Greg Smith sent Pete a card on behalf of the club and we have received this touching message from Fiona, his partner and herself an active race walker [Enfield and HaringeyAC]. In addition we include the link to the funeral arrangements.

Our tribute to Pete is to be found at Peter Ryan, a gentle giant of our sport, is in our thoughts

Dear Lancashire Walking club

Thank you so much for your card.

My name is Fiona and I am Peter’s other half. It was a shock that Peter passed away so quick as he was only diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in mid August. He was told he had up to a year but sadly this was not to be. I know that Peter was delighted to received so many cards sent to him at the Woking Hospice towards the end of his life.

Peter had certainly packed a lot into his life which I am so glad he did. He had a twin brother called Richard. (Unfortunately he passed away away a year ago of Pancreatic Cancer). He joined Sheffield United Harriers with his brother at about 12 years old and did cross country and track. He won Sheffield schools senior Atkin trophy open to all students in year 7/8/9 represented Sheffield v Staffordshire + Liverpool at cross country.
At about 16 he changed to race walking won the Northern Youths and 4th in National Junior.

Best Performances were 4.18.30 for 50km and 2nd at Basildon . Barry Graham from York won. The Leicester Mercury 20 miles 2 hrs 40 2nd to Murray Lambden and the
100 miles won by 55 sec in time of 19 hrs 57 mins at Newmarket in 2003.

He was a very good Police officer especially in Brentwood area. Everyone in Brentwood knew him as PC Ryan.

He is a life member of Sheffield Wednesday. He had travelled around the world and been to about 87 different countries. His favourite place is New Zealand.

He had for the last few years been doing parkrun round the world. It is a 5km course which you can ran or walk on a Saturday morning.

I met Peter late in life at about 2005 through race walking. I am so proud of Peter and he is a true gentleman.

I am hoping to put together his life story so if you have any story or photo I would be grateful to hear about it. As for myself as I am still working but as soon as the paperworks get sorted out I hope to give up work and travel. I will also will carry on with my athletics in running and race walking, competing at Master events at the world and European championship. This is what Peter have wanted me to do.

I am hoping to raised as much money for the Pancreatic Cancer Uk  and hope to do an event in the summer to do so.

Also in the summer I will be having a wake by hiring a hall and celebrate Peter’s life . So I do hope very much that you will be able to come. I will of course let you know the date.

I hope we will keep in touch. I am deaf so it best to text me by phone if possible.

07905510215 (text only)

Once again thank you so much for the card and message.

Fiona xx

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

https://www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/funeral-notices/13-11-2020-charles-peter-ryan

Charles Peter Ryan passed peacefully on 13th November 2020 aged 66 years. Beloved partner of Fiona. He will be greatly missed by friends and colleagues throughout the world of athletics, football, travel, education and policing. His philosophy was that we should cherish the memories and move forward with our lives and in the words of his favourite song by Lynyrd Skynyrd: “I’m a free as a bird now and this bird you’ll never change”.

Because of COVID restrictions attendance at the funeral is by personal invitation only but the service will be filmed and streamed live and you will be able to view the service live by copying and pasting the below web address into your browser https://boxcast.tv/view/charles-peter-ryan-n58zepojj8nsi8fryaes

Finally thanks again to Rob Elliott for this atmospheric photo from the past. A fresh-faced Pete [201] with Rob [250] on his left.