The managing partner of a Shrewsbury-based property company has died from cancer, aged 51.
Marcus Pook, from Pooks Commercial and Property Letting, based in Claremont Hill, passed away on Boxing Day. He was suffering from prostate cancer.
Mr Pook was diagnosed with the disease a year ago and despite undergoing treatment he died of a pulmonary embolism.
Simon Usborne, an online editor at The Independent has written about the fundraising efforts of Mr Pook’s sons Chris and Tom who were taking part in an epic cycle trip from Cape Town to Mozambique when they learned of their father’s illness.
They cut short the adventure and vowed to complete the remaining 1,000 miles for their dad.
Mr Usborne writes that he met the pair during last summer’s Ride Across Britain, a 1,000-mile, nine-day ride that ‘tested the mettle’.
“Chris, 27, and Tom, who’s 23, got their extra miles and also raised more than £22,000 for Prostate UK,” he writes.
“Best of all, Marcus was well enough to watch them do it. For several stages between courses of chemotherapy he followed the course with his partner, Dina, driving back and forth between sons – Tom was stuck at the back with me for much of the week with similarly painful knees – and beaming with pride as they crossed the finish lines.”
In an online tribute Chris Pook writes: “We take comfort from the fact that he was walking, albeit slowly, up to two weeks before his death, always kept his hair and sense of humour and never really lost control of what made him Dad. For that we are all grateful.”
Chris and his brother have signed up for several big rides in the new year, including the fearsome Etape du Tour in memory of their father.
By Anna Williams