The John Radford Memorial Ride
On Sunday 2 August 2015, Huddersfield and District CTC will hold a memorial ride to honour and remember John.
John Radford chaired Huddersfield and District CTC for 14 years before he passed away. He was also CTC Councillor for Yorkshire and the Humber for a short period, and had spent time as Chair of the former West Yorkshire DA. He was a tireless and enthusiastic ride organiser, including being the driving force behind CTC's Phil & Friends Challenge ride for many years.
In 2012, John was awarded CTC Volunteer of the Year for Yorkshire and the Humber. He was also an avid long distance rider, cycling hundreds of miles at a time. Indeed, he had just attempted another Edinburgh-London-Edinburgh Audax when he was struck by the car that eventually killed him.
A matter of weeks prior to the fatal incident, John had presented the first Road Justice report to the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire. Taking up the mantle of Road Justice was an easy decision for John – not long before he’d suffered a chipped vertebra, bust rib and concussion after a crash with a car and had experienced first-hand the police reluctance to investigate road incidents that don’t end in very serious injury or death. This incident featured on the Road Justice campaign website, alongside other examples of police failure to investigate collisions thoroughly.
No-one was to predict that John would be involved in a much worse incident just months later. Out on a ‘warm down’ ride after taking part in a gruelling Edinburgh-London-Edinburgh cycle the day before, John had an altercation with a driver. After words were exchanged between the two, the driver struck the rear of John’s cycle, knocking him off.
John was left partially paralysed by the crash and was in a coma for months. The driver was convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in October 2014. He was later charged with causing John’s death by dangerous driving and a provisional trial date has been set for 9 November.
His sentencing for the previous charge (causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which he was found guilty of) has been put on hold whist other charges are being considered.
The John Radford Memorial Ride is open to anybody who would like to honour his memory. The 100-mile route was devised by John, although it is a long ride, it is in quite flat countryside and has become a firm favourite of many cyclists from all over the UK.
John's daughters Emma and Helen will be attending the ride and also providing tea and coffee for riders at the start. Current CTC Councillor for Yorkshire and the Humber Martyn Bolt is also expected to be riding with them. Ken Roberts, former secretary of Huddersfield and District CTC, will be saying a few words about John at the start of the ride.
Donate for justice
The ride is free but donations will be sought from riders for CTC's Road Justice campaign, which John supported, and will help CTC to continue the invaluable work he started trying to make the roads safer for everyone.
Donations can also be made online or by post to: Road Justice - John Radford Memorial Ride, CTC, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford GU2 9JX - cheques should be made payable to CTC, with 'Road Justice' written on the reverse.
