Grandad Jim, 64, is killed on charity cycle ride
Tragedy strikes on island road as caring pensioner raises cash for hospice
A FAMILY are grieving for a kind-hearted grandad who died in a fall from his bike on a charity ride round Arran.
Retired Jim Glennie, 64, was riding with 10 relatives and friends in aid of the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice when he crashed.
Son Alan, 44, was alongside him at the time and gave him CPR, but he died of massive head injuries.
Alan said: “Four of us were coming down a hill. Dad moved across because he’d seen some little stones or something, then he moved back towards the verge.”
Jim had almost finished his ride when he crashed head-first into the verge near Brodick shortly before 4.55pm on Saturday.
He was dead on arrival at Arran Hospital in Lamlash.
Alan’s brother Keith, 38, wrote on Facebook: “Please come back. You’ve no idea how much we’re hurting, dad.
“You truly were our hero. We’re all at a huge loss. We’ll get through this because you built a strong family. It’s just a pity the core of it is gone.
“I’m going to finish that cycle in your memory if it’s the last thing I do.”
Jim, of Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, also leaves wife Joan, daughter Kim and six grandchildren, with a seventh on the way.
He worked offshore as a chef and rose to become operations director with ESS Support Services Worldwide, where he was responsible for a £25million business.
Jim played centre-half for amateur teams White Heather, the Royals and West End, earning the nickname “Nails”. He was a former manager and life president of Stonehaven Athletic, formerly White Heather.
He also enjoyed golf and tennis and kept himself fit. He did 1200 miles of training for the Arran ride.
Mourners are donating to his fundraising page and his appeal has now raised more than three times its £500 target. Go to justgiving.com/ fundraising/James-Glennie
A report on Jim’s death will go to the procurator fiscal.