Cycling-mad ex-vicar, 89, is racking up 90 miles before he turns 90 to help food bank

Mr Holden retired to Shropshire in 1998 after a career including a 12-year stint as vicar of Aston, rural dean and canon of Birmingham Cathedral.

Not long after, he picked up cycling as a way to keep fit, and has since ridden over 43,000 miles and raised over £12,000 from sponsored rides.

Eight years ago, he cycled 50 miles to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity to thank the crews that freed him from the mangled wreckage of his car following a crash near his home.

This week, the 89-year-old has already cycled 48 miles in his latest fundraising mission for the food bank.

Mr Holden explained: "I am expecting to complete by Sunday. I have to be quite careful of course, I'm fit for my age but I have one or two health issues that I have to be aware of."

He said there was no secret to being healthy well into his 80s, and instead called it a "gift".

"We can say it's because we lived a good life - but some of the best people I've ever known have had cancer or gotten into bad accidents," Mr Holden said.

"I don't know if there's a secret, it seems pretty random. What matters is what you do with the health you are given."

Before the Covid pandemic, Mr Holden volunteered at Church Stretton's food bank.

"The range of people who find themselves in that situation is just incredible," he explained. "It's not just homeless people or people just out of prison who need help, it's working people whose wages don't cover food bills.

"When you hear people's stories it could be any of us - that's the reality."

Mayor of Church Stretton Andy Munro said that use of the town's food bank has increased by a staggering 800 per cent.

"The first UK lockdown was announced on March, 23, 2020. During that month, the Stretton Foodbank saw 19 people, of which five were children," Councillor Munro said.

"Fast forward three years, and in March 2023 the number of visitors to the town’s food bank has increased by nearly 800 per cent.

"It is a matter of pride that our town works so hard to support our community, and in particular, the Stretton Foodbank whose work addresses the most basic of needs.

"As a child I experienced food insecurity and it still affects me today. For this reason, I am totally behind John in his fantastic effort to ride in support of the Stretton Foodbank."

Mr Holden said the support from Church Stretton's community had been "wonderful".

"People are really behind me, I've had people wish me luck as I'm riding around - I think there's something about a vicar riding a bike that people really enjoy!"

Mr Holden is asking people to donate money directly to the food bank, which can be done online at tinyurl.com/mr4b7hf6.