Friday, April 19, 2024
HomeOtherEditorialJohn F Murray - Sponsor of GS Modena in the 1990's

John F Murray – Sponsor of GS Modena in the 1990’s

-

It’s always sad when you lose a friend – when it happens on Christmas Day it makes it all the more painful, so it’s with particular sadness we report the loss of John F Murray, sponsor for several years of Scottish cycling team, GS Modena / M & M Windows.

John F Murray and I set up M & M in 1988; hitherto GS Modena had been sponsored by CR Smith.

When I left Smith’s and teamed up with John to set up M & M Windows I had to explain that I came with ‘baggage’ – namely a cycling team.

John took a longer than usual draw on his fag, hit me one of his stinging ‘one liners’ and that was it, we were in business with John as our loyal and supportive sponsor.

John F Murray
Thoughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s GS Modena/M&M riders won a lot of championships and took the team awards seriously too.
John F Murray
VeloVeritas Editor Martin Williamson, like all the riders in the team, took great pride in representing M&M Windows and Conservatories; the company factory was the team’s HQ and service course. Photo©Danny McClure

A proud ‘Brummie’ but John F Murray loved Scotland, the building game, his motorbikes, his grub and Grouse whisky.

Latterly he lived in beautiful St. Fillans beside Loch Earn.

His health wasn’t the best towards the end but I’ll always remember his chuckle, big paw dwarfing my hand and his firm belief that were few problems in life which a large Grouse in the right bar couldn’t solve.

VeloVeritas extend it’s sympathies to his wife Daisy, daughter Virginia and all of his friends.

We’ll miss you, JFM.

Rest in Peace, sir.

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Felice Gimondi

Felice Gimondi, Grand Tour conqueror, Classics winner, ‘chronoman’ of quality, stylist, gentleman and all-time great, rest in peace sir.

Graham Webb

The sad news came through from Belgium on Sunday morning that Graham Webb, British World road champion in 1967, had passed away. Our condolences go to his family and the many friends and fans he had in the cycling community. A great champion and a wonderful guy. Ed interviewed Graham back in 2009, and we thought that reproducing the interview now would be a good tribute to the man. In memory of Graham; his views on the sport back in 2009. 'Former World Road Race Champion,' yes, that would be nice to have that after your name!

Gert Frank

Not long after the loss of Andreas Kappes and Dieter Kemper the world of Six Days mourns the loss of another of the greats with the news that Denmark’s all time number two Six Day man, Gert Frank passed away on January 19th at the age of 62.

Craig Hardie

It was with great sadness that we learnt this week about the passing of Craig Hardie, a living legend in Scottish cycling and beyond as a successful rider, true character, and popular bike shop owner, but so much more than that too. Originally from Dalgety Bay in Fife, Craig was a long-time member and stalwart of the Dunfermline Cycling Club and enjoyed a stellar cycling career.

Derek Harrison

British Tour de France winners are now commonplace but back in my youth, we could only dream of such things; however we had warriors out there, battling Johnny Foreigner in his back yard – Barry Hoban, Mike Wright and a chap called Derek Harrison. Harrison died in Pernes-les-Fontaines, Provence, France on May 12th last year at 74 years-of-age.

Richard Moore

On Tuesday morning, 29th March we received a ‘phone call from Roddy Riddle to tell us that Richard Moore had passed away on Sunday night. Richard Moore, racer, author, journalist, podcaster, son, father, husband, colleague, friend, rest in peace. 

Steve Beech

My old dad used to say to me that you knew you were getting old when it seemed like every other week you had to attend a friend’s funeral. I scoffed; but now I understand what he meant – it’s not funerals with me but rather writing cyclists’ obituaries and sadly, I must another to the list, my old GS Modena, Brummie team mate, Steve Beech.

Hector Mackenzie

Recently Scottish Cycling lost one of the Legends; Hector Mackenzie was a multiple Scottish champion on hard track, cinders, grass and rollers - and a roadman of some quality.