I was told early today of the untimely death of former Brixton cycles club mate Rob Jefferies. And now write this with an overwhelming sadness and feeling of devastation
Rob was not just a great personal friend he was my track mentor. He encouraged me with his usual dead pan delivery to just give competition a go after a brief induction. Training rides with him were especially memorable. They usually ended with my tongue hanging out and maybe Rob commenting on the lanes. All I saw was a big expanse of a lycra and not much else.
Its also his fault I now run the Brixton CC track meet. However without the ease and flair he had. He organised it brilliantly as he did all his events. (Only to see 3 of the 4 years rained off…. Yet again this year I am not ready and now he is not here for me to stress out at and get him to sort for me.
Rob dedicated the Brixton meet to big Ron Beckett with the Ron Beckett double harness pursuit (don’t ask). Ron another gentle big man of racing sport was like the rest of us lucky to have some great moments with Rob (Rob as track rider and track commissaire) And I hope Ron is sharing some great moments with him again.
We all have unique great memorable moments with Rob that will stay with us forever. It is hard to fathom this will be no more.
Brixton CC especially send big love to wife Jane and ‘kids’ George and Eve. He loved them deeply.
With any luck I will be able to track down a chief commissaire for the Brixton CC meet on the 25th June at Herne Hill. The whole meet will be dedicated to Rob. More information to follow.