Family pays tribute to cyclist, Reg after fatal collision

Reginald Elliott was cycling near Honiley on Saturday June 27 when he was involved in a fatal collision with a Volkswagen Golf.

The 81-year-old from Knowle had been a keen cyclist for over 40 years, clocking up around 10,000 miles each year and helping other through bicycle groups across Leamington and Solihull.

Known to his many friends as Reg, he leaves behind his wife Sheila, daughters Wendy and Mandy, and son Russell, as well as five grandchildren Chloe, Hannah, Fergus, Felix and Gwydion and great-grandchild Orla.

Reg was married to Sheila for 24 years, first living in Devon and Leamington before moving to Knowle.

Paying tribute to her father, his daughter Mandy said he was “exceedingly excited” when his great-granddaughter was born last year. She also praised her mother as being “incredible, the strongest woman I have ever met”.

Speaking about her father, she said he was an active member of national charity, the Cyclists Touring Club, (CTC) where he organised and helped run events in Leamington and Solihull.

The great-grandfather gave up his time to help less experienced cyclists gain confidence on their bikes, through projects like Cycle Solihull.

Over the past eight years, he single-handedly organised Saturday Stretcher Rides where he built up members’ stamina enough for rides of around 35 miles a time.

Reg was buried on July 15 at his chosen resting place of Westall Park Natural Burial Ground in Redditch.

“Reg’s Last Ride” left from his home with a group of 35 cyclists escorting the open air hearse and following a country lane route which Reg regularly cycled to arrive at the Nevill Arms, New End.

There, Reg’s wicker coffin was transferred to a simple wooden cart, drawn by two shire horses -just like the ones Reg had worked with on a farm in Devon in his youth.

The cart led the procession to the burial ground and behind his family was a group of 70 to 80 cyclists in their variously coloured club shirts.

In place of flowers, the family called for donations to the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance -raising just under £700.

Before retiring, Reg worked as a production manager at Automotive Products (AP) in Leamington.

He has also driven HGVs for the RAF, run his own greengrocer shops and been involved in Wellesbourne Market.

He had a keen interest in photography and a love of the environment and of nature - studying for a degree in environmental science alongside his daughter at Warwick University, whilst his son studied the same subject in Scotland.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the collision, or anyone who saw either Reg riding his bike, or the Volkswagen Golf prior to the collision.

Anyone with any information should call police on 101.