Sad News: Max Pendleton Passes Away

Mildenhall Cycling Club are very saddened to confirm that Max Pendleton has passed away. He had been suffering from Parkinson’s in recent years and since August 2024 had been in a care home.

Sad News: Max Pendleton Passes Away

SAD NEWS: (Press release) Mildenhall Cycling Club are very saddened to confirm that Max Pendleton has passed away. He had been suffering from Parkinson’s in recent years and since August 2024 had been in a care home. More recently he had succumbed to Parkinson’s Dementia, which had cruelly taken away any awareness of his surroundings and life in general.

His wife Sandra and Max’s daughters, Nicola and ex World & Olympic champion Victoria were all with him, as he passed peacefully on Saturday afternoon.

The Club’s current chairman Mark Burchett said “He is going to be a big loss from the Club, having been such an active member since 1980. Max wasn’t just a very competitive rider, but off the bike was a gentleman and we shall also miss the very enjoyable club-rides around his Bedfordshire home”

“For me personally, it’s the loss of a great friend and the best boss I’ve ever had, having worked for his Letchworth based Gem Estate Management until he sold the business and retired in 2015“ he added.

In his day Max, who had celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this year, was a highly acclaimed cyclist particularly feared in Hill Climbs and Grass-Track cycling events reaching the pinnacle of his amateur career in 1987, becoming the National 8km Grass-Track Champion.

Although he remained a very driven rider until only a few years ago, Max took on the mantle of organising the grass-track racing at the Mildenhall Cycling Rally from another grass-track stalwart Dave Sennitt in 1990 and continued doing so until 2022; He also organised track meeting at Biggleswade and Ashwell for a short period as well.

Max’s death comes just two years after his son Alex, and Victoria’s twin, tragically died from a brain tumour, aged 42! Alex had successfully survived childhood leukaemia and had been in remission for over 30 years.

Although not from the Mildenhall area Max, who lived in Bedfordshire, will forever be part of the Mildenhall Club and its history. As well as organising the grass-track racing at the Mildehall Rally’s & Festivals for over three decades, he was an integral part of the Charity ‘End-to-End’ in 1984, organised some very memorable Youth Hostel weekends and club trips, as well as being a wonderful all-round club member!

In recognition of his services to the Club, Max was made an Honorary Member in 2018.

The funeral will be for immediate family only, but there is expected to be a celebration of Max’s life organised soon afterwards.