1930s Bicycle
During the 1930’s, many of the lads attending the Unemployed School at Flemington cycled to the School each morning. Some travelled many miles and they had been in the habit of leaving their cycles in the garage near the school.
It seems incredibly mean to think that lads who were workless should have their cycles stolen from them, but several thefts had occurred in May 1934 and lads sustained losses who could ill afford it. A case this kind was heard at the local Court on the morning of Wednesday 16th May 1934 when a lad named Peter Brannan, 9 Logan Street, Blantyre, pleaded guilty to the theft of a gent’s cycle from the garage. The accused boy attended the school and took away the bike belonging to another scholar. After taking the machine away to Blantyre he endeavoured to disguise it by painting the handle-bars. He afterwards hid it in hall near his own home. Bailie Lumsden commented on the seriousness of the theft and said that but for accused’s youth he would have sent him to prison. A fine of 10s was imposed.