Brian Cookson

So let’s start with the basics. I was born on 22nd June 1951 in the maternity ward of Bairstow Street Hospital in the Lancashire town of Preston, son of Kenneth and Dorothy Cookson, joining my sister Anita, who had been born five years earlier. By the time I was a teenager, I was roaming the countryside on a proper bike, and finally, in 1965, aged 14 and inspired by Tom Simpson winning the World Pro Road Championship, joined the local branch of the CTC, and the year after began racing with the Preston Wheelers. Club level cyclist at road, track, cyclo-cross and mountain biking. Lakeland and Lancashire Road Champion in 1971. Still cycle regularly on the road and track, competing at Masters level. British Cycling National Masters Champion - Circuit Race I category, 2022.