Local Rower Dies While On Charity Cycle Ride

Anna Roots from Chiswick was hit by a lorry in Scotland

A woman from Chiswick has been killed while on a charity ride from Lands End to John O’Groats. Anna Roots (34) was a champion rower who had competed in the Commonwealth Rowing Championships.

Anna (on right) and friend Rebekeh pictured as they started their cycle ride

Shocked friends and neighbours have been paying tribute to the local woman, as donations flood in to her Justgiving page.

The accident happened near Sutherland, Scotland on Saturday as Mrs Roots, whose husband Ian is a rowing coach, was taking part in a twelve-day cycle with a friend. She was hit by a lorry and died at the scene. Anna had been raising money for leukaemia and lymphoma research.

An only child, she trained at the Mortlake Anglian & Alpha boat club next to Chiswick Bridge where she had met her husband Ian. Her mother Irene, who recently retired, worked for British Rowing for many years.

Friends and colleagues have been paying tribute to her and said rowing was her life and that she would be very much missed. The flag at the club was flying at half mast today in her memory. She represented England at the 2010 Commonwealth Rowing Championships in Ontario, Canada, winning a gold, silver and two bronze medals, and she competed for England at the Commonwealth Championships in Delhi in 2010. Ian Roots had also travelled to Canada as a coach of the England team.

The couple lived close to the rowing club. Mrs. Roots worked as an administrator in a private physiotherapy practice in Sheen. She was a graduate of Durham University.

Neighbours were said to be shocked by news of the tragedy.

A police spokesperson said that about 3.15pm on the September 6, a collision occurred between an articulated lorry and a bicycle at Bettyhill.

“As a result of the collision the female rider of the bicycle sustained fatal injuries.”

Tributes have been paid to Anna Roots on her JustGiving page and funds have reached nearly £13,000.

Ian Roots told the Evening Standard: “Anna was the most giving person and lit up a room every time she walked in. She donated to charity every month and gave up so much time for charity events.

“She helped out friends in need and was such a good listener, she was everything to me and perfect in every way.”

The couple married three years ago and live opposite the club where they met.

Mr Roots added: “No one had a bad word to say about her she did not have a bad bone in her body.

“It is such a tragedy. She was a careful cyclist and always wore a helmet. If this can happen to her it can happen to anyone. All we know is that she went under the wheels of a lorry. More needs to be done for the safety of cyclists.”

Anna's friend Rebekah said (on their Justgiving page) they had been planning the ride for over a year in memory of Vicky Mustoe.

"The first planned day of our ride took us along the scenic north coast of Scotland to a village called Betty Hill. Tragically as we descended into the village that afternoon Anna was involved in a fatal collision with a lorry.

"Ian, Anna's husband, has asked me to update this page to share pictures of that day, which show Anna enjoying life as she always did. He asks that flowers are not sent, but where people wish to make donations they are made to this fundraising page.

"We thank friends for their continued support at this difficult time".

To donate go to justgiving.com/beksannaJOGLE

September 10, 2014