Jane Laws, one of north London’s top performing athletes for many years, has sadly passed away.

Laws was among the top-ranking runners nationally in her age group on many occasions and over a wide range of distances, from 1,500 metres to 20 miles.

But she died after a long battle with illness on Bank Holiday Monday, May 29.

Regarded as one of the Barnet & District Athletic Club’s shining stars, in track and road events, Laws still holds the club record for the half marathon distance.

And age certainly proved to be no barrier for Laws in 2007 when she broke the British record for the 5,000 metres in the W50 age group with an impressive time of 17 minutes 40.41 seconds.

Close friend Nina Anderson said: “Jane was a kind and lovely person, with a cheerful and modest disposition.

“She will be sorely missed and our sympathy goes out to her husband Keith Turner at this difficult time.”