nick’s (n)-line life

The sixth week of the Cambridge term came to a terrible end last Friday, bringing great sadness for Girton. One of our first year students, a bionatsci named Tom Mansfield, was killed during his morning cycle into town, not even 2 minutes from the entrance to college. From what I can gather, just before 9am Tom was on his way to a lecture when his bike was hit by a car, throwing him to the ground, and cracking his head against the road.

As fate would have it I’d actually passed the scene of the accident that morning, as I made my own way into town. A car had pulled into the cycle lane and an ambulance was blocking the side-road that leads towards Girton village. A paramedic was already hard at work and traffic was piling up around the blockade, made all the worse as people slowed to get a better look. Several police vehicles were on the scene. If I hadn’t been in such a rush to get to lectures I might have thought more about it, perhaps even stopped, but as it was I was already late and in a rush to get to an lecture on trademarks; something that later seemed trivial in comparison.

Of course, I’d presumed that it was a student, presumed there had been a cycle crash, and perhaps naively presumed that it would be alright. My need to press on to lectures hadn’t given me much of a chance to think about it, just long enough to pause and hope whoever it was would be alright. When a second ambulance tore past me in the opposite direction, however, my certainty waned.

The other Girton students I met at my equity supervision that day hadn’t heard much more than I had. They passed on second-hand stories from friends who’d been present and confirmed that a student had been involved. We all told each other he’d be alright. I just kept thinking about the second ambulance. One ambulance is never a good sign, but two?

Back in the faculty a friend called across the room as I was getting a coffee. “Nick”?, he said coming over, “Have you heard?”. I shook my head, suddenly dreading what was coming. “He’s dead. Nick. The first-year. He’s dead.” Despite myself, I let out a gasp, for a moment engulfed by the enormity of these words. My friend and I just looked at each other.

It could have been any of us, a few minutes earlier, a few minutes later; just a throw of the dice. Seventh week is normally frantic, but people here are standing back from it all to take a moment of reflection. The energy seems to have gone out of College, it feels cold and all events for the next few weeks are being cancelled. In a college where students and fellows alike cycle into town every day, it’s a harsh reminder of what happens when things go pear-shaped. All the worse for being smack bang never to the “Welcome to Girton” sign. It’s impossible to pass it now without thinking about Tom.

As I write this there’s a copy of Thursday’s The Cambridge Student (TCS) lying on the floor at my feet. The front-page headline reads: “Student cycle safety in city clampdown”. A copy of Varsity from the Friday itself lies open and my eyes are drawn to a page 2 article on cycle safety. Worst of all I can’t help but think back to a JCR email from the night before:

I wore my helmet for the ride into town this morning. But didnt bother later when i had to cycle ‘just round the corner’. I was thrown from my bike and whacked my head on the road. Moral of the story (apart from my being a twat): ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET.

There’s a miserable irony in something like this happening at a time when so much attention is focused on cycle safety. It’s a jab in the ribs and a reminder that Cambridge isn’t the safe little bubble we all assume it to be. Mistakes on the road can and do end badly.

Minor cycle scrapes are actually quite common in Cambridge. Just last year I came off my bike on the way home from a night out. I was knocked unconscious for several minutes but later got myself to Addenbrookes for stitches, suffering nothing more permanent than a scar on my chin. Last week’s events remind me how lucky I was, yet there are still plenty of people going around at night with no lights, and it’s rare to have a day without a bus or taxi coming close to taking me out…

Though I didn’t know Tom, my heart goes out to his parents. I can’t imagine how they must feel, so proud to send their Son off to study at Cambridge, just a few weeks later mourning his loss. They have my greatest sympathies.

Update: 22 November 2005, Eye-Witness Account

A writer at the student room sets out the facts:

Since everyone keeps appearing to think that it’s a fault somewhat on the part of the cyclist or drivers (and I do agree that there are problems in Cam regarding both), I’d like to emphasise that this particular accident on Huntingdon Rd was actually purely an *accident*. I think that in particular is what makes it such a shock for those who knew what happened, to bear. The person who lives next to me in Girton had the unfortunate experience of being a cyclist who actually witnessed what happened.

The cyclist pulled up alongside the lorry past the traffic lights at Girton Road, the lorry signalled to turn and the cyclist slowed down to allow the lorry to turn. Unfortunately as the lorry turned, the middle of the lorry knocked the cyclist over and the cyclist was exposed to the back wheels of the lorry.

Update: 22 November 2005, Official Girton Press Release

Statement from Andrew Jefferies, Senior Tutor of Girton College following the fatal cycle accident involving a Girton student on Friday morning.

“The whole college is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic death of first year biological sciences student Tom Mansfield in a cycle accident on Friday morning.

“Tom was a highly talented student who had made many friends at Girton.

“On Friday evening a short service for Tom, attended by his parents, was held in Girton College Chapel. The chapel was packed with students, an indication of the enormous impact Tom had made in his short time at Girton.

“The sympathy of the whole college community goes to Tom’s family.”