Police have identified a man who died while cycling in the Lake District this week as Dr Simon Newell, a married father of three who was a senior children’s doctor.
Dr Newell, 59, appeared to have fallen from his bike on the Newlands Pass, Buttermere, but police are continuing to investigate the possibility that he was involved in some sort of collision.
The cyclist lived and worked in Leeds, and his family released a statement saying:
“Simon was renowned as a paediatrician. He worked as a senior consultant in the clinics of St James Hospital and the Leeds General Infirmary and specialised in neonatology, particularly caring for babies born premature. From this work in the clinic he was known by the parents of hundreds of babies in Yorkshire, and received countless cards thanking him for saving the lives of their little ones.
“He was well known by doctors across the country for his contribution to paediatrics beyond the clinic. He was heavily involved in teaching, known locally training students and junior doctors in Leeds and internationally for setting the qualifying examination for new paediatric consultants, and for his published textbooks.
“His work on education culminated when he was made Vice President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in London. Simon was also a very established and respected expert witness, who had been called as an expert witness in the Royal Courts of Justice numerous times. He was a trustee for the children’s charity “SPARKS” and spoke regularly at their fundraising events, where he met Princess Anne and also visited 10 Downing Street where he met Samantha Cameron.
“Simon also made a huge contribution to his family. He leaves behind his wife, three children, and a baby granddaughter who recently celebrated her 1st birthday, born to his eldest daughter who followed him into the medical profession. He was an amazing, permanently positive person. He was due to retire in just 5 weeks’ time, and we were all extremely excited about spending more time with him. He will be sorely missed."
He leaves behind his wife, three children - aged 26, 30 and 31 - and a baby granddaughter.
The road was closed for four hours while police carry out their enquiries. Anyone with information should contact police on 101 and ask to speak to PC1960 Parsons.
After an unpromising start, having to be bribed by her parents to learn to ride without stabilisers, Sarah became rather keener on cycling in her university years, and was eventually persuaded to upgrade to proper road cycling by the prospect of a shiny red Italian bike, which she promptly destroyed by trapping a pair of knickers in the rear derailleur. Sarah writes about about cycling every weekend on road.cc.