Audrey gets colourful send-off as mourners ride to Joppa in tribute

A colourful band of 100 cyclists pedalled their way to Joppa to pay their respects to 75-year-old cycling enthusiast Audrey Fyfe as she was laid to rest yesterday.

Many mourners wore full cycling gear, including the blue, yellow and green tops of Mrs Fyfe’s beloved club CTC Lothians, of which she had been a member since 1954.

Mrs Fyfe had been cycling back to her bungalow in Joppa after visiting her daughter Linda and her grandchildren at their home in Restalrig when she was knocked off her bike in a collision with a car in Portobello Road on August 9.

The retired Portobello High classroom assistant died on August 11 after doctors at the Western General had tried for two days to stem the bleeding in her brain.

The service was held at St Philip’s Church, where Mrs Fyfe was an active member.

Rev Dr Stewart Weaver said: “As I look up in to the gallery and see the absolute riot of colour and coloured jerseys meshing in with the stained glass windows I thought, how appropriate – Audrey would have loved it.”

Mrs Fyfe met her husband Ian, 79, with whom she recently celebrated her golden wedding anniversary, through the cycling club.

Close friend Brian Curtis said: “Audrey had such a bubbly and outgoing personality.

“She would fill a room – people would gravitate towards her.”

One of Audrey’s oldest friends, Sheila Spence, who grew up with Mrs Fyfe in Corstorphine, also spoke of her memories.

Mrs Fyfe had approached Ms Spence’s father, a keen cyclist, for help getting a bike – which led to her introduction to the club with which she would be a member for more than 60 years. “The rest is cycling history,” said Ms Spence.

A tribute written by daughter Aileen, 46, read: “Mum was my best friend and has left not just me, but so many of us with our best memories.

“Mum wouldn’t want us to be sad. Mum would ask us to keep smiling and laughing like she always did.”

Audrey is also survived by her grandchildren Craig and Iona.

A retiral collection of £1758 will go towards Spokes, a Lothians organisation promoting safe cycling.