Kevin's Legacy of Cycling & Resilience
It all started with a bike shop..
Kevin comes from a family with a deep connection to cycling, a legacy that began over a century ago when his great-grandparents opened Swinnerton's bike shop in Stoke-on-Trent in 1915. Under the guidance of his maternal grandparents, Roy and Doris, the shop became more than just a business—it was a gathering place for the local cycling community. Roy, a National Grass Track champion in 1956, worked tirelessly alongside Doris, both of them devoting their lives to cycling and their local community.
Born into cycling
Kevin's mother, Bernadette, was a champion in her own right, and in 1969 she showcased her brilliance on the world stage, taking an impressive silver medal in the Women’s World Championship Road Race, and dominated the track as Women's National Sprint Champion from 1968 to 1971.
His father, Phil, represented Great Britain in both the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, bringing home a silver medal and wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey during the Peace Race in 1973.
The contributions of Kevin’s extended family, from his aunts and uncles to his cousins, and Kevin's stepdad, Lenny, played a key role in British cycling, serving as a team mechanic for Team GB, have collectively shaped British cycling through their dedication and achievements on both national and international stages.
(yeah, that's Kev on the bottom right, showing a keen interest in the trophies!!)
A family affair
From humble beginnings in a local bike shop to the world stage, Kevin's family has always used their love of cycling to inspire and support others.
The Big C
In 2020, aged 44, Kevin was diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer, right at the time the world was in the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic. During the past 4 years, he has undergone significant treatments, including the removal of his colon, leaving him with a permanent stoma, multiple surgeries to remove sections of his lungs, and numerous rounds of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After receiving a 12 month 'all clear' in December 2023, 3 months later a routine scan revealed the Cancer had returned and spread aggressively in both lungs and his pelvis. Stage 4 and terminal.
Despite having only recently finished a 3-month chemotherapy programme, yet another round is underway alongside daily radiotherapy in the hope that the tumours will shrink and surgery becomes possible. His fight, like that of so many others, goes on...