Dad, 40, killed by tumour honoured by tandem commute

Ian Seeley (right) with his tandem bike outside Elmy Cycles in Ipswich

A cyclist helped raise thousands in memory of a “genuinely lovely” dad by commuting to work on a tandem – picking up a different colleague each day.

Ian Seeley, who grew up in Felixstowe and now lives in Little Bealings, works for the Suffolk and Essex law firm, Ellisons Solicitors.

Last October a colleague of his died four months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

After his death, the 40-year-old’s work friends decided to launch a “big fundraising effort” for The Brain Tumour Charity and Essex Wildlife Trust in his honour.

So far both organisations have received more than £6,000 in donations.

Ian Seeley with Ellisons Solicitors colleague Jodie Cobb during a morning commute

Mr Seeley, 51, commuted to his Arcade Street office on a tandem, and picked up Jodie Cobb, Cerys Gunn, Nicola Weldon, Lesley Lewis and Nick Bowen over the course of five days.

“One of my colleagues had heard I had a tandem and was desperate to have a go on it, so I thought let’s do a week of seeing who else wants to play,” he added.

“I dusted off my tandem after quite a few years of it sitting around doing nothing and then did just over 70 miles in five days.

Ian Seeley and fellow employee Nicola Weldon heading to work on the tandem bike

“Most of the people I picked up were not far off my ordinary route into work which was lucky – but I would have gone further if I needed to.

“It’s a very strange experience for the person on the back of a tandem. You can’t really see where you are going so there is a lot of trust.”

According to the Brain Tumour Charity, brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of people under 40, with more than 5,300 dying each year.

Ian Steeling, pictured here with colleague Cerys Gunn, has helped raise more than £6,000

Speaking in tribute to his late colleague, Mr Seeley said: “The people he worked with respected him a great deal and he was a genuinely lovely man who always had time to help juniors and was very approachable.

“It is very, very sad because he was very, very young. He will be very sadly missed by his family and friends."