Fond farewells to a charitable friend

Saturday 5th December 2009, 10:00AM GMT.

The scene at St Brelade's Church on Friday

THE death of charity cyclist John Lyons was marked by three simultaneous funeral services on Friday.

Hundreds turned out in both Jersey and his native Ireland to pay their respects to the hugely popular 60-year-old hospital theatre porter, who died tragically in Ecuador 12 days ago.

His bike was hit from behind by a truck just 50 kilometres from the end of a gruelling seven-day ride of over 500 kilometres.

The main service was at St Brelade’s Church, which was packed 30 minutes before the 10.30 am start with family, friends, colleagues, fellow fundraisers and others who knew Mr Lyons. Many more mourners crammed into the annexe across the road to watch the service relayed by close circuit television.

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