A former member of the GB Olympic bobsleigh team has died in a motorcycle accident, it emerged yesterday (Weds).
Rob Pope, 44, was a reserve and test driver for Great Britain at the 1994 winter games in Norway but did not win a medal.
After retiring from the sport Mr Pope became a firefighter with the London Fire Brigade and received his long service medal earlier this month.
The father-of-one’s Yamaha motorcycle collided with a Silver Ford Galaxy and a Silver Ford Focus on the southbound carriageway of the A1(M) near the Hatfield Tunnel, Herts., shortly before 8.40am on March 22.
An off-duty nurse, doctor and paramedic rushed to help but Mr Pope was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Pope’s wife Nicky, 45, from Hitchin, Herts., said he “doted” on his six-year-old son.
She said: “Rob was a wonderful husband and father to our son.
“We shared many happy years together with some memorable holidays including going across the west of America on a Harley Davidson motorcycle which we thoroughly enjoyed.
“Rob was a joker and always saw the amusing side to life. He doted on our little boy and we will never forget him.
“We would like to offer our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of the people who have helped us since the terrible incident on Friday including the paramedics and air ambulance, the police and all of our family and friends who have been so kind and have supported us.
“We will never forget Rob, he will always be in our hearts.”
His sister Joanne Pope, 46, said: “He was always based at Euston Fire Station and really loved his job.
“He completed many courses during his career and took such pride in what he did.
“Our dad was also a fire fighter and our mum’s uncle so there has always been a lot of pride in our family about what he did for a living.”
Keen sportsman Mr Pope represented Finchley Golf Club in its scratch team and was also a member of athletic club Shaftesbury Harriers.
He grew up in Mill Hill, London, before joining the London Fire Brigade at the age of 21.
Hertfordshire Constabulary are appealing for witnesses to the collision.
