Robert Thom's history
British cyclist and manager Bob Thom passed away on 2 August 2004 (87 years old ). His son (also called Bob) wrote the following obituary for his father. Bob Thom joined the Wolverhampton Wheelers before the war and was still a member at the age of 87. His first bike was a "Lion" sit up and beg. He became Midland Champion, and then went to serve in the RAF in Rhodesia during the war. He returned and joined "Percy Stallard's rebels" in the BLRC he won over 20 top road and track races as an independent for Viking Cycles. Including the Tour of the Peaks and the Severn Valley Grand Prix his most outstanding win was the Pro National Road Race Championships in 1949.
In 1951, he retired from professional cycling to make way for his future brother in law, Ian Steel. Ian took his place in the Viking Team. Bob then became Team Manager in the Daily Express Tour of Britain, which Ian won. He was a mechanic on Ian's win in the Peace Race in 1952. Additionally, he worked as mechanic on 1955 Tour de France.
From there, he went on to run the Viking Team and manage British teams in The Peace Race, Tour de l'Avenir, Tour of Holland, Tour de St Lorient, Tour of Sweden, Giro Della Regioni and the World Road Championships. "Uncle Bob" as he was known has looked after the likes of Simpson, Hoban, Brittain, Elliot, Downs, Waugh and Griffiths, as well as having Les West and Bill Nickson winning the Milk Race under his guidance.
During his time as Manager, besides two Milk Race wins, Bob's riders also achieved yellow and stage wins in The Tour de l'Avenir, the Peace Race and a win in the GP Liberazione in Rome. Bob also took the women's cycling team to Japan on a number of occasions.
He became National Cyclo Cross Team manager and looked after the likes of Wreghitt and Douce to mention a few. A few years later, he became president of the BCCA. He was also instrumental in working with Charles Rhyss to bring the 'Skol Six' to Britain in the late sixties. In 1970, he was in charge of race service at the World's in Leicester and worked again at the 1982 World's in Goodwood. Here, as President of the Pedal Club, he presided over a special luncheon for members and international guests. He was also President of ESCA and of his own club, Wolverhampton Wheelers. In addition, he was a member of the Pickwick Bicycle Club for over 30 years.
Bob came to work for Viking after getting the sack from his job as a coachbuilder. He had been given the opportunity to work along with Jimmy Saville, as a stunt man and extra in the film, A Boy, a Girl and a Bike which stared honour Blackman and Diana Dors. Bob took up the offer, despite knowing he would lose his job. He stayed with Viking as sales director until it was taken over by Lambert, who sent him to work in California for a couple of years. On his return, he joined Middlemores, then Shimano agents, until taking early retirement.
During his retirement, he took off in his campervan with his wife Jean for three months, always managing to find his way to the World's and the Tour de France. For his 77th birthday, both he and Jean headed out to the Far East for a 10 week tour backpacking.
Bob rode his bike with the "Thursday" run till he was 85, and only then joined the "Thursday Old Boys" saying he wasn't so good on the hills any more. After breaking his wrist last year, he was looking forward to his comeback season when a severe stroke hospitalised him. He was about to go to a 60th birthday party when his legs went. Still retaining his great sense of humour, he even told the nurses that it was the first time he'd been legless before going into a pub. He was most concerned that the vineyards would lose trade during his stay in hospital.
Bob battled on after the family were told three times he would pass away. He ended up at a nursing home some 15 weeks later and told his wife to get her mountain bike out to ride the shortcut up to the home. He also had a satellite dish fitted in preparation for the Tour de France. He was admitted back in hospital early June with pneumonia and passed away on Monday, August 2.
Bob has left a wife Jean, sons Bob and Michael and daughter Vicky. His son Bob commented, "Dad never got old. He was at 87 still one of the lads."
In 1951, he retired from professional cycling to make way for his future brother in law, Ian Steel. Ian took his place in the Viking Team. Bob then became Team Manager in the Daily Express Tour of Britain, which Ian won. He was a mechanic on Ian's win in the Peace Race in 1952. Additionally, he worked as mechanic on 1955 Tour de France.
From there, he went on to run the Viking Team and manage British teams in The Peace Race, Tour de l'Avenir, Tour of Holland, Tour de St Lorient, Tour of Sweden, Giro Della Regioni and the World Road Championships. "Uncle Bob" as he was known has looked after the likes of Simpson, Hoban, Brittain, Elliot, Downs, Waugh and Griffiths, as well as having Les West and Bill Nickson winning the Milk Race under his guidance.
During his time as Manager, besides two Milk Race wins, Bob's riders also achieved yellow and stage wins in The Tour de l'Avenir, the Peace Race and a win in the GP Liberazione in Rome. Bob also took the women's cycling team to Japan on a number of occasions.
He became National Cyclo Cross Team manager and looked after the likes of Wreghitt and Douce to mention a few. A few years later, he became president of the BCCA. He was also instrumental in working with Charles Rhyss to bring the 'Skol Six' to Britain in the late sixties. In 1970, he was in charge of race service at the World's in Leicester and worked again at the 1982 World's in Goodwood. Here, as President of the Pedal Club, he presided over a special luncheon for members and international guests. He was also President of ESCA and of his own club, Wolverhampton Wheelers. In addition, he was a member of the Pickwick Bicycle Club for over 30 years.
Bob came to work for Viking after getting the sack from his job as a coachbuilder. He had been given the opportunity to work along with Jimmy Saville, as a stunt man and extra in the film, A Boy, a Girl and a Bike which stared honour Blackman and Diana Dors. Bob took up the offer, despite knowing he would lose his job. He stayed with Viking as sales director until it was taken over by Lambert, who sent him to work in California for a couple of years. On his return, he joined Middlemores, then Shimano agents, until taking early retirement.
During his retirement, he took off in his campervan with his wife Jean for three months, always managing to find his way to the World's and the Tour de France. For his 77th birthday, both he and Jean headed out to the Far East for a 10 week tour backpacking.
Bob rode his bike with the "Thursday" run till he was 85, and only then joined the "Thursday Old Boys" saying he wasn't so good on the hills any more. After breaking his wrist last year, he was looking forward to his comeback season when a severe stroke hospitalised him. He was about to go to a 60th birthday party when his legs went. Still retaining his great sense of humour, he even told the nurses that it was the first time he'd been legless before going into a pub. He was most concerned that the vineyards would lose trade during his stay in hospital.
Bob battled on after the family were told three times he would pass away. He ended up at a nursing home some 15 weeks later and told his wife to get her mountain bike out to ride the shortcut up to the home. He also had a satellite dish fitted in preparation for the Tour de France. He was admitted back in hospital early June with pneumonia and passed away on Monday, August 2.
Bob has left a wife Jean, sons Bob and Michael and daughter Vicky. His son Bob commented, "Dad never got old. He was at 87 still one of the lads."
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