The club committee is very sad to have to announce the passing of club Vice President Ron Taylor.
The contributions made by Ron to the club over the years would fill a series of books. Club rides, club committee work, TT organisation, he did it all with a smile on his face. His name is engraved on many club trophies.
Up until fairly recently Ron would still attend club nights and the AGM, until ill health forced him to stop doing so. His kindness was legendary and will never be forgotten by those club members lucky enough to have known him.
Ron’s son, Graham Taylor, is a club member and has written the following loving tribute. Further below are the funeral arrangements for those who may wish to attend.
My Dad sadly passed away on Saturday 14 June after a short illness. A true stalwart of the Farnborough & Camberley Cycling Club.
Dad was born in Dulwich Hospital, South East London in the year WW2 started, 1939. A cycling family.
At age 12, his father took him along to the CTC Cheam & Morden meet to join the family section of the group, training him up for long rides. Handy, because his dad soon had him riding on the back of his mum’s tandem. Still 12yo, he rode on the back of the tandem from their new family home in Carshalton, Surrey to his Grandad’s in Bristol – with an overnight stay in Marlborough. A CTC hostel of course!
He’s been a life member of the CTC to date.
At sometime he joined the Kingston Phoenix Road Club, and started racing along with his two brothers, but also did a stint in the army in 1960 for 2yrs National Service – Royal Engineers at Guillemont Fields, Minley. Predominantly based overseas in Germany, though.
My Dad met my mum, Coral Instance, through working at the same place at Victoria, London. He would always commute by bike from Carshalton to the centre of London, avoiding coming off on the tramlines – another bike handling skill ticked off. My mum lived in Highbury & Islington and my dad would also ride over to see her from Carshalton. In Feb 1961 he got engaged to my mum. They were married in Aug 1963 at St Magdelane Church, Highbury.
That same snowy wintery year they moved to Farnborough and lived in the same family house we have today [Ed – very near to Speedy’s, and club riders will have passed it many times].
In 1970 he stopped riding for the KPRC and joined Farnborough (Hants) CC, which became F&CCC we know today. A club member for 55 years.
The company they both worked at moved out of London to West Byfleet, Surrey, and so the commute by bike continued – 165 miles a week + racing at the weekend. By then my sister and I had come along, and my mum gave up work.
Within the F&CCC he held various positions on the committee and notably appears on many of the silverware for racing accolades. For eight years he promoted the club open events (June ’25’ & Xmas ’10’), TT event secretary, promoted the Border CA 12 hour and a Border CA National 12 hour, registered RTTC handicapper and Timekeeper.
As if my dad didn’t have enough to do, he then introduced me into the world of cycling and it was my turn to ride long distances, Youth Hosteling at age 10.
I remember I was in the 3rd year at Cove Comprehensive School on a sponsored cycle at Rushmoor Arena and I rode 54 miles. My dad was standing next to the teacher who was monitoring my laps and she said to him, ‘that boy there, Graham, hasn’t stopped and I’ve not been able to go to the loo!’ It’s because I had become accustomed to eating out of the pocket, like dad, and he was also handing me up food and drink, ha ha.
In the 1990s I lived in West Heath Rd and worked at the same place as Dad in West Byfleet, and so we both rode to work until he retired in the year 2000. Both of us on fixed wheels and both choosing a different gearing depending on how we felt … always a competition for a TTer to break your PB! What laughs we had. I even tried 205mm crank arms thinking it would turn a bigger gear with more leverage, ha, ha.
Anyway, enough about me larking about – I would say most people will know my dad from being the club run Captain on Wednesday and Sundays. His knowledge of local routes to well known destinations without a map or GPS still is astonishing even to me, and I probably rode next to him on these routes for 20 years.
So my dad, my mechanic, my club mate, my cheerleader, my work mate, my 2-up partner, my gym mate, my bank manager, l have loved every day we’ve spent together.
His absence will be profoundly felt, I’m sure, by all who had the privilege of knowing him. My lovely Dad xx
Graham Taylor.
Here are the details of the funeral, again courtesy of Graham:
If you would like to attend my dad, Ron Taylor’s, funeral it will be on Tuesday 8 July 2025, 1pm at Redan Chapel, Redan Road Cemetery, North Town, Aldershot GU12 4SW.
Please, no flowers. Our family would prefer you to make a donation to your preferred charity if you would like to.
Informal casual dress (shorts for gents if it’s warm), and cycling kit welcomed.
Afterwards, a celebration of life, will be available at The Old Ford pub, Lynchford Road, Ash Vale (North Camp) GU12 5QA. This is right next to North Camp railway station.
Kind regards,
Graham Taylor (& my sister, Liesl)
When I first became a club member I joined Ron’s rideouts and greatly appreciated the help and advice Ron gave me especially in riding in groups for the first time. He was always so encouraging and friendly so It was a pleasure to both ride with him and also to have the pleasure of his company. A charming and lovely man.
My best wishes to Graham and his family at this sad time.