13 Facts About Michael Varah

George Peter Michael Varah was a British international middle-distance runner and later a Chief Probation Officer.

Michael Varah's father was the local Anglican vicar, who founded the Samaritans charity in 1953.

Michael Varah was an excellent track and field athlete, and captain of the Loughborough College athletics team.

Michael Varah became a member of the Great Britain athletics team in 1965, and ran the second leg in a 4 x 800m relay that broke the world record at Crystal Palace in 1966.

Michael Varah competed for England in the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica and the 1967 Summer Universiade.

Michael Varah became master in charge of athletics at Rugby School in 1968.

Michael Varah worked as a volunteer tutor at Onley Borstal.

Michael Varah worked as a basic-grade probation officer, then ran Community Service in Warwickshire, and then became assistant chief of the West Midlands Probation Service.

Michael Varah became chief probation officer in Surrey in 1988.

Michael Varah's rise from the lowest grade of probation officer to chief probation Officer was the fastest in the history of the Probation Service.

Michael Varah was the longest-serving chief officer in the National Probation Service when he retired in 2004, having spent 35 years working in the criminal justice system.

Michael Varah was a trustee of Samaritans, and of Victim Support.

Michael Varah was survived by his wife Sally, his father, and a daughter and a son.