Dead cyclist was due to meet his grandchild for first time
A CYCLIST died after being hit by a lorry only days before he was due to meet his granddaughter for the first time.
Retired GP Clive Richards suffered a heart attack after he was struck by a lorry on Archway Road in Highgate last week.
The 67-year-old grandfather, from Whetstone, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. No arrests have been made.
Dr Richards leaves a wife, Yvonne, two children and three grandchildren, one of whom was born four months ago in France and was to meet her grandfather for the first time in London this week.
His brother Michael Richards said that the family was struggling to come to terms with his death.
He recalled: “Clive loved cycling — he would cycle for two to three hours at the weekend. He was very competent and experienced. We are in shock.”
Dr Richards, a member of New North London Synagogue, worked at the Lister Medical Centre in Harlow for 33 years.
According to his brother, the day he left the centre, “there were so many appointments made by patients that the practice came to a standstill. So many people wanted to say goodbye”.
Dr Richards retired two months ago after working at the Rise Group Practice in north London since 2006.
He was on the committee of Project Harmony which promoted interfaith activities between Israeli Arab and Jewish children. “Israel was very important to him and so was the committee,” said his brother.
More than 400 people attended his funeral. “He was a very caring human being — a mensch — and gave freely of his time to help others” said his brother. “No one could ever say a bad word about him. Sitting shiva, so many people said that they had such a deep and profound respect for him.”