20 Years Ago Today

[JtB]

There are some dates and names we seldom mention that are written on our hearts and minds like letters engraved in stone. For me, the most important such date is today's date 20 years ago and the name is that of my younger sister who on that day lost her life in a cycling accident. It was very sudden, there was no time for goodbyes and we never really found out exactly 'how' or 'why' except that she was hit and run over by an HGV. There was on inquest that played out like the scene from a tacky soap where we were all supposed to play our parts. The only problem was that nobody had given us scripts, so we didn't know exactly what we were supposed to do, unlike the pompous old coroner who played out his well rehearsed script. He acted the part of someone expert on all things 'cycling', trying to draw conclusions on what might have happened based on the gear that was selected when the bike was recovered. Even after 20 years this is still too painful and another year will pass without mentioning names or dates, but not a day will pass when that name and date will not be remembered. There were no cycling forums in those days to announce another cyclist down, but for me there was a very important cyclist who lost her life 20 years ago today.

 

[Linford]

Those who we lose live on through our remembrance of them...you keep your sisters memory alive even though it is clearly very painful to do that. The sense of bereavement you impart is tangeable JtB.
She lives on through you and others who also loved her
I lost my nephew a few months ago. It has affected so many people around him.

 

[Sara_H]

There are some dates and names we seldom mention that are written on our hearts and minds like letters engraved in stone. For me, the most important such date is today's date 20 years ago and the name is that of my younger sister who on that day lost her life in a cycling accident. It was very sudden, there was no time for goodbyes and we never really found out exactly 'how' or 'why' except that she was hit and run over by an HGV. There was on inquest that played out like the scene from a tacky soap where we were all supposed to play our parts. The only problem was that nobody had given us scripts, so we didn't know exactly what we were supposed to do, unlike the pompous old coroner who played out his well rehearsed script. He acted the part of someone expert on all things 'cycling', trying to draw conclusions on what might have happened based on the gear that was selected when the bike was recovered. Even after 20 years this is still too painful and another year will pass without mentioning names or dates, but not a day will pass when that name and date will not be remembered. There were no cycling forums in those days to announce another cyclist down, but for me there was a very important cyclist who lost her life 20 years ago today.

Sorry to hear of your experience.

As an ICU nurse, I have many friends who've had to give evidence coroners hearings (luckily, I've never had to myself). It amazes me that the coroner can make a ruling even though they are completely ignorant and no experience of what they are ruling on.