Roy Burden. 1932-2019.

A Royal Air Force Service man, Roy Burden was posted to RAF Lyneham in the late 1960’s. Once settled in the camp married quarters with his wife Molly;  Roy a keen racing cyclist chose the Chippenham Wheelers as the Club to join. Later moving to live in Chippenham.

Roy’s earlier cycling life started in North Devon becoming a member of the Barnstable Imperial Wheelers. In those days he was a keen road racing man (known as Massed-Start racing in the past.) competing under the British League of Racing Cyclist’s Rules. He would often relate stories of travelling to Weston-S-Mare and the Bristol Area to compete in the long distance road races with his team mates.

Once in Wiltshire, Roy specialised in the long distance time trials and was a regular Chippenham rider in the local Western T.T.A 12 hours event. Molly would even prepare a sit down feed for him in these events. It was in 1974 that he became the first winner of the Mrs.Barlow Veteran’s Best All-Rounder Cup.

Later Roy became the Club General Secretary and his committee meeting minutes would follow the same guide lines that he had used in his technical writing while in the RAF. His wife Molly also spent many hours cooking and preparing refreshments for Club Open Events and for the Clubroom. Roy was often involved with the transportation and help on these occasions.

Roy and Molly would often be seen with the rest of the Club’s Officials on an evening out after a race event enjoying a meal at a restaurant in Batheaston or Trowbridge.

Roy’s funeral will take place at the Lyneham Church at 2.30pm. on Thursday May 9th. 2019 and then a gathering at the Village Hall to follow.

 

   Mike Edwards.

                Club President.