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An Audax legend
The Audax community was shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic death of cycling stalwart Damon Peacock, who took his own life in June this year after a severe bout of depression.
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Family, friends and fellow cyclists gathered in Lancashire for the funeral of legendary Audax rider and film-maker, Damon Peacock, in July. Many more watched the service via a live-stream video from the God’s acre Chapel in Much Hoole. Social media forums were inundated with messages of condolence and sympathy in the wake of Damon’s death.
Damon, a native of Leyland, Lancashire, was a 62 years old rider known not only for his many impressive cycling feats, but also his ability to chronicle Audax events on film. He was also a noted record-keeper. Indeed, he wrote about his data collection, and his documenting activities in a feature for Arrivée (issue 145) in 2019.
His partner of 37 years, Heather Swift, spoke movingly at Damon’s funeral, saying: “For the last 18 months Damon had been really, really ill with severe depression. It came out of the blue. It was very scary. He had no history.”
Damon was one of three children, growing up and attending school in Leyland before completing his degree at the University of Kent in Canterbury. He was a renowned quizzer, and even captained the college team on TV’s University Challenge.
For much of his career he worked in conservation for organisations including the Woodland Trust, and was an expert hedge-layer, responsible for maintenance of hedgerows and verges on many of the motorways of the north-west. He met his partner Heather while undertaking voluntary conservation work on the Shetland Isles. The couple lived in Lancashire, and spent holidays walking, cycling and skiing, not only in Europe, but also Africa.
He was an accomplished cyclist, becoming an Audax member in the 1990s, and taking part in many long distance events, including PBP and LEL.
Friends who spoke at this funeral described a friendly, witty and knowledgeable man, easily recognisable at Audax events by his stature – he was 6’4” in height, with legendary size 14 feet. He was also a celebrated film-maker, covering many Audax events. His film commentaries were described as “gentle, idiosyncratic and generous”.
His sister Rachel, speaking at the funeral, said: “We weren’t aware of his battle until it took over his world. In memory of his life I urge everyone to be aware of their mental health. Ask for help early, and take care of your nearest and dearest.”
Mourners at the funeral were invited to donate to the charities MIND and CALM.
CS A record-breaking rider
Many will have been saddened to hear of the death in June this year of record-breaking Portsmouth cyclist Chris Davies at the age of 83, peacefully in a city nursing home.
Chris had been the cycling correspondent of The News, Portsmouth’s local newspaper, for more than 50 years until his retirement in 2004. He also held the world record for the most miles ever officially cycled – more than 900,000 – the equivalent of 37 times round the globe, and a feat that wasn’t equalled until 2019. Only 16 years ago he marked the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, and the 50th consecutive year of his own career in the saddle, by riding more than 1,500 miles from Cape Trafalgar in Spain to London’s Trafalgar Square. In his long career, Chris cycled in many countries, including the USA, South Africa, New Zealand and Europe – and not without adventure. He was in Israel on a cycling tour of the Middle East when the Yom Kippur War broke out in 1973, and was unable to board a plane for several days. He described it, in his usual laid-back manner, as “an extra four days holiday”. He was quoted in The News as saying: “We seemed to be the only foreign visitors who weren’t scared stiff, but we all had memories of bombings during WW2. The advice was: if you can’t get into a shelter, get under a substantial table – which the Americans didn’t think was good advice at all.” Chris was a local sporting hero, cycling an average of 10,000 miles every year in his prime, and riding many long-distance events, including Land’s End to John ‘O Groats. He also took part in several 24-hour non-stop races, achieving a career best distance of 438 miles in the 1960s. Many riders will have memories of Chris on numerous Audax events. Chris worked for the Cyclists Touring Club for many years, and was also a road safety advisor for Hampshire. Before illness forced him to give up cycling in 2010, the longest he’d been away from his bike was 39 days – when he had a hip replacement. He set the world record when he reached 906,900 miles, at the age of 72 – when he was still hopeful of passing the one million mile mark. Interviewed at the time by The News, Portsmouth, Chris said: “For as long as I can remember I’ve loved cycling. It keeps me in good shape and gets me out and about. My bike is an extension of me.” CS
Guardian angel… Duncan with Jenelle Kerr at the site of the accident
Rider survives bridge plunge on the Turra Coo 300
It’s every cyclist’s worst nightmare – a speedy downhill stretch on a remote Scottish B-road, a wet and greasy surface, and a sharp bend on to a stone bridge – then a skid and a crash.
The nightmare came true for Duncan Brown on the last day of July this year. He hit the bridge wall and plunged over the top, through tangled undergrowth and straight into the cold, foaming burn 30ft below. “I was convinced I was going to die,” 35 year old Duncan told the BBC. The junior doctor from Inverness was taking part in the popular Audax event, the Turra Coo 300, a circular route in north Aberdeenshire. But luck was on his side. In a nearby cottage, Jenelle Kerr, 51, was doing some gardening. She told reporters that she heard the “click, click, click” of bike brakes and watched as a “flash or red” went over the bridge. Jenelle, who has been a nursing officer with the RAF for 20 years, reacted swiftly, racing to the scene of the crash and scrambling down the bank through the thick undergrowth to reach Duncan who, by now, was lying in the icy water and going into shock. Duncan admits that if it hadn’t been for Jenelle’s fast actions he may well have slipped into unconsciousness and drowned. She hauled him out of the burn, and wrapped him in a blanket before calling the emergency services, including coastguard, fire and ambulance crews. The rider, who is not a member of AUK, was only 60 miles into the Turra Coo when the accident happened, on a bridge over the Burn of Boyne on the B9139 near the village of Portsoy. He said he approached the bridge on a downhill stretch. Duncan believes the bike skidded on a patch of grease and water on the road surface before he lost control and hit the stone wall of the bridge – with both bike and rider catapulted over the parapet. Emergency crews had to float the injured cyclist downstream on a raft from where he was taken to a waiting helicopter and airlifted to A&E in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness – ironically the place where Duncan works as a junior doctor, and where he’d just finished a shift. His £2,000 bike was also rescued from further down the stream. Andy Uttley, the event organiser, came upon the scene of the crash with fellow rider, Paul Greaves. He said: “We saw an ambulance parked and a red cycle helmet on the roadside, with no sign of anybody and no bike either. “It was with trepidation that I peered over the bridge. My heart was in my throat but I could see Duncan on the river bank with two paramedics. I called down and was so relieved when Duncan shouted back. I had difficulty getting that image out of my mind all day.” Duncan’s wife Lizzie was at home with the couple’s six week old daughter, Emily, when the accident happened. She actually saw the helicopter fly over their house on its way to the hospital. Miraculously, Duncan suffered no broken bones, but was treated for significant soft tissue injury which means he will be on crutches for a while, and faces months of rehabilitation. Back at home after treatment, Duncan, who hopes to become a GP in the Highlands, praised the response of the emergency services, the hospital teams who treated him, but most especially the actions of Jenelle, who he described as his “guardian angel”.
