Newspaper Article 2011 – Club stalwart remembered

Club stalwart remembered

Cycling obituary

The Ramblers Cycling Club lost one of its stalwart members with the death of Brenda Oliver last Thursday.

Brenda, together with her husband, Robert (Ollie) Oliver, were essentially responsible for arranging the inaugural Ramblers cycle races that now take place most Saturday afternoons. Though they were perhaps better known as the proprietors of the Hub Cycle Centre in Hastings.

It was with heavy hearts that 180 members and supporters of the club took part in a memorial ride for Brenda around the Apley Road circuit on Saturday, forgoing their usual scheduled race out of respect.

Club chairman Gavin Bush, together with Hilary Green and Mark Coombe, spoke on behalf of the club with tributes to Brenda prior to the ride as did Dan Warren, who as an employee at Hub Cycles worked daily with Brenda. The ride raised over $1000 which will be donated to the Cranford Hospice at the request of the Oliver family.

“Ramblers Cycling Club was saddened to hear of the passing of one of the club stalwarts last week,” said Bush.

“Brenda Oliver had been a great supporter of Ramblers. Our thoughts are with husband Rob and family at this time. Ramblers was happy to hold a memorial ride for Brenda on Saturday where over 180 riders and club supporters turned out in her memory, which really shows what Ramblers is all about. It was a great way to say thanks to a great lady.”

At the weekend Ramblers club member Jeremy Yates won his first race in seven seasons of racing in Europe, at the Tour De Victory in Slovenia, and dedicated his win to the memory of Brenda.

“To the memory of Brenda Oliver, Ollie and his family and the Hub Cycle Centre in Hastings who this week lost the iconic figure who has been a mother to us all. She was the cornerstone of the cycling community in Hawke’s Bay and will be greatly missed by all who knew her,” Yates said.

To further commemorate the work Brenda did on behalf of the club the last race in each of the four series of races held during the year will be known as the Brenda Oliver Memorial Race.

Her funeral was held at St Andrews Church in Hastings on Monday.

Photo caption – MARK OF RESPECT: Ramblers members took part in a memorial ride for Brenda Oliver.    PHOTO/SUPPLIED