Cyclist remembered

11:30am Friday 25th April 2008

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THERE was standing room only as more than 200 people gathered together to mark the first anniversary of the death of Calne cyclist Martin Carr.

Mr Carr, 32, of Braemor Road, died last year after having a heart attack while cycling to work in Elm Park Bath Stone Mine in Corsham.

His friends and family gathered together at the Talbot Inn last weekend to pay tribute to Mr Carr and raised more than £400 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

His mum Glennis of Braemore Road said: "It was so lovely to have all of his friends together to celebrate Martin's life.

"We all swapped stories and raised a glass to commemorate the anniversary of his death.

"It was such a terrible shock at the time but since the year has gone on it has become easier.

"We never thought so many people would turn out to the get together but it was lovely talking about him with others."

Friends of Mr Carr, known as Chinner, also bought his parents a Holme Oak tree to plant in his memory.

The couple decided to plant the tree in Calston churchyard where Mr Carr's grandparents were buried.

The family planted the tree on April 2, exactly a year after he died.

Mrs Carr said: "The tree was such a lovely gesture and it was the perfect way for us to look forward and watch it blossom.

"We have all coped as best we could but there is no denying this year has been one of the hardest of our lives.

"It was nice to be around people who miss Martin too and to remember him the way he would have wanted.

"It is nice to know that his friends will never forget him, he was a very special person and he is greatly missed."

A post mortem examination revealed that Mr Carr died after a massive heart attack at Mile Elm, just minutes away from his home.

More than 400 people attended his funeral last year including 40 friends who cycled in his memory.

The Carr family has raised a huge amount for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, with Martin himself raising more than £1,000 before his death.