PARRAMATTA Park’s biggest fan had a high-profile visitor to help celebrate his 70-year love affair with the park last week.

Graham Taylor, of Greystanes, the unofficial captain of the Parramatta Park Runners Club, invited his old mate Nathan Rees along to mark the occasion.

The two go back more than 20 years to when the man who would become Premier was working at the park as an 18-year-old.

“We had our running group here in the early ‘80s and he was working on the garden as a gardener,’’ Taylor said.

“He just joined up with a smile on his face. He was filthy dirty from his job.’’

Mr Rees has been an admirer of the 74-year-old’s passion for the running group, and still takes part in the occasional jog through the park.

“He is still pretty fit,’’ Taylor said.

“A few months ago he ran 40mins 5secs for the eight kilometre.’’

Taylor started the group, which runs around the park each Friday, in 1968 with friends Brian Sharpe and Tony Burns.

Yet his love of the park runs deeper.

He still remembers his first visit in 1939, when his parents took him as a four-year-old.

“I remember the first day we came, there used to be a zoo,’’ he said.

“You’d come in through the Tudor Gates those days. There were emus, kangaroos, wallabies, and cages and cages of birds.’’

That started his love affair with the park, and years later he would take his own family there for picnics.

That led to the running group’s formation, which he cherishes for more than just exercise.

“It’s the friendships I’ve made,’’ he said.

“We’ve had nearly 1500 runners through the club and I’d like to say they’re all friends of mine.’’