Cyclists Funeral

August 3, 2010 Leave a comment

Veteran pedal biker Bob Waddington make his final journey with his coffin hitched to a trailer at the side of a tandem.

Friends from Doncaster Wheelers volunteered to pedal their former club secretary and president – who was 89 – to the town’s crematorium in time for the funeral service at 2 pm.

Around 20 members of the club escorted the tandem and rode the last three miles to the crem in a convoy.

Club official Trevor Siddons – who was aboard the tandem – said the send off “is just what that Bob would have wanted.”

Trevor, 65, said: “I’ve never heard of anything like this before, but the Co-op are provided the tandem, and there was a lot of us there to see Bob on his way.

“He’d been virtually everywhere on his bike in his younger days. He thought nothing of pedalling 70 or 80 miles to the coast and back.

“He rode all the way from Doncaster to Blackpool one day in the 70s, and then came back, stopping off for a sleep on Saddleworth Moor on the way back.

“He was riding his bike almost to the end. He’d go shopping on it virtually every day, and you wouldn’t see Bob without it.

“If there was a funeral he’d turn up on his bike…it was part of him so I’d know really appreciate going to the crematorium on the back of the tandem.”

Bob joined the Wheelers in 1946 after serving in the RAF.

The former office worker, who was a widow, leaves a daughter Diane.

View images at:  http://shaunflannery.photoshelter.com/gallery/Cycle-Funeral/G0000JQPxVtxa3jQ

Filed under News Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

About flannpress
Shaun Flannery is a leading Yorkshire based freelance photographer with over 15 years in the industry. His creative flare and perceptive eye has established him as a highly experienced national freelance photographer with regular featured images in tabloids, broadsheets, regional press and trade titles. Used by press agencies, marketing managers and PR companies, Shaun’s notable persona ensures his ability to interact with each of his subjects making sure his corporate and PR images are given that, ever-so-required, edge! Shaun’s gallery includes remarkable front page coverage of news events; action shots from some of the most famous sporting venues across the country; fantastic shots of those tricky subjects – animals and children, as well as some outstanding images of members of the Royal Family. Knowing the importance of his client’s requirements and being able to interpret a brief well, ensures the service offered by Shaun is second-to-none. Coupled with his understanding of the media and his technological capabilities, Shaun appreciates the need for instant visual communications and is therefore able to meet his client’s strict deadlines every time. Anyone looking for a reliable photographer with the ability to consistently produce eye-catching images should contact Shaun Flannery, based in Doncaster, on 07778 315553

Leave a comment