THE Dad of a cyclist who died of heart failure earlier this year said that a bike ride held in his honour would please him.
Alan Brooke was present to watch 150 riders set off from Shinfield Parish Hall on Sunday, May 13, in the inaugral Simon Brooke Memorial Round Reading.
It was held in honour of the man who ran Rotec Cycles in School Green. Organised by Swallowfield Velo Club, there were four courses to tackle: 50, 100 and 150 miles plus a family-friendly five-mile route.
Money raised from the day will go to The Welsh Kite Trust and The Miles Frost Fund.
Mr Brooke said: “It’s really great that people want to get involved. It’s made us realise just how many people Simon knew.
“Everyone knows the roundabout by the shop as Rotec Roundabout and it’s great they wanted to get involved.”
Mr Brooke added that his son also liked to take part in stock car racing as well as bike rides, and as part of this the family presented an award at a recent stock car rally.
“People have asked if we can make it an annual event,” he said. “I don’t know yet, if the guys want to do it, that’s cool.”
Mr Brooke, a chartered mechanical engineer, had flown over from Houston, Texas to be at the ride on Sunday.
“It’s not a big deal,” he said. “It just had to be done.”
