RIP Barry Mason

It's the most unbelievable shock and it's almost impossible to put into words what Barry meant to so many people. He was an absolute legend and will never be equalled. His energy and enthusiasm were simply off the scale. Hardly anyone could be as passionate and as dedicated as Barry was. He was a livewire, the heart of the community, an incredible organiser and project manager, and his immense charm and tenacity made him a fantastic campaigner. He had the most amazing knowledge, not only local Southwark knowledge, and the range of his experiences and adventures came out in his frequent posts to the Southwark Cyclists mailing list, sizzling with energy. He hated bureaucracy and inaction and preferred getting on with things to meetings.

As others have said, he organised a huge number of rides and must have ridden with thousands of people and introduced thousands of people to cycling. When I last saw him at the Shortwave Cinema in Bermondsey on the 22nd May, he had just organised a ride that morning. It must have been just a few days before he went on holiday. Barry introduced me to Herne Hill Velodrome by organising rides and try-out days there, long before track racing, or indeed the Velodrome, became fashionable again. He led the Midsummer Madness rides and the Deserted London rides on Christmas Day. There were afterworkers almost every week.

Cycling in London owes a huge debt to Barry. It is horrible that he is gone. He will never be forgotten by his many friends in the LCC, and the many other organisations he influenced--Living Streets and lots of other local organisations in Southwark. RIP Barry.

lovely words oliver x