Voorhees Westmore Place, known for being an instrumental organiser of the May 24 Marathon in the 1940s and 50s has died.

Mr. Place's funeral took place yesterday afternoon at St. John's Church, in Pembroke.

In addition to helping organise the derby, Mr. Place owned Place's Place bar on Dundonald Street.

He was 93.

In 1947, Mr. Place was part of the Marathon Derby Committee with Stanley Hodgson and Harold Masters. They were business partners who owned the Royal Cafe.

The group helped turn the dismal turnout of the derby into something that Bermudians came out to watch.

They changed the finish line of the race from the Sports Arena to right outside the café.

The theory was the crowd would buy alcohol and soft drinks from the bar, thus contributing to the prize money.

But, because finding sponsorship was difficult, Mr. Place often had to contribute to prize money out of his own pocket.

Years later, Mr. Place, along with Mr. Hodgson, focused on finding funds for the prizes and a changing room with a shower at the back of the club.

Mr. Place stayed active even in his later years, and for the past 20-odd years has been one of the regulars with the Dawn Swimmers, who take a dip in the ocean at John Smith's Bay as the sun rises each morning.

Mr. Place leaves behind wife Alice Place and daughters Cecillia Downs and Lea-Anne Joell.

He was the son of the late Daniel and Edith Place and brother to Sylvia Smith, Virginia DeGraff, Loa Hill, Audrey Francis, Marion Robinson, Quinton and Ivan Place.

He also leaves behind a number of grandchildren, great- grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

Place's Place was closed yesterday in respect of Mr. Place.