A memorial service was held recently at the Sts Peter and Paul Church in Liguanea, St Andrew, for late Olympian Melville 'Mel' Spence.

Spence died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on October 28, at age 76, after a long illness.

Mel Spence Jr, the national tennis coach, said yesterday that his father, who lived in Florida for a number of years, 'had ran a good race.' His body was cremated.

Spence, a past student of Kingston Technical High, competed in the 200m, 400m and 4x400m at the 1956 Games in Melbourne, Australia, and was a member of the 4x400m team at the Tokyo Games in 1964. He also competed in several Pan American Games along with his twin brother Malcolm Spence.

Mel and Mal were members of the 4x400m team which won gold at the 1959 Pan American Games. At the 1963 Pan American Games, Mel Spence won bronze medals in the 400m and the 4x400m.