Obituary: Eric Biddulph - lecturer and cycle fan

Dec 16 2008 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

CYCLING enthusiast Eric Biddulph died doing what he loved.

The retired college lecturer, who lived at Shannon Drive, Mount, was out on his bike when he had a heart attack on New Hey Road in Oakes on December 10.

He died at the scene. He was 71.

Mr Biddulph grew up in Nottingham and spent his early working life as a banker. He and wife Mary married in 1962 and had a daughter, Jane, as well as son Paul.

Mr Biddulph wanted an adventure and decided to take the family to Malawi, Africa, in 1970.

He lectured in banking and economics and while there established the country’s first national cycling team. The team went on to compete at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

He was also heavily involved in the anti-apartheid movement.

The family returned to the UK in 1973 by adventurous means – a 13,000, three-month journey by car.

Mr Biddulph started looking for work and found a job at Calderdale College as a banking, economics and business lecturer. He would work there for the next 21 years.