Barry Mason (cyclist)

For other people with the same name, see Barry Mason (disambiguation).
Plaque commemorating Barry Mason at Greenland Dock

Barry Mason (5 January 1950 – 2 June 2011) was a noted activist for cycling in London, UK.

After graduating from the London School of Economics, Mason had a varied career, including two years as head of visitor services at Salisbury Cathedral and four years working in Liverpool.[1]

However, he was best known in his later years for supporting community and environmental projects in Southwark, South London.[2] For a time he managed school building projects for Southwark Council, then became manager of Surrey Docks Farm.[1]

For many years he was the voluntary co-ordinator of Southwark Cyclists, whose secretary described him as "visionary and energetic over very many years in campaigning to improve safety and security for cyclists".[2] Mason helped to make it one of the most active of the London Cycling Campaign's borough groups, as well as reviving the neighbouring Greenwich Cyclists.[3] He imparted skill and confidence to many other cyclists through his maintenance classes and rides, including mass rides on Christmas Day,[2] and became more widely known among cyclists for organising return transport from the Dunwich Dynamo, an annual midsummer ride from London to Suffolk.[4][5] He was cited by the press on cycling-related subjects such as safety and parking,[6][7][8] and won the London Cycling Personality of the Year award in 2006.[9]

Barry Mason died while swimming off the coast near Rodiles in northern Spain during a cycling holiday in June 2011 with his partner Cheryl. He had a son and daughter from his marriage.[2] Tributes poured in on Twitter and cycling forums.[10] His funeral, a humanist ceremony, was attended by hundreds of people.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 Cycle campaigner Barry Mason dies on holiday in Spain, London SE1 News, Bankside Press, 5 June 2011
  2. 1 2 3 4 Parsons, Rob (6 June 2011). "Tributes to cycling campaigner who died swimming on holiday in Spain". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  3. ↑ Barry Mason, LCC
  4. ↑ Field, Patrick. Dunwich Dynamo XIX. London School of Cycling, 2011. Accessed: 2011-06-05. (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5zDuiGOAM )
  5. ↑ James Randerson, A moonlit bike ride to remember: the legendary Dunwich Dynamo, The Guardian, 7 July 2009
  6. ↑ Millard, Neil (18 May 2009). "Cyclist dies in hit-and-run with lorry". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  7. ↑ Leach, Anna (19 May 2010). "Why are female cyclists so vulnerable to lorries?". Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  8. ↑ Barford, Vanessa (31 July 2008). "The etiquette of bike parking". BBC. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  9. ↑ London Cycling Awards, 2006, LCC
  10. ↑ Lydall, Ross. "London unites in tribute to cycling campaigner". London at Large. Evening Standard blog. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  11. ↑ "Family, colleagues and friend say farewell to legendary campaigner Barry Mason". London Cycling Campaign. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-07-16. Citing Francis Sedgemore (7 July 2011). "No black, no lycra, two good locks". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-07-16.

External links

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