Cyclist killed during A46 time trial named

The cyclist killed during a time trial on the A46 between Oversley and Bidford last Wednesday when she was hit from behind by a car has been named as 52-year-old Cathy Ward, a member of Solihull Cycling Club, who only took the sport up two years ago. She leaves behind her husband and two grown-up daughters.

Her husband Martin said that his wife “really loved her cycling. She cycled from London to Paris for charity, she cycled in northern Spain, she cycled in Croatia, she cycled in Majorca, she cycled in the Pyrenees. She was Solihull CC’s top female time-trialist and it is such a tragedy that something she enjoyed so much should result in the premature ending of her life.”

He continued: “Her whole family are devastated, as are her friends and work colleagues, so many of whom have been so supportive to us at this most difficult time.”

Deputy Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police Andy Parker said that Mrs Ward had worked for the force “in a number of roles, each of which helped to protect communities from harm. She first joined as a press officer in 1995, being promoted to Senior Press Officer, before serving as Staff Officer to the Chief Constable. Most recently Cath was working to support a major investigation into the deaths of four fire fighters in south Warwickshire and, in everything she did, she was enthusiastic, professional and dedicated.”

Before joining Warwickshire Police, Mrs Ward had spent seven years working as a press officer at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), which is where she met her husband.

A 27-year-old man has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of causing death by careless driving, and any witnesses to the fatal accident are asked to contact Senior Investigating Officer Acting Inspector 1628 Adrian Davis on 01926 415415.