He only decided to go for the '36 Olympics a year before, so he did no intensive training in between, but during that time he raced a local Nigerian around the walls of Katsima and lost.

In 1953, he came into an inheritance and bought West Downs School, Winchester, where he taught history, Religious Studies and Latin, as well as being headmaster.

When the Achilles Club from Oxford and Cambridge came for a match against Clifton, he beat, on handicap, Douglas Lowe, who was an Olympic champion.

Shortly before the 1930 British Empire Games in Canada, Cornes finished second behind Reg Thomas in the 1 mile event at the 1930 AAA Championships.

[7][8] Shortly afterwards he was selected to represent Great Britain at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, in the 1500 metres, where he won the silver medal.

He then competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, gaining sixth place in the 1500 metres event but running his personal best time of 3 minutes 51.4 seconds.