TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘dedicated’ father-of-two who died in a tragic accident while out cycling in Swinley Forest last weekend.
Former Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) company sergeant major and member of the Third Battalion Queen’s regiment Mark Kingston, 50, died on Saturday (25) after riding the popular R25 route to the east of the forest near Bagshot.
Thames Valley Air Ambulance, South Central Ambulance Service, Thames Valley Police officers and forest rangers were called shortly before 4pm by a group of cyclists who had found Mr Kingston.
Crews reportedly spent two hours trying to revive the father-of-two, but he was sadly declared dead at the scene.
He leaves behind wife Anna, 46, and children Courtney, 18, and Matt, 21.
Mr Kingston lived in Bracknell with his family and worked as an operational support technician at World Challenge, a company which provides school expeditions.
A statement posted on the company’s website read: “World Challenge is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Operational Support Technician Mark Kingston.
“Mark tragically died on Saturday evening from the injuries he sustained following a serious mountain bike accident earlier in the day.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family – wife Anna, children Courtney and Matt – and friends at this deeply distressing time.”
Group Managing Director Matt Eastlake said: “I speak for all of us in saying that Mark was a true and genuine member of the World Challenge team – helpful, humorous and dedicated; we will miss him.”
Mr Kingston joined the army in 1985 and served for 22 years, including two tours of duty in Iraq in 2003 and 2006, receiving medals for long service and good conduct.
Speaking on Tuesday Mrs Kingston said: “We went to visit the crash site today to lay some flowers and I finally got to see Mark, it’s been a very hard day.
“He loved cycling and got out whenever he could whether it was on his own or with his friend.
“Mark was a healthy man who had a tragic accident.”
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said they were treating the death as unexplained but not suspicious.
Tributes to Mr Kingston have been paid on social media. Nicky Simmonds wrote on The Wokingham Paper Facebook page: “Tragic accident and so very sad! Thoughts are with his family.”
Paul Rosier wrote: “Still in shock over this. He was a genuinely amazing person. My thoughts are with his lovely family.”
Claire Roberts posted: “How sad. It’s such a lovely place to ride but like many sports there are risks and so sad when something like this happens. My thoughts are with friends and family right now.”
Anneka Higham-Hook said: “Devastated by this! So sad and the family are in my thoughts. They are so lovely xx.”
Georgina Rudge wrote: “My thoughts are with all the family at this sad time. What a tragic loss of life.”
Rhuan Jordan said: “Thinking of my dear friend who lost her husband so suddenly today, tragic news, my thoughts are with the whole family, god bless them xxx.”
Nikki De Villiers wrote: How tragic. So very sorry.” Edwina Nash simply put: “Tragic xx.”
Did you know Mark Kingston? Email your tributes to news@wokinghampaper.co.uk.
