A MOTORCYCLIST who learned to ride in Barrow is looking forward to returning to the town as part of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain next week.

Former Barrow shipyard worker Paul Brown is a marshal for some of the world’s biggest cycling events, and will be taking part in the UK’s premier event that comes to South Cumbria on Friday 7.

Originally from the North East and now based near Chingford, this will be the first time that Mr Brown has returned to Furness in this capacity since leaving in the early 1990s, however he has been back to teach drumming in recent years.

He said: “I always enjoy coming back to Barrow, and some people are saying that this stage, which finishes on Whinlatter Pass, will be one of the most spectacular stages of any event anywhere in the world.”

Mr Brown learned to ride with Brendan ‘Bones’ Rose and the Nameless Motorcycle Club during his time in Barrow, before leaving to pursue a music career in London.

Although he didn’t have a motorbike for a number of years, he was inspired when he attended the London Olympics in 2012 to join the National Escort Group. Since getting involved, the work has taken him to the Tour de France, the Tour of Yorkshire, and charity rides from London to Paris.

He also came to Cumbria when the Tour of Britain visited Kendal in 2016, where a number of his fellow Furness musicians came to see him.

This time around, Mr Brown will be part of the ‘safety peloton’, which rides ahead of the race and flags up hazards to the riders.

“We get off our bikes and mark out things like parked cars and traffic islands that might be a hazard to the riders” he said.

“Most people are very, very good and well-informed, but there’s always someone who will park on the route. We stand there with our flags and whistles until all the riders have passed, then race to catch up with the peloton.

“When it is safe, we leapfrog the riders until we are back in front and we continue to mark out the hazards. These can also be things like street furniture or even warnings that there is sharp bend coming up that they might nee to be aware of.

“It’s a long day. We help set up the race in the morning, effectively closing off the towns, then we do the race, and we’ll get about five minutes for a cup of tea at the end of it. Then we transfer to the next start town and get ready to do it all again the next day.

“It’s a real joy to be a part of, and a big honour with people like Geraint Thomas involved this year. And it’s great that the tour is visiting Barrow for the first time and I will be there.”