Edinburgh bike club loses second member in weeks

A PENSIONER killed after being struck by a lorry was a member of an athletics club rocked by a similar tragedy just weeks ago.

Douglas Brown, from Leith, was hit by a truck as he cycled on the B9080 Linlithgow to Kirkliston road, near Winchburgh Bing, last Thursday morning.

The super-fit 79-year-old, who died in hospital on Sunday, was a founding member of the Edinburgh Triathletes, which also lost vice-president Andrew McMenigall when he was hit by an articulated lorry in Cornwall during a fundraising bike ride on July 2.

The 150-strong club today paid tribute to Mr Brown and described the double tragedy as “disastrous”.

Andrew Grant, founder and first president of Edinburgh Triathletes, said: “When we first formed Edinburgh Triathletes back in the 1980s, one of the leading lights then and a frequent competitor was Douglas Brown. While he gave up competing he did not give up cycling and practically every day he continued to cycle and he swam regularly.

“Unfortunately, Douglas died as a result of the trauma caused by the accident. I am sure there are still many who were in Edinburgh Triathletes will recall him and the help he provided in setting up the club and also his infectious humour.”

Mr Grant added: “It is disastrous that two Edinburgh Triathletes should be killed in road accidents in such a short time.”

Mr Brown was initially treated on the road by Julie Owen, 43, who arrived on the scene just seconds after the collision as she was on her way to a successful job interview for an auxiliary position with the NHS.

Ms Owen told the Evening News on Saturday how Mr Brown thanked her for her efforts, something she described as “touching”.

Mr McMenigall, 47, from Craigleith, who was married with two daughters, was killed with his colleague, Toby Wallace, 36, just hours into a 960-mile fundraiser in Cornwall.

The duo were hit by an articulated lorry in the first stage of a seven-day Land’s End to John O’Groats charity attempt.

Edinburgh Triathletes president Gavin Calder said: “Douglas was a well-known character with a great sense of humour, he was a pioneer of triathlon in Edinburgh.

“Andrew was a true club man, giving of his time freely to bring on triathletes of every standard at all times of the day. He was a giant of the club.

“It’s incredible to receive two doses of such tragic news in such a short space of time. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with their families.”

A charity collection page set up by Mr McMenigall before his challenge has been inundated with donations following his death. He and Mr Wallace had been hoping to raise £10,000 for the Kirsten Scott Memorial Trust, named in honour of a colleague who died of cancer.

But donations following the accident have now taken the total to around £19,000.

Kirsten’s brother, Andrew Scott, said: “We are overwhelmed by the response.”

Police are investigating the cause of the collision Mr Brown was involved in, and are appealing for witnesses.