Keep-fit enthusiast dies while on a jog

Jan 1 2009 by Dave Black, The Journal

TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to the son of former Newcastle United supremo Stan Seymour, who collapsed and died while out jogging on Christmas Day.

Keep-fit enthusiast Colin Seymour, believed to be in his 60s, was found unconscious in a field by devastated relatives after failing to return from a run with the family’s pet dog.

Mr Seymour – a bachelor who lived in Morpeth, Northumberland – was spending Christmas with his sister Carol Calder, and her family near Duns in Scotland when he died.

He was pronounced dead at the scene after being found by his brother-in-law and nephew who had gone out to look for him.

Mr Seymour, who worked for telecommunications company Orange on North Tyneside, was the only son of former Newcastle United chairman and president Stan Seymour, who died in 1992.

Stan Seymour, whose family ran a successful sports shop in Newcastle, became club chairman in 1981 after a boardroom reshuffle and addressed its then shambolic finances. He was chairman during the glory days when the Magpies signed Kevin Keegan in 1982.

Colin Seymour was a keen amateur footballer himself in his younger days and retained his love of running to keep himself active. He completed the New Year’s Day Morpeth to Newcastle road race on several occasions.

Last night Carol Calder, who farms with her husband Trevor near Duns, said her brother died after suffering a sudden heart attack while out jogging near her home.

“Colin was a very sociable person who got on well with everyone. He was a normal guy who got on with life. He has always enjoyed running and just recently got back into playing golf again. This came completely out of the blue for us all.’’

Last September Mr Seymour was hailed as a hero when he dragged an injured man from his burning car following a horrific, triple fatal accident on the A1 near Swarland.

He, was the first person on the scene following the collision between a Saab and a Rover that was attempting to cross the northbound carriageway of the road.

All three occupants of the Rover, Harold Fox 76 and his wife May, 71, from Swarland, and Stanley Loftus, 82, of Vale House, Jesmond, Newcastle, were killed.

Mr Seymour used a fire extinguisher from his own car to douse flames from the Saab before climbing into the still smoking wreck to rescue the injured driver, a 56-year-old Berwick man. The vehicle later burst into flames.

Yesterday Morpeth-based chartered surveyor Charles Robinson, 55, who was a close friend of Mr Seymour for 37 years, said the incident was typical of a man who was also willing to do anything he could to help others.

“Colin was a very close family friend, was godfather to my son and attended my daughter’s graduation and 21st birthday earlier this year.

“He was a very well-liked man, a true and loyal friend and a person of immense compassion. What he did following the accident on the A1 was typical of the kind of person he was.

“He was traumatised by what happened and found it difficult to talk about. He rescued the driver from that wreckage and thought nothing of it at the time. Colin would always help people whenever he could.

“What happened on Christmas Day was a total shock to everyone.

“Colin was one of those people with the ability to transcend all social barriers.”

Colin was a very sociable person who got on well with everyone. He was a normal guy