An active fundraiser who cycled the length of the country at the age of 76 and was still going to the gym at the age of 91 has died.
Horace Vinden Butcher, who was known as Vin, hit the pages of the Chronicle back in 1997 when he completed a 980-mile bike ride from John O'Groats to Land's End in memory of his grandson Joshua, who died from leukaemia at the age of 14.
The challenge was the culmination of a lifelong love of sport, especially swimming, sailing and cycling, and raised more than £3,000 for the cancer charity Clic Sargent.
And despite his age, Mr Butcher continued to stay active, celebrating his 90th birthday with a bike ride to the Bird in Hand pub in Saltford, and remaining a member of the YMCA gym until last year.
The great grandfather-of-eight was born in Wiltshire, but moved to Bath as an apprentice electrical engineer and stayed in the city during the Second World War.
His work meant that he was needed at home, so he fought fires during the Bath Blitz, once putting out flames on the roof of the abbey.
During his career as an electrical engineer he spent almost three years living in Canada, but returned to Bath, living on the Wellsway.
He was an active member of many local sports clubs over the years, including the Bath Dolphin Swimming Club, Saltford Sailing Club and the Bath Cyclists' Touring Club.
However, he fell ill recently and died at the age of 92 last Tuesday.
He leaves behind his widow Liz and two daughters Anne Marie and Jude, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
His funeral takes place at Haycombe Cemetery in Bath at 1pm on Friday August 2.
