26-11-35 to 18-10-2024 – 89 years
Cyril lived in Sefton Street and attended Linaker street Primary School and Meols Cop High School. He then went on to Southport Tech where he was sat next to John McEvoy who was also a keen cyclist and they joined the Southport RCC together in 1954. They got on very well from the start and were soon planning a cycling holiday together. They took a 2 week holiday to Belgium, Germany and France riding most of the way to Dover but got a lift in a wagon for some of the journey before taking the ferry to Ostend.
On leaving college he began working at PO/BT and worked alongside club members such as Bill Bradley, Geoff Hornby and Brian Jackson. Cyril had a great talent over shorter distances and was winning 25m Time Trials from the off and after the holiday at the end of that year he won the Boxing Day 10m Time Trial on a foul wet & windy morning being the only rider to get under 30 minutes with 29-05 with John McEvoy second @ 1-09 from 16 starters. By this time Cyril had the racing Bug and had long racing career spanning almost 50 years with an impressive list of achievements.. An early success on the road came in 1955 when he won the Beacon GP at Parbold in a bunch sprint. We have a photo of the finish.
He was an active member of the club in the early days and was Time Trial Secretary for a few years. He was runner up in the club BAR (Best all rounder) 3 times and was the club Track Champion in 1964. He enjoyed a happy family life with his wife Maureen and son Paul and besides cycling he was active in other aspects of his life. He bought a plot of land on Blundell lane Crossens to build a house but soon realised the house was bigger than he had anticipated and sold it soon after completion. However having got the bug and with the support of his wife Maureen and son Paul he carried on and built a further 3 houses over time. Cyril was always pleasant and friendly and well liked by all who knew him and he will be missed by many.
