100-year-old cyclist supports the RNLI at the Tour de Yorkshire in Scarborough

The centenarian will be taking part in Scarborough and Ryedale Community Cycling’s ‘The Final Mile’ at 2pm ahead of the official Tour riders completing the route. They will be donating all the sponsorship proceeds from their community ride to the RNLI.

Stan will be taking part using a wheelchair transporter bike which will be pedalled by his 84-year-old friend Brian Musson. The pair will be joined by up to 200 cyclists and Stan will be the guest of honour.

Rob Brown, Founder Member and Director of Scarborough and Ryedale Community Cycling, explained: ‘We provide specially adapted bikes that enable people of all ages and abilities to enjoy cycling. Stan had his last social ride when he was 90 and his family approached us to see if we could provide a bike that would enable him to have a ride two days after his 100th birthday.

‘We were delighted to be able to help and Stan enjoyed a ride on a wheelchair transporter bike along the North Bay Seafront. This really made his day and meant the world to him.’

Rob further explained: ‘When we learnt more about Stan’s cycling history and how much he has done to promote the sport, we asked if he would like to be our guest of honour on our Tour de Yorkshire Community Cycle Fun Ride, ‘The Final Mile’, and he jumped at the chance!

‘We can’t wait to see Stan and his old cycling pal Brian on their bicycle made for two, soaking up the atmosphere of the Tour and being spurred on by well-deserved cheers and applause, whilst raising vital funds for the RNLI.’

Stan, who now lives in a care home in Scarborough, is one of the founder members of Scarborough Paragon Cycling Club as well as its Honorary Life President. He said: ‘I’ve never owned a car but I was hooked on cycling from the age of eleven when I first learned to ride and continued well into my eighties.

‘I joined Scarborough-based Eagle Touring Club when I was sixteen and enrolled with the Scarborough and District Cycling Club the following year. One of my last races was in September 2001 in the City Road Club Grand Prix de Gentleman 2-up team trial on the V718 course at Hull which resulted in a time of 34:25 at the age of 85.’

Stan, who worked as a butcher and then an engineer, modestly added: ‘I’ve only been a medium rider all my life and was never a star or anything like that, but cycling is in my blood.

‘I’m very honoured to have been invited to take part in ‘The Final Mile’ Community Ride on Sunday. I watched the Tour last year with a cup of tea as it passed by my nursing home and I thought that was exciting, but nothing will compare to actually taking part this year. Now that’s what I call exciting!’

Amy Casbolt, RNLI Community Fundraising Manager, said: ‘Stan is a true inspiration and we are hugely grateful to him and all the team taking part in the Community Ride Final Mile to raise money for our lifesaving charity. I’d urge everyone to pop along and cheer them on, it’s going to be a wonderful event.’

RNLI Photo caption
1. The photograph shows Stan Chadwick on his 100th birthday with Welcome to Yorkshire’s Chief Executive, Gary Verity and the Tour de Yorkshire trophy. Credit: Ceri Oakes.

2. Stan Chadwick during a cycle ride in 1962. Photo kindly provided by Elaine Ward.

Notes to editors
• The Tour de Yorkshire begins on Friday 29 April in Beverley and ends on Sunday 1 May in Scarborough, covering 320 miles and passing through 44 towns and villages as well as some of Yorkshire’s most stunning countryside. The event takes place at the same time as Mayday, the charity’s national fundraising campaign.

Tour de Yorkshire is a Welcome to Yorkshire (WTY) / Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) race in association with British Cycling which holds a 2.1 European Tour UCI Classification.

The Tour de Yorkshire is an annual international race with a new route through Yorkshire each year. It forms part of the legacy of the historic Yorkshire Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2014, along with the Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries which aim to offer every child in Yorkshire access to a bike.

• The RNLI is still recruiting volunteer collectors to raise funds along the route of the three-day bike race, as well as volunteer coordinators who will help organise the fundraising activity at the event.

All volunteers will receive training and support from the RNLI to help them in their role, as well as the opportunity to get involved in one of the most exciting sporting events of the year.

All funds raised for Mayday through the Tour de Yorkshire partnership will be used to support the RNLI’s lifesaving service in Yorkshire. For more information, go to www.rnli.org/maydayTDY, email [email protected] or call 0300 300 9908.

RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Clare Hopps, RNLI Press Officer, North, on 07824 518641 / [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.