Thank you for supporting me as I take part in the 50th Anniversary Memorial Cycle Ride supporting Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club & St Nicholas Hospice Care.

Primarily I am riding in solidarity with friends who so sadly lost their fathers 50 years ago but also in memory of my own wonderful father, David, who died unexpectedly earlier in the year. Dad was a lifelong rugby fan, having played for Beckenham RFC back in the early 1970s whilst a curate at Christ Church Bromley. His rugby career was brought to an end by the vicar asking his young curate to stop turning up to church on Sunday looking so battered and bruised from Saturday matches. Raising money for Bury Rugby Club all weather pitch would certainly be something Dad would be fully behind, being a keen supporter of the respect and discipline that the game promotes.

The hospice was also close to Dad’s heart. Having been vicar of Thurston for 21 years he was a regular visitor there and had his cancer diagnosis earlier in the year resulted in him being a patient at St Nics, he would have been certain of receiving the best possible care available.

My last cycle ride of any greater distance than a trip to the local shop was exactly 30 years ago when I surprised everyone by spending part of a gap year cycling from Texas, through Mexico and Central American republics, down to Panama. Back then, I also cycled to raise funds for the hospice. As I have been politely reminded, my ability to cover long distances in the saddle has undoubtedly diminished over the last 30 years but I remain confident that the challenge is achievable and would very much value your support.

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