A BRADFORD cycling star who lifted the trophy in the 1952 Tour of Britain has died after a short illness at the age of 87.

Ken Russell won the famous 14-day race, which was later called the Milk Race through sponsorship by the Milk Marketing Board, in 61 hours and 27 minutes at the age of 22.

He proved cycling pundits wrong when they said he did not have the team support of technical back-up to beat the country’s strongest and most highly-organised teams.

What Mr Russell did have was respect, and when his machine’s cranks started to loosen slightly, it was Marcel Michaux, of the Belgian team, who swapped bikes with him to ensure his victory.

In monetary terms it brought him a prize of £140. A handsome amount in those days when the average wage for a professional footballer was around £10 per week.

He had many other victories under his belt during his 1947 to 1955 racing career

Soon after his Tour of Britain triumph he married his fiancee, Renee Stopford.

They would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this November.

Mrs Russell said: “He had struggled a bit for the past few months, but it was only two years ago was fit enough to undergo a heart valve operation.

“He continued to cycle a lot. I gave up for a while when I had my family, but took it up again later for leisure up to around 1991.

"He was a keen photographer too. He was lately a member of Bingley Camera Club and enjoyed weekly talks and competitions.

“Racing was different altogether when Ken was racing. His racing cycle had just five gears, a lot fewer than those of today.”

Mr Russell gave up professional cycling three years after the Tour of Britain win and worked in repairs and later behind the counter for Ellis Briggs cycles and then as manager at Hodgsons Cycles.

A move away from cycles took him to Yorkshire Heating plumbers and building supplies, and from there to Smiths where he was managing director.

In between times he and his good friend and fellow cyclist Bill Sugden built adjoining semi-detached bungalows.

Mr and Mrs Russell, who brought up two daughters, Julie and Linda, lived there until five years ago when they moved to Rawcliffe.