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John F Murray – Sponsor of GS Modena in the 1990’s

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It’s always sad when you lose a friend – when it happens on Christmas Day it makes it all the more painful, so it’s with particular sadness we report the loss of John F Murray, sponsor for several years of Scottish cycling team, GS Modena / M & M Windows.

John F Murray and I set up M & M in 1988; hitherto GS Modena had been sponsored by CR Smith.

When I left Smith’s and teamed up with John to set up M & M Windows I had to explain that I came with ‘baggage’ – namely a cycling team.

John took a longer than usual draw on his fag, hit me one of his stinging ‘one liners’ and that was it, we were in business with John as our loyal and supportive sponsor.

John F Murray
Thoughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s GS Modena/M&M riders won a lot of championships and took the team awards seriously too.
John F Murray
VeloVeritas Editor Martin Williamson, like all the riders in the team, took great pride in representing M&M Windows and Conservatories; the company factory was the team’s HQ and service course. Photo©Danny McClure

A proud ‘Brummie’ but John F Murray loved Scotland, the building game, his motorbikes, his grub and Grouse whisky.

Latterly he lived in beautiful St. Fillans beside Loch Earn.

His health wasn’t the best towards the end but I’ll always remember his chuckle, big paw dwarfing my hand and his firm belief that were few problems in life which a large Grouse in the right bar couldn’t solve.

VeloVeritas extend it’s sympathies to his wife Daisy, daughter Virginia and all of his friends.

We’ll miss you, JFM.

Rest in Peace, sir.

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Sandy Wallace, the Perfect Friend

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Ben Abrahams

Obituaries, part of the deal if you write about cycling; check their palmarès, think about when you saw them race when you were a boy then put a piece together. But when it's someone you knew, liked, laughed with, there's more to it than that - the randomness of life; one minute a friend is there and happy with a whole life to look forward to, the next, he's gone. A car crash involving a lorry and Ben Abrahams, and here I am writing this.

Hugh McGuire

Hugh McGuire, who has died suddenly of a heart attack aged 71, was the Glasgow-born Scot who became one of the top UK cyclists in the 1960s, representing both Scotland and the British Army. He took part with the best of GB riders in the Tour of Britain / Milk Race era, winning stages - and in so doing following the wheels of a slightly older top gun, Jimmy Savile. McGuire became noticed, and in 1962 and 1963, was selected to travel behind the Iron Curtain to participate in the annual Berlin-Warsaw-Prague road race, the co-called Peace Race designed by the Soviets to bring together the world's top cyclists in reconciliation between Warsaw Pact countries and the West.

Laurent Fignon

'Unluckiest man of the race was Laurent Fignon (Renault) who escaped alone on the climb of the Cote de la Madelaine, only to crash when leading by 37 seconds with only 18 kilometres to go.'

Jason MacIntyre, lost to us 15 years ago

It's 15 years today - 15:01:08 - since we lost Jason MacIntyre. We thought it would be a nice tribute to re-run the interview we did with him after one of his biggest triumphs, the 2006 British 25 mile Championship, which was also our 'launch' article. Rest in Peace, Jason - you were 'special.

Jocelyn Lovell

It’s with much sadness that VeloVeritas reports the passing of Canadian Cycling Legend, Jocelyn Lovell on June 3rd at 65 years of age. ‘Controversial,’ ‘outspoken,’ ‘colourful,’ are all adjectives which have been used to describe the sleek, blond kilometre specialist but for me he’ll always simply be, ‘one of the coolest.’ Always immaculate, slim and long limbed; astride a track bike with that beautiful pale blue with white sleeves and maple leaves Canadian national jersey on his back he looked like he’d been born to perform the role.

It’s 10 Years since we lost Laurent Fignon

As Julian Alaphilippe defended his maillot jaune in the first mountain stage of le Tour today, it’s 10 years since we lost another man who not only wore that beautiful jersey but won it outright twice in 1983 and 1984. Monsieur Laurent Fignon. Here’s what I wrote about the man back on that sad day in 2010.

Ron Webb Tributes

We recently ran Pip Taylor’s fine obituary to Mr. Ron Webb, former professional bike rider, track builder, father of the modern Six Day format, team manager and mentor to many. Below, we’ve drawn together some of the tributes we received from Ron’s friends and former charges: