Just found your site and read your superb and befitting words Mickey,
nice one. All the best.
Regards,
Barry Mordue


--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, mickymallen
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
>
> Some very sad news just reached me from Tyneside, Russell Thompson
> formerly of GS Metro and last year a member of Berwick Wheelers, died
> in his sleep, last thursday. He was 41.
> Many of you will know and/or will have raced with Russell who was an
> extremely competitive,aggressive and voiciferous(!) rider in countless
> Scottish races stretching back 12 years or more. His last Scottish
> event was a creditable 7th in the Peebles APR as listed below.
>
> For me, this was also the last time I seen or spoke to one of the
> nicest people i have ever met. I cant come to terms with the why's and
> how's regarding his death. Apparently, there will be an inquest and
> the funeral is expected to be next week, should 'all be welcome' then
> I will update this post with dates and times in the offchance someone
> besides myself would want to go down(please email if so)
>
> Russell only really started racing when he was 27 or so and quickly
> rose to the top of the sport. In the days when it was Pro/Am he was in
> the thick of things with the Paul Curran's and Shane Sutton's of the
> 90's. One of his best results (in North East RT colours) was 9th in
> the Lincoln GP in 91 (I think) which was stripped of him and widely
> publicised due to an inappropiate nasal medication given to him by a
> doctor. He served his ban and came bouncing back to prove his innocence.
> As far as I know, he never won a race up here but his seconds and
> thirds to the Border Fox and co. robbed him of that elusive scottish
win.
>
> The man was not just one of my best friends but also like an older
> brother to me. He first befriended me in 96 to give me a lift to my
> first Scottish Race - Anderside Classic(in which he was either 2nd or
> 3rd), he then became my employer as a labourer for his own landscape
> gardening business. He gave me countless more lifts, and work. We went
> drinking together, on occasion, played 5-a-side, went to his wedding
> etc etc etc. Sorry to drone on but, except for old relatives, this
> aint happened to me before and im taking it pretty bad.
>
> He took a year or two off his 'normal' work to build his own Dream 4
> bedroomed house on the Scottish Borders. His meticulous desire for
> doing things right saw him dismiss the shoddy work of the so-called
> stone masons and take on the entire project himself. Perhaps the
> stress and effort put into building his home,ultimately concluded in
> his death - who knows.
>
> He leaves his wife of 8 years, Sue, and children Edward and Olivia,
> our prayers and thoughts are with you.
> Russell, rest in peace - we will NEVER forget you.
>
> Graham Mc - if u are able to head down, let me know. I told Andy M and
> he cant believe it.
>
>
>
>
>
> George Pennel Memorial APR 27th August 2005
> Pos. No Name Team Time
> 1 51 Ben Abrahams Velo Ecosse 02:07:06
> 2 53 Evan Oliphant Recycling.co.uk st
> 3 47 Andy Matheson MRCC 03:39
> 4 23 Lawrence Tring ERC 03:41
> 5 14 Nic Gowrie PCC 03:50
> 6 49 Steve McEwan Pedal Power 03:52
> 7 30 Russell Thompson Berwick Wheelers st
> 8 46 Lee Whitelaw ERC st
> 9 32 Gregor Brown ERC st
> 10 50 Michael Mallen SCU Private Member st
> Edited by - madmicky on 14 Dec 2005 02:11:17
>