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OBITUARIES

NEIL KING
2ⁿd October 1947 - 10th October 2019

Neil was one of those people who once you met Lands End to John O’Groats ride with a local
him, he stayed in your memory due to his sense of group of riders.
humour and outgoing personality. He was born in Despite suffering the heart condition of atrial
Romford, Essex, in October 1947; he became a fibrillation which was diagnosed in 2017 and for
life-long cycling enthusiast after he and his elder which he had a pacemaker fitted in August 2018,
brother, Stuart, started riding with the Easterley Neil got back to riding regularly - it was a real
RC, due to living opposite Rory O’Brien, the
shock to hear he had passed away.
proprietor of the local cycle shop.
On 10th October, Neil was riding with some
Neil and Mary were married in
friends from Manchester Velo on
September 1970. They moved
their Thursday coffee run, which
up to Manchester where Roy
he regularly took part in; the
spent a number of years with the
group were climbing up Church
now defunct South Manchester
Lane in Goostrey when he got
RCC, which included helping
into difficulties and dropped off
young club members. Neil later the back of the group. Sadly, he
joined Manchester's Abbotsford had passed away, still on his bike
Park Road Club, then the VTTA but slumped against the roadside
in 2002 to do some time trialling. hedge. A great shock, in fact
He managed to improve all his Neil had joked with Mary that he
times from his youth.
would like to depart this life while
Until his retirement in 2012 Neil cycling. Perhaps that's the way
ran his own business, cleaning we might all choose to go.
kitchens for the catering trade.
Neil could often be found helping
As a hobby, Neil played the
out at many differing cycling
mandolin, guitar and violin and
activities - track, road racing and
had an eclectic music interest; big band, jazz, folk
time trialling. He didn't need to be asked twice,
etc. He was also a keen reader.
and this was reflected in the number of friends at
Cycling holidays in Italy, France and Spain with a his funeral at Manchester Crematorium on 25th
group known as the Chelford Vets proved to be October.
Neil’s forte, where he was always the life and soul Neil is survived by his wife, Mary; his daughter
of the party. As soon as Neil’s name appeared on Suzanne and son Chris; his sister, Hilary and four
the list for the holiday everyone knew they would grand-daughters.
be in for a good laugh, and, as can be seen from
the photo taken on last year's tour, the red wine Ian Clark
flowed! He was also proud to have completed the
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