Paula Newnham
1978
Commonwealth Games Edmonton, Canada, 800m Semi Finalist
Paula Newnham attended Gosford Hill School. Crippling injuries kept Paula in hospital
and at Slough Rehabilitation Centre for 18 months. She had fractured her ankle and
chronically sprained it as well as damaging her Achilles tendon. Within a month of leaving
the Centre Paula came 5th in the English Schools Championship. Paula went on to compete
for the England Team at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada in 1978, where she
made the semi-final of the 800 metres.
Paula was coached by Bill Potter, who gained his Oxford Blue at the 880 yards and was
Oxford City Athletic Club captain, guiding them into the National Athletics League before
retiring.
