The Haswell Memorial StoneAlthough Tom Simpson started his cycling career in Harworth with the Harworth and District Cycling Club, he only moved to the North Nottinghamshire town with his family aged 11. He was born in Haswell in County Durham, which until recently had no official recognition of the fact, apart from a signpost on a nearby cycle trail.
.
That inspired Tom’s niece, Judith Walton, whose mother Jenny was older than the other three Simpson children who moved south to Harworth and chose to remain in the north-east. Judith galvanized local action and with the help of Frank Lillystone from Dunhouse Quarry, the County Council, the Haswell Historical Society and Paul Levitt of the Hezewell Centre, a stone commemorating Tom’s birth and successes has now been placed outside the Hezewell Centre in Haswell.
It’s there now for all to see. It was officially unveiled in July 2017 by Sir Bradley Wiggins, just before the 50th anniversary of Tom’s death on Mont Ventoux, in a very special ceremony.
Location: The Hezewell Centre, Windsor Road, Haswell, County Durham, DH6 2DYA
Location: The Hezewell Centre, Windsor Road, Haswell, County Durham, DH6 2DYA