Eddie Mundy. RIP

It is with deep sadness that I am posting news that Eddie Mundy has passed away after collapsing last night at the one place he could always be relied upon to be seen at, the clubhouse. Rapid paramedic attention carried him to Mayday then onto St George's where an operation was deemed essential in light of a detected aneurysm.

An RTTC National 24 hour Champion in 1952, Eddie has always been there for his fellow Agreeables. Be it on a windswept junction on the Holmwood TT route or always helping out with tea at the Clubhouse. Eddie will be sadly missed by all those lucky enough to have met him and experienced a glimpse of a different world. 

A fuller memorial post will follow and funeral arrangements once known will be posted here as well.

Regards

Sean

Comments

[sean]

Club events simply won't be the same without you Eddie, rest in peace.

[Paul Tunnell]

Eddie was one of the first people I met at the clubroom some 35 years ago and he seemed old to me then!! I remember he challenged me to a game of table tennis - little did I know of his skills in that area, getting well and truly beaten. He organised the dinner, together with his wife, Pat who he lost some time ago, and carried on by himself. He was the only club member that would come out to every type of event in any weather to support ACC riders, cyclo cross, rollers, time trials, road races, darts - he will be sorely missed.
Paul

[Marco]

It was a big shock to come down to the club last night and see Eddie being taken out to the ambulance. At least as John says he was with friends, in a way its more fitting somehow that it happened down the club that he had been attending virtually every week for the last 70ish years.
When I first came down the club as a schoolboy Eddie along with Ernie Oakford and Alf Cook were the club's comediens and despiste the age gap between a bunch of us 15&16 year olds and a group of guys who were about to take retirement we realised they were just as young at heart as we were when it came down to joking about and having fun!

Eddie could do serious very well too - he held the clubs presidency for quite a few years in the 60s (i think), he had the ability to train hard and race very hard. He joined the club as a schoolboy living in wallington -his friends who lived around here were already in the club and it had a certain prestige back then which Eddie added to. Coming from a successful track running and football background Eddie set about smashing various UK long distance records including the 24hour TT aided by other riders in the club at that time who were all so good that most of the real competition they had was amongst themselves.

Eddie also got involved with the Road Records Association through various long distance exploits and later put many hours into the organisation becoming its president. He knew many in the bike game and counted Eurosports David Duffield as an old pal. He also put a lot of time into ACC in various roles especially during the quiet years when we didnt have enough volunteers for everything - he would help out at every open promotion, he helped print the gazette, he came to every committee meeting and had a wealth of experience and common sense for us to draw on and he was always available when people wanted to pick his brains about riding long distances very very fast.

Many newer members may remember Eddie as being the man with the camera at the turn in our local Timetrial events. He was the one that made sure you kept going around halfway roundabout and headed safely for home.

Its a shame we wont be seeing him around any more because as well as being an outstanding sportsman he also was a real gent.

********
This just reminded me of a sombre conversation about the war I had with Eddie and Ernie

Me: So Ernie what did you have to do during the war?

Ernie: one of the things i had to do was on the boats taking the landing craft up to the italian coast

me:Blimey, that sounds bad

Ernie: yeah it was, thing was our engine packed up, and the boat that took our place got blown right out of the water. That would have been us.

Me: what was your job on the boat?

Eddie: HE WAS THE ENGINEER!!!

Eddie's hearing might have been going due to his years in the print industry but his humour was still as sharp as ever. I think theres gonna be a lot of stories like this at his funeral!

[Dave Palmer]

As mentioned by Paul, Eddie was one of the first faces that greeted me upon my first visit to the ACC clubroom back in the 1990's. As time went by I learned of his TT performances via other people, he was far too humble to say anything himself. He was alway's the first to volunteer to man the turn at the club 10's during my time as TT sec, and was always seen marshalling at numerous open events that I rode during my time with the Addiscombe. Even when I moved to pastures new, Eddie would alway's shout encouragement regardless... I, for one, will miss seeing his face 'pre dawn' at this years TT's and Bev will miss the white knuckle rides in his famous van. You will be missed Eddie.
Dave

[Tamar]

Eddie was great fun, and a very kind hearted, considerate man.

My favourite memory of him is when he called me the day before the 12 hour. I was stressing about feeding schedules and pace and, frankly, how on earth I was going to keep my head together for 12hrs. Eddie seemed to know exactly what I was feeling and what he said to me was this: "Don't worry about a thing. Just enjoy it. You love riding your bike and this is just a nice long day in the saddle. You don't have to worry about the route - the marshals will point the way. You don't need to worry about what you're going to eat or drink - your support crew will look after you. All you have to do is enjoy riding your bike." He made a huge difference.

Another example of his kindess was with the trophies. Keith had recently lent him a Bec silver salver as an example of the layout for a club record memento. We'd handed it to Eddie somewhat pologetically in a tarnished condition...but it came back gleaming. He brushed it off our thanks saying that he'd been polishing all the Addiscombe trophies so had the cleaning materials out and one more was no bother...but if you've ever had to clean trophies you will know that it IS a bother and your fingers get sore & tired and covered in black gunk. But Eddie was the sort of man who would put himself to do things for other people.

I'm gonna miss him.

[Elliot M]

As others have said Eddie was a true stalwart and a gent (perhaps the definitive embodiment of those words!), but I didn't realise he was a national champ until now. I was always aware of his tireless efforts for the club though.

Much respect, and my sympathy to friends and family.

Elliot

[Tim Coales]

My first memory of Eddie was of him serving tea from an urn in the NT Car Park at North Holmwood after the President's Ten in 2002, my first TT. Since then, it's been my privilidge to spend time with him serving tea at various ACC RR and TT meets. I also remember phoning him to purchase a ticket for my first ACC Club dinner. As others have posted elsewhere, he was always a cheerful and encouraging man. I've often heard people say it'd be good to "go" doing something you enjoy. Although it was such a shock for those who were there last night, it was good that Eddie was doing something he enjoyed and not alone at home. Thanks to Tamar and Jo who made him comfortable and cared for him until the medics arrived. Not being family and his condition so serious, the Doctor didn't let us see him at the hospital. However, he was very sedated and so we trust passed without pain. RIP dear friend, Eddie.

[Glyn]

I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Eddie.

Like many, I first met Eddie down at the clubroom when I first joined the Addiscombe back in 1975. In those early years of my cycling I was lucky enough to spend many hours with Eddie and Pat at there home in Balham. I lived just round the corner from them, and they were always happy to feed me and to talk for hours about their cycling exploits.

RIP Eddie

Glyn

[Roy Green]

Always around, always cheerful and ready to help out — such are the universal expressions of appreciation for Eddie, ‘Mr Addiscombe’ to so, so many.
I’ve been around on a bike since the mid-Fifties, and in my youth, the name of Eddie Mundy earned universal respect. In those years, time trialling at the longer distances seemed to command the greatest respect, and Eddie was a colossus at the half- and whole-day TTs. The glory years for ACC were 1950 to 1954, with Eddie ever present and usually leading its 24-hour competition record breaking and national title winning teams. Addiscombe trios took the title team races in 1950,1951, 1952 and 1954, and set national records in 1951 (1,351.92 miles aggregate) and 1952 (1,361.94 miles).Eddie’s partners in such tremendous team spirit adventures were, variously, Stan Harvey, Sid Armstrong, Jim Watts and G. Andrews. The winter mile-building clubruns in that period must have been pretty savage affairs!
Eddie’s other great affection, besides this club, was for the Road Records Association. The 1950s was the RRA’s greatest period of outstanding record-breaking. Maybe Eddie would have been tempted to have a go at the all-day record, but with heavily-sponsored pro giants like Ken Joy and Bob Maitland battling for supremacy, Mr Amateur Clubman had little chance. But the RRA, like Addiscombe, owes Eddie a great dept for the unstinting organising effort he put in over many years. He has been a Committee member for 34 years, was RRA President 1994 to 2001, and its Records Secretary for the past 8 years. So many helpers have received record attempt schedules with requests to observe or marshal direct from Eddie. My last such memory was a sad one, hearing from him that the straight-out 25-mile tandem attempt on the Portsmouth Road by Zak Carr, with Sean Yates, was abandoned following Zak’s tragic death in a training accident that same week.
Over the past few months, the RRA must have a real sense of loss, with the passing of two of its greatest stalwarts, Eddie following the death of long-time President Will Townsend OBE (who was 102!).
Eddie, you will be remembered so fondly by hundreds you have helped in their own enjoyment of racing and club life. It’s good to highlight briefly your own times of racing greatness, when you kept the name of Addiscombe CC right at the top of the national racing scene.
Roy Green

[Steve Dennis]

Eddie welcomed me to the club in 1999 and over the coming years he wowed me with his generosity and commitment. I remember accepting a lift home after an evening club time trial and fearing for my life in his temperamental old van as he regaled me with tales of his time spent at and under the sea in WW2. Then whilst a few of us young ones were preparing for our first 12 hour time trials, inspired by Eddie, he was there to make sure all our preparations went smoothly and offer advice on nutrition including various teas, bizarre sandwiches and rice pudding with peaches in our bottles. Eddie was there at the roadside at 5:30am to wave us off, to hand us food every hour and encourage us until we finished. Eddie reminded us that it’s not about winning; it’s about trying your best and having fun.

Today we can all see video of Merckx and Coppi and dream of the romantic days of cycling when men wrapped tires across their chests and wore scratchy woolen jerseys. I am so glad to have been friends with Eddie Mundy and to have been able to experience those glorious days through his presence.

[Alan Stuart]

I was saddened to read in “Cycling” of the passing of Eddie Munday. I am one of the track team of the forties and fifties. I now live in Reading. I came to The Addiscombe 75th. Anniversary dinner in 1999. Eddie was the organiser of course. I had not seen him for over forty years but we had a great time reminiscing. I will always remember him as a great character. He will be such a loss to the club, but how appropriate that he should have spent his last moments at the clubhouse.

Thank you for the privilege of using your website to pay my last tribute to Eddie.

Alan Stuart

[John Mundy]

I would like to thank each and everyone of you on behalf of myself, David & Terry on the very kind comments you have made about our uncle who we will miss. I dont need to say much about him as what you saw is what you got but with a laugh that couldnt be ignored,
Thank you all
John