Simon Layfield, a well-known figure in the local cycling scene, has died aged 49. Simon was an elite category racing cyclist for a number of years and rode track, time-trials and road races, as well as enthusiastically working for the reinvigoration of the grass track scene.

A founder member of Team Welwyn, which was formed in 1993, Simon coupled his own cycling career with helping to shape and develop other cyclists’ progress through his work as a coach.

Team Welwyn was closely linked to Welwyn Wheelers from 1993 to 2007 and during this period Simon served as a leading figure and major innovator in the team of volunteers coaching at the Welwyn Velodrome at Gosling Sports Park. As well as coaching both groups and individual riders Simon was also a superb team manager and team mechanic; his meticulous preparation and generosity with time and resources always ensuring that riders in his care had the best possible chance of success.

During the course of Simon’s coaching activities he worked with a number of riders who produced medal winning performances at National level and in some cases also in International competition; including well known cyclists such as Laura Bissell, the late Peter Bissell, Bonar Lizaitis, Tom Gosbee, Quickstep professional Andy Fenn, Dolman Boels professional Emma Trott and double Olympic gold medallist Laura Trott. While Simon was understandably proud of these riders’ achievements he was equally pleased with any rider showing commitment and improvement and had recently greatly enjoyed working with British Cycling’s Eastern Region Track Cluster initiative.

After parting company with Welwyn Wheelers in 2007, Team Welwyn relocated to The Sele School, Hertford and is now known as Green Arrow CRT. While continuing to enjoy his riding, Simon had reduced his racing and was concentrating on developing as a derny pacer.

He had also taken a lead in developing Green Arrows regular Go-Ride Youth cycling activities, regular gym based winter fitness sessions and club runs, working towards acceptance on Regional School of Racing courses for some of the club’s teenage riders.

A medallist himself in the National 8km Grass Track Championship some year ago, Simon also worked hard to promote and develop the Green Arrow CRT Grass Track Meeting held annually at The Sele School, with the result that national series events have been successfully run as part of the meeting for several years and both the 2013 and 2014 editions play host to national championship events.

In his professional life, Simon was a chartered surveyor who was a Fellow of IRRV and RICS and a Recognised European Valuer as well as a partner in London based firm, Wilks Head and Eve, for whom he worked over a 25 year period.

In addition to his passion for cycling Simon was also a lifelong rail enthusiast. As a youngster he spent time assisting in the restoration of industrial locomotives and rolling stock. Over the past seven or eight years Simon had renewed his involvement with the Rutland Railway Museum at Cottesmore.

With his usual enthusiastic energy and willingness both to get stuck in and to take a lead Simon was instrumental in the transformation of the site into a focused centre for the history of the Ironstone Quarrying Industry in the East Midlands; resulting in the award of accredited Museum status and a change of name to Rocks by Rail: the living ironstone museum.

Gaining a very detailed and in depth knowledge of both quarrying in the East Midlands and industrial steam and diesel locomotives, wagons and associated plant; Simon’s curatorial vision attracted praise from museum professionals. Simon was currently in negotiations to expand and develop the site with further buildings to house the exhibits.

An inspiration to those around him in both his professional, cycling and museum related activities; Simon was a decisive and determined leader who carried others with him through friendship and good humour. Simon is survived by his wife Sophie Bruton to whom he was married for 20 years; by his parents Peter and Joyce Layfield, by his sister Fiona Paxton and his nieces Molly and Betsey Paxton.