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George Longstaff passes away
The renowned tandem, tricycle and special needs cycle engineer dies while out cycling, aged 58.
Sad news reaches us that the well-known and widely respected cycle engineer and manufacturer George Longstaff collapsed and later died while out on a Longstaff owners' ride yesterday.
His Longstaff Cycles business has a fine reputation as one of the world's very best manufacturers of beautifully-crafted custom tandems, upright tricycles and tandem tricycles. George was also very active in adapting his machines for use by those with special needs, and was well-known for carrying out professional, well-engineered one-offs alongside his more conventional designs.
He will be sadly missed. Our condolences to his wife Bev, and to all relatives and friends.
Posted on 06 October 2003
Your comments ...| From: Ian Buck ([email protected]) on 06 October 2003 |
| Sympathy to the family, reading Georges website was one of the things that helped me feel confident about specialising in trikes, I never spoke to him or met him but he did non the less inspire me. |
| From: Seamus (etc) on 06 October 2003 |
| It must have been terrible for his wife riding behind him on their tricycle tandem when it happened. |
| From: David Holman ([email protected]) on 06 October 2003 |
I read the news this morning and was shocked. Our tandem club section had a lovely time on a works tour at Longstaffs this last February. George and Bev were wonderful hosts. I admired his wry humour and evident love for engineering, cycling and cyclists. My sincerest condolences to Bev and the family.
I hope the Longstaff marque can continue into the future. |
| From: Steve Kisby ([email protected]) on 06 October 2003 |
| I can only echo the other messages of condolence to Bev and family. A great bloke and a great engineer.....he will be sadly missed |
| From: martin harris ([email protected]) on 06 October 2003 |
| Like everyone else, I am very saddened to hear this news. I met him at a few tandem rallies and his commitment to cycling, in its many forms, was obvious. Obvious too, was his skill as an engineer. He'll be sorely missed. My sincere sympathies go to his family. |
| From: Reiner De Weerdt ([email protected]) on 08 October 2003 |
The tricycle king is no more...
Too early, the loss is devastating...
Reiner De Weerdt
Belgium |
| From: Ralf Grosser ([email protected]) on 08 October 2003 |
Sad to see another "british" institution of bike building to go.
Never owned a trike, but loved the way Longstaff kept up a tradition of trikebulding. |
| From: Peter Eland ([email protected]) on 09 October 2003 |
Longstaffs have just sent this:
The provisional details for the funeral of George Longstaff have been released this morning.
It seems likely that the funeral will take place at the local crematorium on Thursday (16th) or Friday (17th) of next week. The procession will start from the Longstaff Cycle Centre and the service will be largely non-religious. All are welcome to attend.
More precise details will be provided when they become available. |
| From: Peter Eland ([email protected]) on 10 October 2003 |
The following are the details for the funeral of George Longstaff.
The ceremony, which will be non religious, will take place at
Bradwell Crematorium,
Bradwell,
Newcastle under Lyme
Thursday, 16 October at 1.15pm.
The procession to the Crematorium will leave the Longstaff Cycle Centre, Albert Street, Chesterton, Newcastle under Lyme, at 12.45 pm. Persons planning to attend are asked to start collecting at the shop from 12.00.
For those meeting at the Cycle Centre, parking will be available at the Community Centre Car Park, which is behind the Grove Inn Pub on London Road, Chesterton. The car park is approximately 30 seconds from the shop.
Refreshments will be available in the Community Centre after the proceedings at the Crematorium.
Special notes:
Visitors are asked not to bring floral tributes. However those unable to attend, that wish to, should have them sent to the Longstaff Cycle Centre at the address above.
People intending to arrive in very large vehicles are warned that there is a height restriction on the entrance and exit to the car park above. People driving 4-wheel vehicles are OK.
end |
| From: Ann Lewis ([email protected]) on 10 October 2003 |
| We were very sad to hear about George. Its mainly thanks to him i am still able to keep cycling. Last year he adapted my PDQ3 trike to make it easier for me to ride it. My husband also had his trike adapted the same time And he also built our friends Sheila's bike. All three of us have benifited because of George's expertise and we enjoyed our visits to the workshop. He greeted us like old friends even though he had never met us before. George was one of the true gentlemen of the cycling world and we would like to send our sincere sympathies to his wife,family and staff at both the shop and workshop. |
| From: Ian Crowder ([email protected]) on 15 October 2003 |
| We are all saddened by the news of George and are thinking of Bev and his family at this difficult time. George was a great inspiration, his commitment to quality and outstanding craftmanship combined with good engineering and a great sense of humour made him unique. We will miss him. |
| From: Peter Eland ([email protected]) on 17 October 2003 |
Over 600 gathered to pay their last respects:
start
The celebration of the life of George Longstaff, the world renowned cycle frame builder took place on Thursday, 16 October at the Bradwell Crematorium, Bradwell, Newcastle under Lyme.
The procession to the crematorium saw between 200 and 250 fellow club cyclists and friends, with the majority riding Longstaff solos, tandems, trikes and tandem trikes. The local constabulary were kept very busy closing off roundabouts and road junctions, which George, would have loved.
Well over 600 loved ones, work colleagues, owners, friends and representatives from the industry and sport of cycling were all present at the non-religious ceremony which heard tributes, often amusing, from loved ones, colleagues and friends outlining the life of a man who had enjoyed and lived life to the full and given so much to so many.
The legacy he leaves behind will ensure the name Longstaff will never be forgotten and our thoughts are with Beverley, his wife and all George's family for their sad loss.
Ends |
| From: John Finnigan ([email protected]) on 18 October 2003 |
| It was with great sadness I heard the news about the death of one of cyclings great cycle builders and engineers. George was instrumental in enabling me to get back on my bike after an accident, making an articulated crank for me.I had the pleasure of meeting him when visiting his shop.He was a very kind and understanding person, saying he always found time to help people with special needs. The world of cycling will be all the poorer at his passing. My condolances go out to his wife,family and friends. |
| From: andy blane ([email protected]) on 25 October 2003 |
my sincere condolences to George's family.
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| From: Viv Mackay ([email protected]) on 15 November 2003 |
| I have only just heard about George's untimely death. George built my 'little green bicycle' in 2002 and told me it would make me go faster - and it does! He has left many such legacies and the little green bike is complimented wherever I go with it. I was quite shocked to hear he is gone. My condolences. Viv Mackay. |
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