Martin Cockersole 1944 – 2025

Martin joined the Cyclists’ Touring Club (Cycling UK) at the end of 2003 quickly becoming active at both local and national level.

Martin joined the CTC Council as East of England Vice Chair of Council and Councillor in 2010. At this time steps were in progress to become a full membership-based charity. Achieved in Scotland in 2011, 2012 for England and Wales.

Martin became a prominent road safety campaigner, helping to shape and deliver CTC’s Road Justice Campaign.

In 2013 a report called ‘Road Justice: the role of the police’, written in conjunction with and supported by Slater Gordon Lawyers (still leading cycling accident solicitors), examines the role of roads policing in keeping cyclists safe and ensuring irresponsible drivers are brought to justice.

Here Martin is pictured handing over a copy of the campaign document to Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex Lindsey Whitehouse.

During 2011 The Johnson Health Tech Women's Grand Prix Series was launched, a short lived criterium event. Team CTC entered for the 2013 season winning their first points in the second round at Colchester. Prior to the race over 80 local cyclists were led around the course by the Team CTC riders accompanied by CTC’s Local Development Officer for Essex Richard Monk and CTC’s Vice Chair of Council and Councillor for East of England Martin Cockersole, both meeting with the ladies' team after finishing the circuit.

In 2015 it was becoming clear that the name Cycling Tourist’s Club (CTC) no longer reflected the organisations objectives requiring a broader appeal beyond touring, for example commuting, leisure riding, family cycling and campaigning.

Martin played a major role in the rebranding to Cycle UK signalling a fresh start and a commitment to campaigning on key issues like safer roads, better infrastructure, and encouraging more people to cycle.

At this point Martin and others felt that CTC National Council structure was overloaded having more than 20 posts.

In 2016 Martin chaired a working group that recommended a substantial downsizing including the removal of his own role.

Martin then turned his attention to more local matters holding various responsibilities including treasurer and membership secretary within the Essex Member Group, most recently as representative for the Chelmsford local group, which he kept going through Covid until handing over the reins during 2024.

Martin’s activism came from a love for cycling and prolific he was was, completing tours more or less every year from 1997 until 2023 with a group of work colleagues and friends accompanying him, although not everyone on every ride, Martin was the only constant.

Early expeditions include crossing the Yorkshire Dales, Norfolk and the Derbyshire Dales.

Martin was also an early adopter on technology starting a website following retirement in April 2000 to document his exploits, the first being a failed attempt of Land’s End to John O’Groats in May/June 2000 on his second hand 1997 model Dawes Galaxy.

Starting on May 31st 2000, the attempt came to an abrupt end on Day 2 following a crash 20 miles from Tintagel resulting in a broken thumb. When it became clear he could not continue, Daphne (the long-suffering wife) had to drive down and effect a rescue.

Unperturbed a second attempt on the Dawes Galaxy started on August 1st 2000 was successful followed by 2 further LEJOG’s in 2004 and 2012.

The website also describes:

• June 2001, Dungeness to Durness plus Cape Wrath (D2D), this involved another accident in Northallerton meaning missing 4 days of the journey which were completed later in the year
• July 2007, a very wet Dunwich Dynamo where he was amazed to see people ‘downing pints’ in London Fields before the start
• June 2009, second Exmouth Exodus, again completed in torrential rain, describing the tricky descent of the Cheddar Gorge and reaching Chuffy’s and Baggy’s tea stop in a lay-by near the bottom

Friends recall further adventures in the Peak District, Central Wales, Northumberland, Wiltshire/Dorset/Isle of Wight and various Coast to Coast routes, adding ‘he certainly showed us his climbing prowess and stamina; climbing Kings Dale he zig zagged his way to the summit, the rest of us walked’.

An early adopter of GPS for navigation and plotting routes, Martin liked his gadgets, but the small portable radio caused problems, being an early riser, he would dig deep into a plastic bag and then start tuning his radio with its very clicky loud buttons waking his roommates.

He joined the 40 Plus Cycling Club in 2009 and was an active rider in several of their Essex based sections.

Undeterred by major heart surgery in 2019 Martin brought an e-bike and continued long distance riding including Way of the Roses in 2022 and the Rebellion Way in 2023 in February of all times of year.

This while riding in all weathers every Sunday with the Chelmsford group, his last ride was to Tollesbury on April 27th 2025.

Martin was also an avid park runner having notched up well in excess of 250 runs largely in Chelmsford but also as a tourist when away from home.

Along with cycling he loved everything that parkrun stands for i.e. community, inclusion, and participation. 

His final parkrun on 26 April typified that - he was only well enough to walk the course that day but met a lovely couple who he walked and talked with the whole way round.

If we can take one thing from Martin's life – it is to stay active for as long as possible. He was a great role model on and off the bike.