Jim Gresty

[Rupert]

It is with great sadness that I have to announce the passing of Jim Gresty on Wednesday.  Many will remember him as a controller with his wife Helen at the Raven Cafe, Prees Heath on the Mere 200k in January.

Sadly, Jim sustained serious head injuries in an accident about 3-years ago and never fully recovered from these.

No further details available at this time.

[bairn again]

Sad news.

Jim and Helen rode both the 200 and 300 at my Ballachulish weekend back in 2009, my first foray into organising. 

Lovely people. 

RIP. 
 

[Ian H]

I remember Jim as cheerful, forthright, and a good cyclist.

[frankly frankie]

On the left in this photo, with the dark glasses.

[Peter]

Yes, a lovely man.  RIP, Jim.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

I'd ridden with Jim in several events. Rather, he'd chat for a few minutes before riding away from me on a hill, again. A good bloke and I'm sorry he's gone. I saw him in hospital shortly after his crash and we visited his nursing home last year. He was in a lot better shape then and it was good to chat with him. He was missing the bike, of course.

[Andy Corless]

I didn't know him very well but I'd ridden with him on the Cheshire rides a few times, where I took the photo below. Once upon a time Jim was a Burnley resident!



Jim Gresty, c. 2007

Andy Corless

[Exit Stage Left]

I can remember when I first met Jim. I was riding Gavin Greenhow's Spa Trek 600, and Jim was with Dick Law, Roger Cliffe and a couple of others, riding the 400 when they caught a couple of us just before the Cotswold escarpment. That was one of the few times I rode with him, the section of LEL 2005 on the handbook cover Frankie linked to was another.

But there are other opportunities to socialise in Audax, at the start, at the sign in, or at the campsite at PBP.

Audax creates a lot of camaraderie, because you are thrown together in unlikely places at unlikely times. Those occasions stick in the mind because of the combination of unusual elements.

One cost of all those memories is the feeling of loss when one of us passes away. It's part of the price we pay for any sociable activity.

We caught Jim on video a number of times. Heather filmed him at Langdon Beck on LEL 2005, and I caught him at Thurlby, heading South, on the same event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgbUislY8WM

[aidan.f]

A lovely chap.. many pleasant memories.

[Delph Cyclist]

... Audax creates a lot of camaraderie, because you are thrown together in unlikely places at unlikely times. Those occasions stick in the mind because of the combination of unusual elements ...

Yes, this is what I love about Randonneering.  I mix with cyclists of all abilities, but even though some are faster and stronger than I am - let's face it, most of them seem to be faster and stronger - but we are all in the same game, chatting in the same cafes and controls, and our achievements are treated equally.  It's like having a kick around with Manchester City, and them still passing the ball to me to have the odd kick.

I caught up with Jim on LEL 2013 in the early hours on that rather dismal stretch of road alongside the motorway heading towards Moffat, and he was happy to have my company and support, even though normally he would be disappearing into the distance.  4:30am is still 4:30am, whoever you are.  Jim and Helen were also great supporters when I rode the Mersey Roads 24, recognising me and shouting encouragement.

[Manotea]

The only time I knowlingly rode with Jim was for a couple of hours one night on PBP 2011 when I caught up with Jim, Judith Swallow and somebody famous on a trike whose name escapes me right now (Judith will be along in a mo to remind us whome), I must have been 'feeling strong' as I saw some lights in the distance and gradually reeled them in and took up the vacant slot in the groupetto. I felt well 'ard riding in such company. As I recall Jim fell off the back after a while and in due course so did I...

[LittleWheelsandBig]

PBP11 or a different LEL? Probably Edwin on the trike, another hardrider.

[Manotea]

PBP11 or a different LEL? Probably Edwin on the trike, another hardrider.

Oops. PBP11. EIther Mr Hopper or Mr Hargreaves, but it was a long time ago and dark...

[LittleWheelsandBig]

I think Edwin and HK were working their way up to Jim Hopper, who'd slept a little less (or talked a little less at a control). I was behind them all but caught up later that day. We collected a decent bunch through the last couple of stages to the PBP11 finish, the trikie pair amongst them. I rode beside Jim Gresty for a while on the last day as he'd developed 'the lean' and was having some trouble consistently riding in a straight line. One of the very few times he wasn't stronger than me, which gave us a good chance to chat.

[Exit Stage Left]

I last saw Jim at the beginning of the Mere 200 in 2015. He was musing about the need to do PBP. I included that in a bit of an arty piece about time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iQYArfcCQg

[Tull924]

I have it on good information that the funeral is to be held on Friday 14th Dec @ 10:40am at Bradwell Crematorium