In May 1895, a meeting of Blantyre merchants and their assistants took place in which they collectively formed themselves into a new cycling club.
The Blantyre Merchants’ Cycling Club had 15 people joining at the first meeting intent on making use of the summer weather. By the end of the month, further enquiries from others had followed. The patrons were Mr. John Jackson of Bardykes, Mr. Thomas Jackson of Greencroft, President Mr. A. Aitken, Vice President Mr John Jackson of Croffoot (the previous owner of my own home), Mr Thomas Henderson Secretary, and Mr. H.R.S Oliver as Treasurer.
Their first “test’ run was at 8.15pm on the evening of Tuesday 28th May 1895, a rather late start I thought to be heading to Busby and back, the group meeting at the bottom of Stonefield Road.
Looking at this a little further, this wasn’t there only Cycling Club of this era. It should not be confused with the later East Blantyre Cycling Club in September 1899 nor the more established Blantyre Cycling Club in March 1908.
Pictured are Blantyre cyclists of the era, two chaps out on a cycle to Douglas. This is the entrance to the former Douglas Estate, (the structure still there today at Cairn Lodge Service Station).
On Social Media, the following comments were received on Facebook:
John Queen the guy on the right must have had serious issues putting his feet down when stopping.
Hari Docherty I wonder what they would make of the building today mooching sheepishly in the car park of the Cairns Lodge motorway service station on M74. If fact what would they make of the M74?