This page features recent obituaries and information about CTC members who have had an impact on the organisation at national level. CTC owes its strength today to the tireless work of many volunteers, and it is their work we recognise in so many ways.
Les Warner MBE, 18 June 2010
A whole generation of cyclists will remember Les Warner, who died in Godalming on Friday 18th June, aged 82, after a long illness. He leaves a devoted wife Sheila, their children Tim, Sally and Wendy, and eight grandchildren.
Les joined the CTC staff in 1953 and was National Secretary (the title of our CEO in those days) from 1959 for 21 years. Throughout that time he handled major negotiations with government and other authorities, represented CTC at countless meetings, conferences and events relating to the promotion of cycling for travel and transport, road safety, countryside access etc., all the while maintaining a vigorous defence of the interests of cyclists in letters to the press and interviews on radio and television. He crossed many swords, but only in defence and always with courtesy and doing so made no enemies.
Les began cycling whilst a wartime evacuee exploring the Surrey countryside. Returning to London he joined the South Western Road Club, but touring was his first love. Fittingly it was on a CTC tour that Les met Sheila Messenger, who also came to work for CTC. They married in 1960 and continued to lead tours at home and abroad. When children came along and even later with grandchildren, the Warners were an exemplar of family cycling. They never owned a car.
Les Warner’s attendance at cycling events and speaking engagements, often illustrated by his own photography, went far beyond the extra duties expected of one in his position. He took the reins of CTC with cycling and membership both in decline. The London office had to be sold and the office moved to smaller premises in Godalming, where Les organised the revival. From 1971 a low CTC membership more than doubled to 40 thousand by 1980, when Les Warner’s growing workload precipitated an early retirement. He was just too conscientious. Earlier that year Les received the MBE with characteristic modesty: as an honour for CTC rather than himself. His personal contribution was also recognised by award of the Bidlake medal and a new role as CTC President.
Rested and restored, Les went on to work for WWF and then apply his administrative talents in several voluntary positions associated with his other interests, particularly music, French and literature. For most of the last 30 years Les continued to enjoy cycling, but purely for pleasure and transport. That we can also do so is in no small way due to his work.
Gordon Selway 1949-2007
In November CTC members were saddened to hear of the sudden death of Gordon Selway, one of cycling’s hardest working campaigners and most formidable intellectual forces. At the time of his death Gordon was not only CTC Councillor for the West Midlands Region and a Trustee of the Cyclists’ Defence Fund but held seven other CTC voluntary campaigning posts at local and national level, volunteered for at least six other charities and was an elected member of Bromsgrove District Council. In particular he was a nationally recognised expert on rail issues, and his knowledge of legal matters was unparalleled. Whether you wanted to know about traffic, highways and planning law, to employment, charity or health and safety, through to the most obscure aspects of rights of way legislation, Gordon usually knew the answer. And if he didn’t, he would always know where to hunt it down. It was regarded by many as fitting that he passed away on a train having cycled to the station that morning. He had several health issues which generally he chose to ignore and just get on with doing the things he liked to do and which he knew he could do best.
(Photo: Mike Harrison)
Gordon loved the independence of cycling and from his teens would disappear for several hours and not tell the family where he had been. They remember when he was doing A levels and also studying footpaths in the area for a scout award. In the dark he crashed into a barrier, fallen off his bike and been taken to hospital. The next day a teacher brought his exam paper to the house which Gordon completed despite his injuries.
Responding to the wide range of tributes that flowed into CTC Jill Kieran, Chair of the Council said “Gordon was indefatigable and the range of his interests and knowledge were extraordinary. Over the years his ability to give detailed support to campaigners throughout the country on the most complex of issues has made a huge difference to cycling. He will be sadly missed”
Born in Bromsgrove Gordon attended King Edwards' Birmingham on a scholarship and moved on to another scholarship at Oxford where he read classics. After a spell of teaching Latin and Greek, he went into a legal career until ill health forced him to return to Bromsgrove in the late 80's. This became Gordon’s opportunity to get involved in various voluntary organisations including C.T.C. and Birmingham’s Push Bikes Cycle Campaigning group.
Gordon's interest and talents were wide, He loved music, played the piano, organ, violin and sang in various choirs. However more than anything else the tributes paid to him in recent weeks recall examples of his prodigious intellect, ranging across policy, political & social history, classics, the law and his Irish and Scottish heritage which he could debate with vigour and good humour.
Kevin Mayne, CTC Director recalled “Any minute now we expect him to crash his bike through the door, announce that he was late because of some enormously complicated failure of the rail system and leave early because he has another three meetings to fit in. My abiding memory is him phoning me at 10pm one night because he thought he ought to remind me that he had just petitioned parliament about the Crossrail Bill the club’s behalf. And perhaps just as importantly I didn’t worry, because when it came to that level of policy detail he could be trusted implicitly to get it right. Follow the link below to find his contribution to the Select Committee Enquiry into Crossrail, delivered 4 hours late due to rail delays! For anyone who knew him it is to be enjoyed as the quintessential Gordon. The organisation will miss him enormously.”
CTC members have begun a condolence board - click here
Crossrail enquiry transcript - click here
4th November 2007 - Sheila King
Many CTC members will be sorry to hear that Sheila King of Bristol DA died on 4th November. Sheila, wife of former CTC President Ted King was widely known for her tireless work throughout the club and was almost an ever present at CTC Birthday Rides and York Rally. A fuller obituary is to be posted here.
Friday 23 March 2007 ~ Graham Mills
Over 100 friends and family attended the funeral on 29th March of Graham Mills who sadly passed away in his sleep on 23rd March. The following tribute was read out by Roy Spilsbury, Chair of CTC Cymru. Graham will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Graham Mills - A Tribute
We must all share the grief of Graham’s wife Brenda, Graham’s mother Iris, and her sister Hazel.
By any standard Graham is a hard act to follow. He was not only one of nature's gentlemen, but he had that special gift of friendship which he used to enrich all who crossed his path.
We all have our memories. No doubt many of us will have turned to our photo albums, recalling good times and fun times. But wishing all the time we could remember more. Isn’t it strange how when you try to remember details of someone departed, so much is missing from the memory. But there will be time later with friends at the reception to fill at least some of those gaps.
Like all the rest of you I have my personal memories, some jogged over the past few days by photos zoomed on my computer. The sight of Graham approaching always produced in me a feeling of eager anticipation. In the distance his profusive black eyebrows approaching like two storm clouds, quickly giving way to the sparkliest of eyes you are likely to see anywhere. And a grin The widest of grins, to beat all grins. But it was that voice. Yes, I shall be able to see my photographs of Graham. But I shall miss those resonant tones which must have sent many a youth hostel spider scuttling. If not a celebrity baritone, Graham would certainly have made a first class town cryer – Trundling around the cobbles on his bike, of course. When he rang he always opened with ‘Graham here’. For goodness sake, who else could it be. His voice was uniquely rich – and quite unmistakeable. How I shall miss it.
Essentially Graham was a doer. He was a front man without being an exhibitionist. He was certainly not a wheel sucker, going for the ride, and benefiting from the efforts of others. He loved to see things happen.
Dave Hill reminds me that Graham’s cycling motivation came from an understanding of man's place in the landscape: at one level through his involvement in landscaping or re-naturalising parts of urban Wales; or on the other hand working with friends in their gardening tasks. At another level, by passing through his beloved Wales by bike or out walking with Brenda, he was always in tune with the flux of the passing seasons. As Graham's cycling friends knew very well. He would never avoid the rain, the snow, the wind or yes, those balmy hot summer days in the countryside.
He loved the raw aspects of the Welsh Hills - the harsh Snowdonian peaks, Arenig Fawr, Tryfan but also the softer Clwydians in late evening sunshine, with hillsides rich in distant history - the hill forts, castles and industrial heritage. But his true love was the wild - for the call of the curlew high on Denbigh's moors; at the same time he was able to appreciate a bank of primroses in early Welsh springtime, viewed best by self propulsion, either on foot or by cycling.
He truly loved the lanes – particularly if he came across one he’d never ridden before. He could be heard saying, 'New lane this one. Never ridden going this way before - particularly not on a Sunday in these underpants', he would say. And the hillier the better!
Graham was a traditionalist. And not just in his choice of cycling gear and his sometimes very retro equipment swapped with his touring friends, but also in values. He was impeccably straightforward and honest (except perhaps in describing one of his long distance rides as being 'undulating' or by stating, 'it's all downhill from here', when you were faced by a struggle up a steep bank within 2 miles).
He always understated, was always modest, never one to gloat if riding by a line of racing cyclists walking up the 1 in 5 monster of the Bwlch y Groes. He was selfless - even in the depths of exhaustion he would still be cheerful and positive. It was not for nothing he was known as Mills the Hills.
So many of us will have good cause to remember Graham, and the rich contribution he has made to their lives. Here’s one I received by email from a Gayle Richards, a couple of days ago. She wrote:
“I knew Graham from his days working with learning disabled adults at the then St. David’s residential home in Carrog. He was a kind and caring person with infinite patience. He really made a difference to the residents’ lives, challenging stereotypes and reaching out to people who had difficulty showing emotion and expressing their needs.
“Graham often used to tell me stories of cyclists’ exploits, riding hundreds of miles in a week. This always filled me with awe as I would be gasping for air just walking to the shops!
“I live in Spain now but a few weeks ago I was in the U.K. and I met up with Graham for a chat over a curry. He was telling me all about a recent visit to Spain on a cycling holiday. I pulled his leg over you cyclists being a nutty bunch for riding up 1 in 10 gradients for miles in the sweltering heat AND actually enjoying it!
“I will think of Graham every time I see a group of cyclists whizzing by.”
Graham should have had many thousands of pedalling miles still in his legs. But for those close to him there were clues that all was not well, and that he realised his time was short. and he was trying to cram so many things into the time available to him
He telephoned me on his last evening. Just for a chat. He was as buoyant as ever. Looking forward to the Wild Wales Challenge. Did he say this years’ would be his thirteenth? The Welsh Festival of Cycling and planning for the 2008 Birthday Rides in the Vale of Clwyd. And simply bursting with frustration that the county council still hadn’t grasped the publicity scoop of having something like 600 cyclists for several days. His last words to me were, when I called him back briefly to tell him there was a documentary by Iola Williams on TV about Clwyds ‘Great’, he said, ‘I’ll switch it on now’.
When we lose someone without warning, I’m sure we are all left with a feeling of unfinished business: things that should have been said, or not said, and tasks uncompleted
Some months ago Graham and I tracked down a long lost relic of CTC’s glorious past in the cellar of Astleys Ironmongers in Corwen - a cast iron Winged Wheel plaque of a type of which there are but a handful of examples still in existence. We were like a couple of kids discovering a treasure. Well it is a real treasure and a beauty to behold.
With the kind permission of Euan and Christine Astley, CTC Chester & North Wales have paid to have it restored to pristine condition, and we were planning to return it to its original location on the shop frontage with all the civic pomp and circumstance Corwen could muster. We were aiming for a date in the spring, but had yet to decide precisely when.
The sad loss of Graham has taken on an added poignancy, but it does present us with an opportunity to complete our task in a way of which he would have approved. A provisional date has been arranged for a rededication of the plaque - Sunday 20th May 2007. What better way of completing at least one of Graham’s tasks!
Whether it’s as an Audax organiser, President of his CTC District Association, Chair of CTC Cymru or just as a section rider, I have no doubt Graham will continue to ride in the hearts of his friends, in spirit if not in person. He will be missed, but certainly not forgotten
Graham, we are all the poorer for you leaving us. But all the richer for having known you.
Roy Spilsbury
Monday 10th May: Jim Bailey
A full field turned out for Jim’s funeral at Gargrave on the 23rd May, 2005, approximately 300 attending. Jim was 75 years young and had collapsed during a 25 mile time trial on the 23rd April, 2005 and died on the 10th May without regaining consciousness.
Jim had an illustrious cycling career, first riding a bicycle when 4 years of age and later getting in to time trialling mode delivering his grandfather’s hot lunch by bike during his school lunch hour.
He joined CTC early in the 1940s and worked tirelessly for them for many years, being on the CTC Council for approximately 30 years, Chairman for 9 years and Vice President for 4 years. His business acumen stood the Club well, particularly in his ‘no nonsense’ approach to financial matters and in his dealing with National and International bodies. He was awarded the Merit Medallion in 1981. He also served on the York Rally Committee for many years.
He commenced racing regularly with Nelson Wheelers and R.A.F.C.A. after the war, being particularly keen on long distance events. He broke a number of Northern R.R.A. and National R.R.A. records, both on a solo bicycle and on tandem with either Jack Forrest or Alistar White. In particular, with Jack Forrest, he broke the National R.R.A. 24 hour tandem record in 1959 with a 492 mile ride (which still stands today) and the End to End tandem record in 1960 of 2 days 4 hours 48 minutes and 3 seconds. His time trialling expertise came to the fore when he became a veteran, firstly with Nelson Wheelers and later with Otley Cycle Club. He was V.T.T.A. 3 distance B.A.R. and 4 distance B.A.R. National Champion in 1995 - a feat he repeated in 1996. He won the North Lancashire Group B.A.R. on at least 5 occasions and led the Group to National Team Awards. He currently holds 18 V.T.T.A. age records from 10 miles to 12 hours, four of these being on his beloved tandem with Geoff Hick.
His achievements included 10 miles in 22.08 (aged 69), 25 mile in 56.08 (aged 69), 50 miles in 1.54.22 (aged 67), 100 miles in 4.5.24 (aged 61) and 248 miles in 12 hours (aged 63).
He was a prime mover in the evolution of the successful Gargrave Tuesday Cycling Club, enabling him to enjoy his love of touring especially in the Yorkshire Dales.
Jim was an honourable and modest man, a hard worker and always willing to help anyone at any time. He had a loving relationship with Sue for over 20 years and our thoughts go out to her and his sister Dorothy and family at this unhappy time. He will be missed by many.
Ken Wood, John Churchman (Otley Cycle Club)
Weds 23rd March: Ivy Thorp 1922 - 2005
With the passing of Ivy at 83 we have lost one of the outstanding champions of cycling and the CTC. She was a national committee member from 1967, Vice Chairperson from 1971, First Lady Chairperson from 1973 and President from 1981 until 1988.
In these positions she was a tireless worker for the CTC and an influential figurehead.
Although Ivy had such a prominent position in cycling’s public life, it is impossible to talk of her without including her husband Gordon. Each was a strong and able individual but together they combined as a team of great effectiveness.
In her early years she, with Gordon, toured extensively both at home and abroad. They also played a great part in the life of the local section. Indeed, they were the hub of the Exeter section after the war, entertaining and feeding many club folk at their home, organising activities, YHA trips, clubnights and so on. This connection continued to the end.
Always approachable she would encourage newcomers and youngsters, yet she could deal with the most prominent as an equal. Ivy was a caring person and could be relied upon to visit anyone in trouble.
Besides cycling she had a strong interest in photography, a pastime well suited to cycling, and in music. Classical works were her favourite but Gordon did inject an appreciation of traditional jazz.
In her professional life in accountancy she set high standards and she applied the same level of performance to all her other activities.
Her support for Gordon over the last few years since his stroke has been exemplary. Despite this heavy commitment she remained active in the DA committee and attended national events right to the end.
Many will remember Ivy and Gordon for making cycling a way of life for them and for the pleasure and fun that was had on the way. Thank you Ivy for your life with us, your clubmates - a long road, full of ups and downs, but we wouldn’t have missed it.
Ken Strong
President of the Devon DA
Jan 13th: News: J C Kermode 1913-2005
CTC is sad to announce the death at the weekend of Cyril Kermode, one of the organisation's leading lights for nearly half a century. Since news came in tributes to the man who was a CTC councillor from 1949 to 1991 have come in from friends and colleagues.
James Cyril Kermode 1913-2005
Born in the Isle of Man on 2nd May 1913, Cyril Kermode later studied in Liverpool and returned to the island for a while before moving to Kent, where he secured employment with Chislehurst & Sidcup Council as a Sanitary Inspector. In later years, after amalgamation of the Councils, he became the Chief Environmental Health Officer for the London Borough of Bromly. He joined the CTC in 1945 and rode with the Intermediates Section of West Kent DA for one year before moving on to the Hardriders’ Section where he soon became Secretary, riding with them regularly for over 20 years.
He was a very keen Youth Hosteller and at one time had stayed at every youth hostel in England and Wales. Particularly keen on the smaller, remote hostels, he also retained a keen interest in Gatliffe Hebridean Hostels Trust. At a time when he had to work on Saturday mornings, he would cycle out in the afternoon 140-odd miles to a hostel to meet up with those of us that had left home at 7.30 am!
His solo tours, which usually included tricky rough stuff routes, were the subject of many slide shows, which became legendary. He would frequently cycle 150 miles in the winter, carrying his glass-mounted slides, to give talks to other DA’s and then cycle home on the Sunday. On many occasions, when Bank Holiday tours found us on byways in far-flung places, we would meet other cyclists, many of whom recognised Cyril. “I wonder who that was?” he would say after a cheery greeting and chat.
He served on the Council of the CTC for 44 years, (probably the longest serving ever) and fought vociferously for what he believed in. He was awarded a Certificate of Merit and in 1957 was presented with the FT Bidlake Medallion for his services the Club. He was Chairman of the Council’s Award Panel and represented the Club on the Council for National Parks until his death. A life member of the YHA, he served on YHA National Council, the London Accident Prevention and London Green Belt Councils. He had also represented the Club at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for some years.
A competent photographer, he promoted the West Kent Photographic Competitions to which he contributed until fairly recently. He won many awards.
As DA Secretary he was ex-officio member of all the DA’s sub-committees and rarely missed a meeting, sometimes attending 3 or 4 a week, nearly always by bike. He was always keen for youngsters to take up cycling, and promoted the Junior Section, the first DA in the country to do so. He was DA Secretary for 30 years and on the death of Lionel Blundell QC, was elected DA President. When he resigned the Presidency after 20 years, he was made Honorary Life President. He was also given the rare distinction of being made an Honorary Life Member of the CTC.
Cyril toured extensively in the British Isles and Europe, usually alone, but he still enjoyed the friendship of Club folk. His definition of a true cyclist used to be “somebody who takes their annual holiday on a cycle” - such was his passion for the game.
He instilled great enthusiasm into his riding companions; those of us who were privileged to cycle with him learnt so much about the countryside, routes, places of interest etc. He improved the lives of so many of us but few would have realised his passionate side. As DA Secretary he always kept in touch with members during their periods of National Service and visited people in hospital, usually taking them a pile of cycling magazines. It is a testament to the high regard and respect he commanded that 60 people from all parts of the country, turned up for his surprise 90th Birthday celebration.
He was 60+ when he stopped riding with the Hardriders and he never rode with any other Section. When he finally hung up his wheels, his enthusiasm/passion remained undiminished. His work on various committees continued. Retirement from paid work allowed more time for his gardening interests. His knowledge of plants and flowers was considerable.
A keen walker in his younger days, (which put him in good stead for those off-road climbs), he was a long-standing member of the Ramblers Association and Friends of the Lake District. He served on the DA’s Best All Rounder Committee for 53 years, (most of them as Chairman) and when he stepped down in January 2003 he was presented with an inscribed gold medal for his services – a Best All Rounder indeed! He was also a member of the Fellowship of Kent and Sussex Cyclists.
He made a phenomenal contribution to Cyclists’ Rights over many years and won the hearts of so many members. His Christmas card list to/from members past and present was extensive.
He hardly ever wore spectacles. In 2004 he had a cataract operation – the only time he was known to visit a hospital. He had become frail in the last couple of years but still managed to look after himself.
He was very proud of his Manx roots and it is perhaps fitting that it was during his usual annual visit to relatives on the Isle of Man for Christmas that he became ill and was admitted to hospital where he eventually died in his 92nd year.
As tributes start coming in, the underlying theme is “He made such a difference to our lives”. Thank you Cyril.
Peter Scott
