Graeme Hodgson

Before joining the council and its culture, sports and events team, Mr Hodgson, who was in his 50s, had been involved in organising the city’s prestigious and enormously popular Festival of Cycling. He had also had a hand in setting up the i-Travel York scheme, which involved the most extensive door-to-door exercise ever carried out by York City Council.

The scheme provides free, personalised travel advice so as to encourage the public to make greater use of public transport, join car share schemes and discover walking and cycling routes.

Apart from helping to preparing York to receive the Tour, the second stage of which will start from the city next July, Mr Hodgson was involved in making arrangements for this year’s National Circuit Cycle Championships and the recent Sky Ride York event.

He joined the council it time to help with last summer’s Olympic Torch relay events in the city, and since then the father of two won a reputation for his adept handling of high-profile, complex operations.

Senior council officers paid tribute to his contributions as a highly-respected and popular colleague who possessed
great ability and a fund of experience.

Mr Hodgson, who lived in Harrogate, is survived by his
wife Elaine and their two children.