Nik Vaughan Peregrine

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TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the main campaigners behind the Wye Wander Route (WWR) who has lost his nine-year battle with brain cancer, aged just 57 years.

For 10 years Nik Peregrine was passionate about the development of the shared use path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders between Chepstow and Tintern using an existing disused railway line.

His wife, Jennifer said: "Sadly Nik will never get to ride the route he has worked tirelessly to bring to fruition.

"We have recently set up an organisation dedicated to cycling and walking infrastructure in the area around the Severn Bridge, the Wye and Severn Valleys. The initial strategy is to upgrade the Wales Coastal path to shared use path status and connect this via a link footbridge at the Mabey site over the River Wye where it will meet with the proposed Tintern Path, thus connecting all the communities from Newport via Caldicot to Chepstow and up the Wye Valley."

Originally from Cardiff, Mr Peregrine was a very proud Welsh man and in 1989 made important contributions to the early Chepstow festivals.

He organised front of house for son-et-lumières in Chepstow Castle and was a stalwart of Rock in the Dell, coordinating the musicians, stallholders and stewards.

Nik worked in the property services department at Gloucestershire County Council for more than 20 years as a surveyor, assisting with the management of the council’s land and property estate.

For several years he took on French and German teaching assistants from the local comprehensive schools as lodgers, offering accommodation for a year or sometimes two. Some of these lodgers and bed and breakfast guests remain friends today.

He died peacefully at his Chepstow home on June 1.

Jennifer added: "I’d like to thank St David’s Hospice and Nairn Powell in particular for her coordination of the social services, the district nurses and carers that assisted with Nik’s care in his last week at home, The Drill Hall, Chepstow for their use of the hall for Nik’s wake and funeral directors Blatchly and Son for providing the send off Nik would have wished for."

There will be a 200 kilometres Border Castles Randonnée on September 24 starting at Chepstow Castle, organised as a memorial ride for Nik and a fundraiser for WWR. To make a donation visit www.wyecycle.co.uk/donate.