A familiar face in the Suffolk parkrun scene has celebrated his 1000th volunteering milestone - and doesn't plan to stop anytime soon. 

Rory Marriott was one of the creators of Ipswich parkrun back in 2012 but was involved in events in London before that, starting in 2011. 

Despite a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2014, Mr Marriott continued volunteering at Suffolk parkruns, marking his 1000th event at Rendlesham Forest parkrun on Saturday, June 22. 

Mr Marriott at the Rendlesham Forest event on SaturdayMr Marriott at the Rendlesham Forest event on Saturday (Image: Pictures from Peregrine Bush, Sandra Rhodes and John Wood)

 

A familiar face amongst parkrun attendees, Mr Marriott has only ever missed one event in his time and this was on December 17, 2022, when it was called off due to the weather. 

His 1000th event was marked with a celebration and hundreds turned out to cheer him on. 

Mr Marriott with wife HilaryMr Marriott with wife Hilary (Image: Pictures from Peregrine Bush, Sandra Rhodes and John Wood)

"To be honest I am still recovering from yesterday," said Mr Marriott.

"It was completely mind-blowing the response from other people and to a degree it shows the affection and high esteem that people hold me in, which I don't tend to recognise at all."

Other volunteers and runners with their milestone tshirts onOther volunteers and runners with their milestone tshirts on (Image: Pictures from Peregrine Bush, Sandra Rhodes and John Wood)

He continued: "We had a record number of participants at the event yesterday. We probably had a record number of volunteers as well. It really did sum up parkrun.

"It is all about the community that is built up. Everybody is welcome and nobody cares about what anyone else is doing, it is just what they want to do."

Visitors clapping for Mr MarriottVisitors clapping for Mr Marriott (Image: Pictures from Peregrine Bush, Sandra Rhodes and John Wood)

Rory Marriott with Suffolk parkrun legend James KellyRory Marriott with Suffolk parkrun legend James Kelly (Image: Pictures from Peregrine Bush, Sandra Rhodes and John Wood)

Mr Marriott said, while there are no more official parkrun milestones to collect after completing your 1000th event, he does not intend to stop here. 

In fact, he has already carried out his 1001st volunteering role taking part in a junior event on Sunday morning. 

Huge crowds came for the eventHuge crowds came for the event (Image: Pictures from Peregrine Bush, Sandra Rhodes and John Wood)

"I will still continue to go every Saturday and Sunday." he pledged.

Parkrun is a free event where attendees can walk, jog or run 5k, as well as options to volunteer or spectate.