Derrick Burfitt, who has died aged 77, was a fine athlete in his youth, ranking ahead at one stage of the first sub-four-minute miler Roger Bannister.

He enjoyed an impressive series of running successes after winning the national youth cross country championships in 1945.

Like Bannister, his speciality was the mile. He was the Amateur Athletic Association junior record holder in 1946, as well as holding the Oxfordshire and RAF championships.

A recent magazine article on famous athletes carried the headlines: "Whatever happened to the boy who was better than Roger Bannister? Derrick Burfitt was once the best young miler in Britain."

He began his athletics career while studying at Willesden Technical College in London and later joined the Belgrave Harriers club.

When his family moved to Witney in 1950, he joined Oxford City Athletics Club.

He visited Oxford's Dutch twin city of Leiden later that year and on the rough return Channel crossing, met his future wife Dorothy Richardson, captain of the Oxford Ladies Athletic Club.

They were married at St Peter's Church, Wolvercote, Oxford, in 1953, living at Brize Norton and then the Smith's estate at Witney.

Mr Burfitt maintained his interest in athletics as a timekeeper.

His father, Bill, had been one of the timekeepers at the Iffley Road running track in May 1954 when Bannister beat the four-minute barrier for the mile.

Mr Burfitt worked at Smith's Industries in Witney for 40 years and was a learning support assistant at Wood Green School.

The couple retired in 1995 and moved to Rosemarkie, Scotland. He leaves a widow Dorothy, daughters Kathryn and Jennifer and five grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Witney High Street Methodist Church.