer widely respected for courage and ability. In Italy early in 1944 he suffered a prolonged and severe attack of jaundice, a debilitating illness which was frenquently epidemic within the Division. In 1945, after his return from overseas he was badly scalded in an accident. 

A free and beautiful stylist, Boot was undoubtedly among the first half-dozen of New Zealand's greatest athletes. He had great courage and a most intellignet approach to running, and both were important factors in his many successes.

He died in a private hospital in Gisborne on January 15th, 1947, failing to rally from an anaesthetic administered for a dental operation. He was aged 32 and a widower whose wife, formely Miss Lorna Kessel, of Wellington, died from meningitis while Boot was serving as an officer of the Second N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East.