Memory of ardent Brighton and Hove Albion supporter will live on through touching memorial

A memorial plaque has been unveiled to celebrate the life of a beloved grandfather, who was an ardent supporter of Brighton and Hove Albion.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Don Lock — a keen cyclist and member of the Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club for 50 years — was killed in a road rage attack on the A24 in Findon on July 16, 2015.

It happened just two weeks after the 79-year-old Worthing grandfather was given the all clear from prostate cancer.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The stunned community rallied round Don’s heartbroken family to raise funds for a memorial.

Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151040001Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151040001
Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151040001

Fundraising events were held and a large donation was received from the Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club.

This has culminated in the creation of a touching, commemorative sculpture, which was unveiled on the promenade adjacent to the new Bayside development. on Saturday.

Don’s son, Andrew, said the overriding emotion was one of relief.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Finally at last, we’ve managed to achieve what we’ve been working on,” he said. “It’s been about five years and it was a constant slow process.

Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151053001Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151053001
Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151053001

“I didn’t give up and, personally, I’m really chuffed and proud of it.

“It is a really fitting tribute to dad and to the world of cycling. It is something people can stop and look at and admire for years to come and take inspiration from.

“Dad would be overwhelmed with that.”

Andrew – a Brighton season-ticket holder – told the club website that Don was ‘Albion through and through’, having first attended games with his father in the early fifties, before bringing Andrew into the fold, where they were both regulars at the Goldstone, Withdean and the Amex.

Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151137001Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151137001
Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151137001
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added that his dad, who died the year before Albion won promotion to the Premier League, ‘would be in cloud cuckoo land now’, having always dreamed of seeing his beloved club go head to head against the biggest teams in the country.

‘It’s not going anywhere for a long, long time’

A two-metre high sloped Caithness flagstone bearing a carving of a cyclist and an inscription celebrating the joy of cycling has been set up.

Don’s family had worked with Worthing Borough Council to find a suitable location and it was agreed the site’s proximity to the seafront cycle path made it an ideal location.

Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151104001Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151104001
Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151104001

After hours of rain, the sun came out just as the ceremony began, with around 60 people — incldung family, friends, work colleagues and local business people — in attendance.

Andrew added: “It was a good turn-out.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“A lot of people were impressed with it [the sculpture]. They were surpised by the quality and size of the stone,

“It’s not going anywhere for a long, long time.”

Andrew thanked everybody who donated money and contributed to the various auctions.

He said: “Hopefully they are glad they have contributed to a fantastic tribute and inspiration for people to get out and enjoy life.”

Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151115001Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151115001
Unveiling of memorial to Don Lock on Worthing seafront. Pic S Robards SR2110301 SUS-211030-151115001

Paying tribute to his dad, Andrew added: “Everywhere he went, people loved him. They loved him just for being himself.

“He was unassuming and was just kind to everybody.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He would never say anything nasty to anybody. He helped all sorts of people from all walks of life.

“There’s been a fantastic response from people who didn’t even know dad. I am very proud.

“He would be overwhelmed with the amount of people that he touched in his life.”

Don’s killer, Matthew Daley — who was diagnosed with paranoid scizophrenia — was found guilty of manslaughter and was given a life sentence in July 2016. Read more here