Freddie Wolff(II)

Champion long distance runner Frederick Ferdinand "Freddie" Wolff was born on October 13, 1910 in Hong Kong. The eldest son in a family of four children, Wolff was a member of the Kowloon Cricket Club, where won his first race in 1919. Frederick and his family eventually returned to England. Wolff attended both Shirley House Preparatory School and Beaumont College in Windsor, England. Following graduation from Beaumont College, Frederick joined the London Athletic Club in 1929 and almost made the cut for the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, California. In 1933 Wolff won his only British AAA 440 yards title and later in the season was the winner in the international match against France. Frederick went on to run the opening leg for the British 4 x 400 m relay team that won the gold medal at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Moreover, Wolff served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry during World War II; he was promoted to the rank of captain during his service in said infantry. In addition, Frederick worked for the family firm Rudolph Wolff & Co., served as the Committee Chairman of the London Metal Exchange from 1970 to 1977, and was awarded a CBE for his services to invisible exports in 1975. Wolff had five children with his wife Natalie: Son John, daughters Carolyn and Jennifer, and twins Richard and Christine. He died at age 77 on January 26, 1988 in Marylebone, England. A reception at Buckingham Palace by the British Olympic Association for surviving British Olympic medalists was held on that same day.