A CORTEGE of Cornwall Blood Bikes will escort its late vice chairman to his funeral in a moving tribute to his 10 years of service and almost 20,000 on the road for the charity.

Tim Cookman, 72, died on Wednesday, May 6, having been diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2024. On Tuesday, May 26, at 1.40pm, his fellow blood bikers will accompany the hearse leaving from his home in Blackwater and along the A30 to Treswithian Downs Crematorium in Camborne for a memorial service at 2.30pm.

Cornwall Blood Bikes chair Jayne Penlerick shared the news of Mr Cookman’s passing with the “heaviest of hearts”, describing him as “a proud family man, a proud Cornishman and a proud Cornwall Blood Biker”.

The charity is a volunteer-run service providing urgent out-of-hours delivery of blood, samples, medication and supplies to the NHS. Mr Cookman became its first full-time volunteer operations manager in 2021, and played a pivotal role in developing the collaboration between Cornwall Air Ambulance and the Blood on Board project.

Ms Penlerick added: “Tim had a true passion for motorbikes and road safety. He absolutely adored being an advanced RoSPA tutor... Many of our riders would not be where they are today without Tim’s training, guidance and belief in them. His outstanding people skills made him an exceptional charity check ride assessor. He always went above and beyond to ensure everyone achieved their goals.

“In true Tim fashion, he carried on supporting Cornwall Blood Bikes for as long as he possibly could, riding, helping, advising in all manner of ways and always being there.”

Mr Cookman is survived by his wife Sylvia - also charity treasurer and trustee – his children and six grandchildren. Donations are invited for Cornwall Blood Bikes and Stomach Cancer UK, via Andrea Myhill of Carlyon Funeral Directors, Mount Hawke.