The debt we owe classy hero Hugh

My first recollections of Hugh Porter date back to the late 1950s and early 1960s, when we were both starting out as racing cyclists.

Then our paths diverged because he had something I didn't have – class!

We both used to ride the Tuesday evening "cut-up" which started at the top of Tettenhall Bank, went to Shifnal, then Bridgnorth (and the Hermitage Hill), then back to Wolverhampton to finish at Compton. Usually 30 to 40 riders took part and it was a vitally important part of "training". Also a vital part were "club time trails", which many "road" men did to sharpen up their speed Hugh rode many, as did I, but as I say, class told.

Besides track racing, which was then another vital part of a cyclist's education (in which I didn't take part) the first time I can recall seeing Hugh in a road race was when he won a stage of the Wolverhampton Wheelers Easter three-day event that finished with Hugh winning the day in Warstones Road.

Hugh went on to win many events including Star trophy events and his commonwealth Gold. He then turned professional and won four individual pursuit titles.

After his cycling career came to an end, Hugh took up commentating, and his knowledge of the events on which he is commentating, and the background of all individual riders, is amazing. It is the envy of all his peers in that sphere of his life.

But at the end of the day, Hugh is what he has always been – a man of Wolverhampton, something of which he is extremely proud.

I think that in addition to having named the access road to Aldersley Village Hugh Porter Way, the city should now cap this by making Hugh Porter, MBE, a Freeman of the City of Wolverhampton.

Peter Cole, Chelford Crescent, Kingswinford.