Brendan Maxwell, a long-time member of Ellan Vannin Cycling Club, was last week confirmed as a victim of the coronavirus pandemic.

He had been admitted to Noble’s Hospital with breathing difficulties in early April and spent approximately 10 days in the Intensive Care Unit. He died on April 14 at the age of 74.

’Maxie’, as he was known to his friends in cycling, was a regular competitor in time trials for many years, but would admit that he was more of a social cyclist than an out-and-out competitor.

He was of a similar age to Nick Corkill, Lionel Cowin, John Boyde, Malcolm Quiggan and one or two more, and loved the craic with the lads. Rob Rohrer, a little bit their junior, was another he was friendly with.

’Boydie’ was the linchpin of the group, and he and Maxie became garage mechanics together.

The latter always enjoyed the 10-mile time trial league and rode the events from the early days, but his regularity was subject to his availability when he later became a taxi driver, an occupation he held for almost 40 years. Brendan held his taxi drivers’ licence up until recent times.

When Ellan Vannin began social trips to the likes of the Ghent Six track event in Belgium, Maxie was in his element.

Albeit a quietly-spoken and private man on first appearances, his fun-loving character shone through after a bottle or two of Belgian beer and he thoroughly enjoyed the trips with the likes of the aforementioned Corkill, Rohrer, Cowin, along with Kevin Perry, Richard Fletcher and Ian Brand.

He also went on another trip to the Lincoln Grand Prix not too long ago when Peter Kennaugh gave the Manxies plenty to celebrate with overall victory in the popular Premier Calendar event.

Long-time club treasurer Perry said this week: ’Yes, sad indeed about Brendan.

’I knew him from around 1988 when I first attended an Ellan Vannin CC AGM at the Sefton and sat next to him at the meeting. We got on and became friendly from that day onwards.

’As club timekeeper, he was a time-trialler rather than a road race man and competed at most distances as I recall. He was a regular rider in the 10s in his later years and we would often meet up for a drink in Ramsey afterwards with his wife Diane.

’One thing that I remember about Brendan in particular was that he kept a daily diary throughout his life. Even when we went to Ghent with Rob, Nick, Lionel, Richard, Ian et al, he would write it up before sleeping.

’Brendan would tell me stories of himself, Boydie and Malcolm Quiggan and their youthful escapades. They certainly had some fun.’

Brendan suffered pneumonia about five years ago and had not competed in recent times, but still enjoyed a ride on his bike when he could. He was a regular at club AGMs and socials.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Brendan leaves a wife Diane, four grown-up daughters - Wendy, Samantha, Natalie and Melanie, plus sons-in-law/partners and grandchildren, and a sister Carol in Oregon.john watterson