Cycling To Ann Widdecombe’s Home | One Month After Her Murder

It’s nearly a month since the brutal murder of former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe, so I rode out to the quiet Dartmoor village where she lived and died.
It was a beautiful, warm, sunny Sunday morning. I left early hoping for quiet roads and a clear run towards Haytor. Ann’s home sits near Haytor Rock in Haytor Vale, roughly twenty miles from mine. The round trip came in at about 45 miles with well over 3,500 feet of climbing.
The roads stayed as quiet as I’d hoped. As I rode I kept thinking about Ann — once a powerful politician, a devout Catholic who lived according to her faith. She certainly ruffled a few feathers in her time, but freedom of speech or strongly held views is never an excuse for murder. I suspect that is exactly what happened to her.
When I reached the village I shared the story of the time I once saw her directing traffic after I’d been blocked at a local crossroads. I then rode the short distance down to her home. Flowers still lay on the grass bank at the end of the driveway. The gates were closed. The house stood empty with the curtains drawn. Her garden looked beautiful — a carefully tended lawn and flower beds she clearly loved, a place she should still have been enjoying.
A complete stranger had driven nearly 300 miles (almost 600 round trip) to kill her. He parked on the driveway, walked straight in through the front door while she sat at her table eating lunch, asked for identification, then struck her over the head 21 times before pushing her lifeless body to the floor and leaving. Everything was captured on the CCTV cameras she had positioned in and around the property. Her body was found the following day after people became concerned that she had gone quiet so suddenly.
Devon and Cornwall Police initially arrested the wrong man — an innocent delivery driver — before eventually identifying and arresting the person responsible.
After leaving Ann’s house I extended the ride. On a steep, narrow country lane I came across two cars each towing a caravan that had met head-on and created a growing traffic jam. I rode to the front and helped direct them past each other so everyone could get moving again. Later I saw plenty of other cyclists out enjoying the day, especially along the beautiful Exe Estuary Trail from Starcross back into Exeter.
A sad but reflective ride through some of Devon’s most stunning countryside.

These little observations are what these rides are all about. Hop on, come along, and let’s enjoy another cycling adventure together.

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