1952 Alan Belsham R.I.P.
When I used to walk to school with Alan King and Harry Valentine, Alan Belsham sometimes walked with us. When he left school he worked in Canning Town. One morning, as he cycled to work, his wheel got caught in a tram-line and he was run over by a motor vehicle. I’m not sure now if he was killed instantly, but he didn’t survive.
– Kathy Hemingway (nee Cuttriss)
Alan, my brother, died when I was two and my sister, Marion was 12. I was told that he died at the scene when he was hit by a bus.This event devastated our family and my mum outlived him by only seven years, when she died of cancer. If anyone has any memories of Alan that they would like to share they would be precious to his sisters.
I knew Alan at Mayfield, we were in the same year. We competed in the inaugural Cross Country race with Karnal Singh coming 1st, myself 2nd and Alan 3rd. I have a photograph of the 3 of us after the race. Alan was a lovely friendly guy and losing him in that dreadful accident was a huge shock to all us as classmates. I now live in Australia and have been here since 1962.
Hello Olwyn I was a close friend of Alan’s. We were in a group of friends which included John Wood, Brian Ritson, Brian Ham and Janet Dawson. We would go to school together and in spite of us being let out at the end of the day, 15 minutes before the boys, Janet and I would wait for them to walk home. I remember Alan borrowing your sisters bike for me to go out with them as I did not have one. I remember that terrible day when he died so clearly, and have brought it to mind so often. I now Live in Sherborne, Dorset, at the ripe old age of 86. And I’m very lucky to have good health and live a busy life. If anyone reads this, and remembers me, I’d love to hear from them.