A CORSHAM cyclist blinded by sunlight died after he crashed into a parked lorry, an inquest has heard.

Grandfather Roger Morris, aged 71, of The Tynings, was not wearing a helmet when he collided with the lorry as he cycled along Pickwick Road at about 9am on September 7.

The inquest at Salisbury Coroner’s Court heard how he was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol suffering from severe head injuries after the accident and died there on September 13.

Coroner David Ridley said: “I cannot say for certain why he collided with the lorry but the only conclusion is that it was the sun that was in his face that affected his vision. The fact that he is not wearing a helmet tells me that his injuries may not have been so severe had he been wearing one.

“The most obvious conclusion is that it was a road traffic collision.”

After the hearing his son Mark Morris, 43, said: “He was on his way to Corsham Cricket Club when it happened. He had been a member of the club for many years.

“He had a helmet and had previously worn it when he went for his long cycles. He normally did about ten miles a day but it was only a few yards down the road.

“We had seen him on the Saturday and he was fit and well and made plans with friends on the Sunday.

“My mum suffers with Parkinson’s and he was down there every day visiting her. He was a very devoted husband, father and grandfather.”

Mr Morris was a builder in his early years and owned M&M Morris Motor Engineers in Corsham during the 80s and 90s, selling it in the early 2000s.

He leaves his wife Mary Elizabeth, his son and three grandchildren, Beth Morris, 22, Phoebe, five, and Edward, four.

Mr Morris added: “We remember how he made a cricket bat for Edward when he was two and trying to keep Beth off the grass when she was young. His grass was his pride and joy.

“He always took an interest in running the cricket club and when he went up there he was going to help with the end of season maintenance of the ground. The cricket season had come to an end and there was quite an extensive amount of work that needed to be done and he had always helped with that.

“He was a man of few words and quite a quiet man but for those that knew him everyone welcomed him into their lives.

“He was a very giving man. He had been a member of the cricket club for years. He was down there straight away if they needed help.

“He would do hours of work without any payment as reward, just always willing to give up his time.”