Kate Uzzell

Martyn Richard Uzzell was a very caring, loving, and active man. My very own Action Man, he loved outdoor activities like cycling, motorcycling, camping, scuba diving, windsurfing, kayaking and long walks with his dog, Jim.

He involved his nephews and nieces in his adventures, to experience life like Uncle Martyn and discover the activities that gave him such joy.

In June 2011, after months of planning and training, Martyn, my brother James and a friend Chris, started out on a charity bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

It was a challenge Martyn, then 51, had long hoped to attempt and even more after his nephew Tom succeeded in completing the same ride a year previously, aged 18.

On 17th June 2011, my future was stolen.

At lunchtime, two police officers arrived at my place of work to let me know that Martyn had been killed. 

Striking a deep gulley around a road drain, he was thrown into the path of a car - causing instant catastrophic injuries. My world fell apart.

Unable to function on any level for months, terrified to speak to anyone about what had happened for fear of jeopardising any police investigation.

It would take just under three years to get to a coroner’s inquest.

In January 2012, I was given a flyer about RoadPeace and a resilience programme and support group.

Initially, I was reluctant to attend the sessions, as knew I would break down and cry. But in a desire to find an outlet for my grief, and help on how to handle it and life, I decided to go.

I thought if it hurt too much, then I don’t ever have to see these people again.

These thoughts could not have been further from the reality of meeting others feeling the same pain as me. Talking to others who utterly understood how I felt was a release, and I acquired coping strategies.

If only I had known about RoadPeace in June 2011. Those tortuous six months of coping alone would have been very different.

With the support of RoadPeace, I campaigned to have the guidance used by Local Authorities for well-maintained roads to be amended. That they should consider the dangers to vulnerable road users, cyclists and motorcyclists, when evaluating the repair of defects.

I did not want others to experience the pain and hurt that I, Martyn’s family and friends felt on losing him.

We planned to grow old together. Without the one I loved more than anything in the world, this lonely life was too painful to contemplate.

But with the support of RoadPeace, family and friends, I will flourish for the rest of my days, forever carrying Martyn in my heart.

It’s been a long road to travel, but I am now the South West RoadPeace Local Coordinator, assisting unfortunate others who find themselves affected by road crashes.