Glenn Wilkinson 1960-2005

By Brian Venner

Glenn Wilkinson, television action cameraman, well known in all branches of the sport of cycling died suddenly while in his garden at Ashtead, Surrey, last Tuesday April 5.

He was only 44 years of age and the esteem in which he was held by all only heightened the shock which was felt by all, particularly in the television and cycling industry.

Glenn had worked as the chief motorcycle cameraman on many cycle tours all over the world; in Australia, the Philippines, in Malaysia, Italy and France. He was the lynchpin for the television coverage for The Milk Race, the Kellogg's Tour, the Prudential Tour and the new Tour of Britain and many World Cup Races. Glenn was a consummate television professional. His skill with the camera was unsurpassed - attested to by those who had to edit his work but the quality which surprised me most during the twenty years I worked with him was the intelligence he brought to his work. Riding at the head of the peloton he developed an amazing trust and partnership with his regular French motor cycle pilot Patrice Diallo and one of my most vivid memories is the sight of Moto 1 descending a mountain in Malaysia at huge speed during a tropical thunderstorm Glenn was leaning off the back of the motorbike, the camera only inches from the tarmac. On this descent Glenn got the shot of the stage as the yellow jersey crashed.

Glenn was always in the right place at the right time. He had become one of the most astute readers of the tactics involved in bike racing in any part of the globe.

One of the first to call with commiserations was the vice president of the Union Cyclisme Internationale, Pat McQuaid.

Glenn was an intensely loyal friend, a supreme television professional, a fine man.

Glenn we will miss you.

Our thoughts are with his partner, Becky and his two sons Jake and Sammy.