A cyclist who helped to devise the route of the Guild Wheel has died.
Mike Atkins, 70, lost his battle with cancer on Thursday, just days before his 71st birthday.
The father-of-two from Ashton, Preston, was instrumental in the creation of the 21-mile long Guild Wheel route and had been involved with the project to launch it from start to finish.
Mike was the secretary of the Guild Wheel project and had a keen interest in cycling.
He was born in Edinburgh and moved to Preston from Essex in 1967.
He worked as a civil engineer in highways for Lancashire County Council and went on to be a cycling officer for Lancashire.
Mike was a borough councillor in the 1970s alongside his wife of 43 years Kathleen.
Kathleen, 64, said: “He was very outgoing and forthright and determined to see through things that he was keen on or believed in and would see things through to the end.
“He was a man with a wide range of interests and was always very honest.”
Daughter Heather, 34, added: “He was a very kind person.
“In terms of his political leanings he was a peace activist, he was anti-war, but he was also peaceful in terms of his nature, he very rarely raised his voice.
“He was a good dad, calm and really supportive.”
Mike’s other hobbies included listening to jazz, mountaineering and he was a fan of real ale.
He was involved in the Preston Mountaineering Club and Norwest Walking
He had also been a member of various cycling bodies, including Sustrans.
Chairman of the Guild Wheel Project Peter Ward said: “He was very knowledgeable and well-educated.
“He was very laid back in a way, nothing ever seemed to get him down, he had this easy going character but nevertheless he was quite tenacious if people weren’t helping with something he thought was important.
“It is a very sad day for cycling, we have lost a good friend and a worker for cyclist rights.”
Mike’s funeral will be held on Friday February 1 at 11.15am at Preston Crematorium.
One of his last wishes was for people to make their way to the funeral in the most environmentally friendly way possible, whether that be cycling, walking on the bus or car sharing.
And Mike’s daughter Heather will be cycling behind the cortege.
Anybody who wishes to join her should meet at The Co-operative Funeral Care in Blackpool Road ready to set off at 10.30am, leaving 45 minutes to get to the funeral.
Mike leaves his wife Kathleen, daughter Heather, 34, son Iain, 37 and grandson Ben, 15.
Comments