ALTON Cycling Club has recently lost two of its long standing and respected members, Jim Woods and Ian Cargill.

Jim joined ACC ten years ago, and quickly became passionately involved in all areas of the club.

He led Sunday Club rides, taking part in many club events and tours, and was voted Club Member of the Year in 2018.

At the time of his diagnosis with a malignant brain tumour in 2018, he was the club’s publicity secretary, a role in which he excelled.

He started our club quiz and curry night and assisted in running the club BBQ and annual dinner, as well as helping with the time trials.

Jim’s thoughtful approach alongside his wonderful dry sense of humour will be missed by his good friends in the club. He is remembered as being fun, welcoming, kind, generous and encouraging towards other riders.

We treasure the many happy memories of rides spent with Jim.

Ian joined the club as a junior in 1987 with a bike which was fondly known as The Gate, because that’s what it resembled.

It wasn’t long before Ian was beating everyone in club competitions. In the four successive years from 1990 to 1993, Ian won the short distance best-all-rounder and the 50-mile cup competitions, as well as the club’s 25-mile championship.

During the same years he was twice the 100-mile cup winner and three times the hill climb champion, which in those days was raced up Hartley Mauditt Hill, also setting an unsurpassed club record in 1991.

He still holds the club records for the 20-mile two-up time trial along with Matt Thomas, and the 25-mile team time trial along with Matt Thomas and Phill Bowley.

In recent years his all-round knowledge made him a valuable member of staff at Owen’s Cycles shop at Four Marks, where you could be sure of receiving good advice based on his years of experience.

Ian would go out of his way to support, encourage and help bring success in all levels of his loved sport of cycling.

He became an excellent rider who was strong, fast and focused, but always more interested in supporting others before himself, which was highly appreciated by the club’s members when seeking his advice and help at Owens Cycles.

Ian was honoured at the club’s annual general meeting last year by being awarded a lifetime membership of the club in thanks for his years as chairman, a role he had embraced with much energy and enthusiasm.

We will miss these two lovely people, and our thoughts are with their friends and families.

For those who would like to make a donation in Jim’s memory, the family have chosen Brainstrust, a charity that supports and helps people who are diagnosed with brain tumours.

See more details on the website brainstrust.org.uk