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Emma Radford 4th July 1977 - 22nd April 2004 Emma Radford 4th July 1977 - 22nd April 2004 It took a long while to get to know you but when I did it was worth it 10 times over. Emma was a curious mix of biker chick, funky art student, energetic and brave, shy and quiet, incredibly clever and all with a brilliant sense of fun. She had more male friends than most men due to her laid back nature
and love of bikes. Many times I would be leaving Papworth only
to happen upon Emma trying to mount her Harley. It was a funny
site to see such a petite lady managing such a huge weight. Emma later
sold her Harley (Hugo) to buy Barney the Buell and recently the UK Buell
Enthusiasts Group (UKBEG) have re-named their biggest meet of the year
after her. Emma achieved a 2.1 in art and design at uni and I remember being awed when she once showed me her port folio of work. Her artistic temperament was obvious in much of her life from her bright purple car and her fashion sense to most noticeably, her hair. Emma would never turn up without a new edge to her cropped hair do. Either bright colour or some crazy high lights. Em was also never without a man. One of the things I admired most about her was the way she never tried to hide anything about her CF when it came to men. They had to accept her and all the stuff that came with her, whether that be sleeping in the same bed with her feeding pump and tube or all the meds she took. The best thing about that strategy was that her men never said no. I think, like the best CF patients, she did not let her CF dictate what she did. I remember she was off snow boarding just a week after she had been in hospital with a serious chest infection. But she managed it … even though she came back with a broken arm. - Sam Emma was completely infectious, she got me onto a bike, plus two other friends, then her own sister, something she said she would do before she died. Her sister was such a late starter on the bike scene by the time she passed her test they only rode together once before she died, but you could say mission accomplished! – Dave What a lovely tribute Em has had and continues to get everywhere I
look! Em will be jumping up and down on her cloud with joy ! I am now the proud keeper of Barney the Buell and have made some great
friends though the UKBEG site (ukbeg.com) that all loved Em in their
own way and have accepted me without question. I attend as many
meetings as I can and the annual meet that is now in Em's memory is
just the best! And it's down to Em that my Fiancée, Mark,
now has a Buell too! I'm really glad she got to meet Mark and she even
had a ride on his bus! Emma Radford, from us all- we will never forget you. Thanks
for your inspiration.
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