Mick Jeggo

Mick was a prominent racing member of the club in the late 1950’s (along with Roy Clements and Graham Bufton). The team being regular winners of most of the events that they entered, indeed the discussion in the changing rooms before the start often involved asking who of the other riders was going to win the sprint for 4th place they were so dominant. Two of those three riders became National Junior RR champions in 1957 and 58, alas It was the other two who were the victorious riders but Mick no doubt played his part in the team tactics to ensure that the team mate could take the honours.

As a family came along so racing had to take a back seat but he continued to support and help the club through a particularly difficult time in it’s history when during the middle part of the 1960s it looked at one point that it would fold due to lack of numbers. He was also busy during this time in setting up his car sales business, Davies and Jeggo Motors. One of Mick’s dreams was to put on a prestigious cycling race and in 1970 that came about with his business promoting an event for Professional riders on a circuit around Newport and Edgmond. This was to become an annual event and eventually the best race on the Pro calendar, it came as no surprise that he was asked to promote it as the National Championship. This was such a success that it was also the Championship for the following two years as well. By then the race had grown in status that it had moved to a circuit that had the finish line in Newport High Street.

The club slowly improved in numbers and had gained a healthy number of young riders by the mid 1970’s and this included his son Nick, so Mick got back to riding a few events once more to support him. During this time the club became a sponsored club for the first time, Mick being instrumental in gaining Van Beek Motor Spares as the sponsor that ran for three years. Another benefit to the club was that the winner of the now annual Davies & Jeggo race was invited to be the guest speaker at the clubs presentation night and some of the top racing names of the time such as Phil Bayton, Paul Carbutt, and Keith Lambert handed out the prizes to the winning club riders.

Having held the National Championship for three years running it was going to be difficult to top that using the same format so the event was evolved into the Newport Nocturne, a fast moving criterium facing through Newport High Street and also the cobbled St Mary’s Street under street lighting. This drew massive crowds into the town and people came from many miles away to enjoy the evening. Also at this time Mick was invited to become President of the club, a role that he was extremely proud to hold and a fitting testament to his help over many years.

The club and the cycling world in general will be a sadder place for his passing and the club offers its deepest sympathy to his wife Maureen and to , Di and Holly at this time.

Shropshire Star