A FORMER colonel has completed his third fundraising cycle ride for the Royal British Legion and become the first member of his family to visit his great uncle's war grave.

Peter Fraser-Hopewell, of Colchester Road, Lawford, took on his third Pedal to Paris ride along with hundreds of other cyclists, finishing on September 2.

He has raised about £4,500 from the events in 2014, 2016 and 2018, which he chose to mark the centenary of the beginning of the First World War, the battle of the Somme and the end of the war.

After completing the four day ride, covering 284 miles, he then spent some time in France and visited the grave of his great uncle, Hugh Hopewell.

Peter, who was formerly the Deputy Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade based in Colchester and served in the army for 30 years, laid a wreath a remembrance.

The 64-year-old, who now works in security, said: "My grandfather's brother, Hugh Hopewell, was killed on September 12, 1918 while serving in the London Scottish in Arras.

"On Saturday, I went to the Dury war cemetery in France, just southeast of Arras. He had been wounded in 1918 and returned after six months.

"It would have been near to where the battle was when he died.

"I looked around the cemetery where about 1,500 were buried, it was quite emotional.

"Looking around, with my military background, I could visualise to a certain degree.

"We were probably the first family members to visit just over 100 years after his death; laying a wreath on his grave."

Peter, whose grandfather also served in the war but survived, said he wanted to take on the Pedal to Paris ride to raise money for the Royal British Legion, which helps servicemen and women.

He is now set to take part on the Oxford half marathon to raise money for Combat Stress.

To donate to his Pedal to Paris fundraiser visit justgiving.com/fundraising/aphrodite23.