Oilman collapses and dies during ‘fun’ bike outing he organised

By ALISTAIR MUNRO
Published on 30/06/2012 00:00

AN oil worker has died while taking part in a fun cycle event that he had helped to organise.

Antony Williams was just behind his wife, Marjory, on the 12-mile run at a Highland beauty spot, near his home village of Foyers, when he collapsed with a suspected heart attack.

• Oil worker Antony Williams, 46, collapsed and died during cycling trip near Whitebridge village

• “We were about halfway to Loch Killin and he was walking beside his bike talking to someone when it just happened. He just dropped down dead”

The 46-year-old, who was known as Tony, had organised the “Tour de Foyers” event at the tight-knit Loch Ness-side community, near Inverness, to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics.

Mr Williams, of Glenlia, Foyers, was a drilling superintendent with the Aberdeen-based Hess Corporation.

About 20 cyclists had set off from nearby Whitebridge village at about 10am on Sunday, heading for Loch Killin.

Mrs Williams, 49, said: “It was mostly just people from the village, but there were others there as well.

“We were about halfway to Loch Killin and he was walking beside his bike talking to someone when it just happened. He just dropped down dead.

“At first people thought he had slipped and fallen, but then we realised that it was much more serious than that.”

She added: “We are just all in shock, to be honest. We just can’t believe it’s happened.

“He was fine in the morning and has never had any problems. It’s been very hard for everyone.

“I think he will be remembered as being a friendly person.

“He had a great sense of humour and was great with people.

“His smile and laughter will endure in the hearts and minds of all those who knew him.”

Alistair Colquhoun, who helped plan the event with Mr Williams, said they had organised it as a way of bringing the community together. Both had been members of the Glenlia Residents Association, which had organised a series of events to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics, with the cycle run the last in the programme.

He said: “We had been out together a few weeks ago to suss out the route, and even made sure there was a mobile phone reception in case of an emergency.

“It is a bit of a climb, but nothing too strenuous.”

Mr Colquhoun, who called the ambulance service, said: “The paramedics told us even if they had been able to get there sooner it wouldn’t have made any difference.

“He wasn’t a keen cyclist but I was shocked.

“We had many great laughs together. He was great to catch the craic and banter with.”

Mr Williams grew up in Barry, Wales, and gained a master’s degree in petroleum engineering at Imperial College London before starting work in the oil industry in Aberdeen, eventually joining the Hess Corporation, where he became a drilling boss.