THE stopwatch used to record Sir Roger Bannister’s fourminute mile record in Oxford sold for £20,000 yesterday.
The Swiss-made chrome stopwatch was listed by sports memorabilia specialist, Graham Budd Auctions and had been expected to fetch between £5,000 and £8,000.
But at yesterday’s auction held at Sotheby’s Auction House in London it was sold for £20,000 to an anonymous owner, along with an invoice for repairs.
It was used by W K Burfitt, a timekeeper at the Iffley Road track on May 6, 1954, to record the barrier.
On hearing about the sale yesterday, Sir Roger said: “I’m not surprised that the watch went for so much money as there has been a great interest in it. It is one of the most special watches.”
Sir Roger went on to become a distinguished neurologist and Master of Pembroke College, Oxford, before retiring in 1993.
The lot also included Burfitt’s personal copy of the O U A C programme from the day, signed by Sir Roger and a signed copy of his autobiography, First Four Minutes.
A collection of autographs and pictures of Sir Roger was also auctioned and sold for £420.
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