Family pays tribute to war book author Geoff Blore
An 82-year-old cyclist who died in a collision with a car on the Shropshire border was an ex-RAF serviceman who wrote a book on his experiences as an evacuee during the Second World War, his family said today.
A full tribute has been issued by the family of Geoff Blore, who died in hospital following the crash on the B4361 in Leominster.
They said Mr Blore, who lived in Leominster, had served in the RAF and also wrote a book called 'Dicky Blood's War' based on his childhood experiences.
The statement from his family said: "Geoff Blore was 82 years old. He was originally from Birmingham and moved to Leominster around three years ago.
"He was a writer and his book 'Dicky Blood's War' told the story of his time as an evacuee during World War Two.
"He served in the RAF in the late 40s and early 50s and spent a great deal of time and energy in later life raising funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund.
"As a young man he was a keen athlete and in later years he completed several marathons. Towards the end of his life he became an enthusiastic cyclist.
"He will be very sadly missed by his family, his friends and many other people whose lives he touched."
Following the accident at 9.20am on Tuesday, which involved a Ford Focus, Mr Blore was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham but he later died.
Mr Blore was called up for national service in the late 1940s and signed on for five years with the RAF, which included a 30-month spell in the Canal Zone in Egypt.
He then spent four years working as an engineering draughtsman before starting his own retail business. Mr Blore was married twice and had four grown-up children. He spent much of his time in retirement playing golf, cycling, writing and helping out with fundraising.
Anyone with information is urged to ring Leominster police on 101.
