Gordon White grew up in south Leeds, and took to cycling at an early age. Through the Leeds YHA Group Clubroom he began touring in his teens, using hostels and also cycle-camping. On his first hostelling trip, he recounted, he set off later than the rest of the group to Grinton youth hostel, and looked at his map only after zooming down the steep hill past the hostel. He joined the Intermediate Group of the Leeds CTC soon after, and rode with them for many years. His wide interests included rough-stuff cycling, and the determination which was such a characteristic of his cycling was amply demonstrated when he was one of only 13 finishers in the Three Peaks race in atrocious conditions.

Gordon’s early career was with the Post Office Telephones Department. Their training base at that time was in Stone, and his colleagues were quite surprised when Gordon turned up on his bike for training, having ridden over from Leeds.

Gordon met his first wife, Denise, through the YHA Group. With their two children, Ian and Fiona, the family moved to Croydon when Gordon took up a lecturing post there. The East Surrey Road Club, an offshoot of the CTC, provided him with a cycling base, and he was always appreciative of the welcome he received in the area. His life was soon to be hit by tragedy, however, as Denise died, and he was forced to reconsider his future. He moved back to Leeds, where his parents could help him bring up two small children, and continued lecturing. Cycle camping continued to provide holiday opportunities, and he also took up the more sporting side of cycling by joining the Leeds Wellington CC, and association which continued throughout his life.

His life took another turn, this time for the better, when he and Kathy met and married. She was also a cyclist, and together they cycled and walked in Gordon’s favourite Yorkshire Dales as well as on holidays in the UK and abroad, as far away as Nepal. They joined the re-formed Leeds CTC, and Gordon became its mainstay, organising and leading the regular programme of rides. He also took on the job of Treasurer of the Yorkshire and Humberside Region of the CTC, and worked for cyclists’ rights with the City Council. Kathy has a fine singing voice, and Gordon supported her loyally in her various engagements, and they both enjoyed many other activities, including badminton and folk music.

In 2001 Gordon became interested in Audax events, largely through the encouragement of Andy Clarkson, a former apprentice to Gordon in the Post Office, who persuaded him he should attempt the Paris-Brest-Paris 1200km ride in 2003. Unable to resist the challenge, Gordon completed the event, despite being quite sick with a stomach upset in the early stages. He went on to ride the even longer London-Edinburgh-London event in 2005, and to complete many other Audax events, creating yet another circle of friends in the process. A formidable rider of great determination, he was at the same time a great companion on rides, with his quiet humour, extensive knowledge and complete aversion to panic.

When Kathy was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, Gordon curtailed his activities to give her all the support she needed. It was a cruel twist of fate, therefore, that just when she was pulling through he himself began to feel unwell. A quite uncharacteristic ‘dnf’ on a 600k ride in June 2007 underlined that he was not well, though he determinedly set off on a holiday in India in late July. While clearly not himself, he nevertheless rode much of the exacting high passes of the Himalayas, impressing his companions with his determination, friendship and courtesy. On his return he was clearly very sick, however, and a diagnosis of advanced panchreatic cancer explained all. His rapid deterioration shocked all his many friends, a constant stream of whom visited him in the hospice in Leeds where he was well cared for by the staff and constantly attended by Kathy until he died on 4^th October 2007.

The attendance at his funeral underlined the affection and respect in which Gordon was held, nearly 200 people paying their respects to this quiet, courageous and courteous man. So many there, and many not able to attend, had cause to be grateful to him for his encouragement and companionship. His family, and especially Kathy, will, we hope, draw comfort from the knowledge that he was so well liked, and had so many friends of different ages from all walks of life.

We shall all miss him terribly, but will celebrate what he has meant to us, and try to carry on with the quiet determination which was such a hallmark of Gordon White’s life.