RESPECTED cyclist Ross Gilfillan died suddenly from a heart illness last Thursday (June 20), while on business in Berkshire.

Mr Gilfillan, aged 47, of Upper Welland Road, Upper Welland, had been working in Reading as customer support manager for Bromyard computer firm Hydrologic.

His widow Jill, a PE teacher, said her husband's death had been a complete shock and that he had not known about the illness nor complained of feeling unwell.

"He was a wonderful man," she said.

Mr Gilfillan is also survived by a son James, 24, and daughter Ceris, 22.

Both are international cyclists, Ceris having represented Great Britain at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Mr Gilfillan had lived with his family in Upper Welland for 21 years. He started cycling with the Worcester St John's Club and joined VC Sevale in 1987. His role later became that of coach and mechanic.

Fellow cyclist Eddie Bray, a member of the St John's Club with Mr Gilfillan, said he had very high standards of fitness and once covered 436 miles in a 24-hour cycle challenge in the 1970s. He also completed one of the first ever Iron Man triathlons on the south coast.

"He wouldn't go into something without going into it properly," said Mr Bray. "I remember him as being enthusiastic. He was always positive."

Mr Gilfillan's funeral will be held at Lansdowne Methodist Church, Malvern, on Thursday (July 4) at 2pm.