28/03/23
Jim Robinson writes:
Hugh Mitchell
Sadly, I have to report the death of Hugh Mitchell, a stalwart of the Club in his day and a great friend of Jim Hay and myself. Known to everyone as ‘Hughie’, he joined the Club in 1951 and was a very popular and enthusiastic member but during an enforced break from the bike he started running to keep himself fit and discovered an unexpected talent for it. A long and distinguished career followed, in distance running particularly, until well beyond the age at which most of us would have given up.
His running club was the Shettleston Harriers and their appreciation of his passing can be read here.
6 Sep 1953 Balloch. Finish of Ivy CC International 130ml RR
L to R: Willie Shaw, Andy Nolan, John Meggat, Jim Hay, Hughie Mitchell, Alex Jamieson, Ronnie Packer, Davie Ferguson, Ronnie Crawford, Jim Robinson
20/05/23
Davie Reynolds writes:
The Oldies – Highland Fling Aberfeldy 9 –12 May 2023
L t R: Greg Mackenzie, Alex Horn, Jim Wood, Jim Robinson, Bobby Boyes, Charlie Stewart, Tam Barr, Jim Smith, Davie Reynolds Alex Cameron, Andy Graham
L t R: Greg Mackenzie, Alex Horn, Jim Smith, Bobby Boyes, Charlie Stewart, Alistair MacDonald, Tam Barr, Jim Smith, Davie Reynolds Alex Cameron, Andy Graham
After two fallow years, forced upon us by the COVID pandemic, the Oldies got back in business last year, 2022, with a trip based in Pitlochry, at the Backpackers Hostel. There was much prevarication around the choice of venue with little support for a return to Pitlochry but in the end we opted for the remoteness of Aberfeldy Bunkhouse, the venue for our first fling back in 2016.
The tortuous road up to the Bunkhouse was unchanged but the team seemed to take this in their stride. This was the sixth of our Flings since the inaugural trip to Aberfeldy in 2016. We had 12 participants in 2016, 17 at our peak in 2018 and this year a respectable 14. It was great to have the 2022 diet of new talent (Greg and Colin) return with their tall tales. So that left Dave Reynolds, Alex Horn (Mr Fixit), Charlie Stewart, Ian Russell (aka Neil Young ), Alistair MacDonald, Bobby Boyes, Jim Woods, Jim Smith, Andy Graham, Tam Barr, Alex Cameron and, of course, Jim Robinson. It has to be said that, of the fourteen, nine turned up with bikes (including two e-bikes). All machines were given a fitting workout by their riders.
On day one, arriving early, were Mackenzie, Wood and MacDonald making the most of good weather on Tuesday afternoon they had a warm-up ride out to Weem, Coshieville, Fearnan and on to coffee stop at Kenmore, returning by the side of Drummond Hill and with a tail wind back to Aberfeldy.
Wednesday’s ride had Mackenzie, Wood, MacDonald, Barr, Russell, Fraser and Smith, heading out to Strathtay, Balnaguard, Dalguise and on to Birnam for coffee.The return leg, which enjoyed a couple of short showers, was via the Amulree Road and over the Loch na Craig to Aberfeldy.
Other members, Horn, Russell and Graham took their bikes up to Kinloch Rannoch then had a plod up to Rannoch Train Station. On the Thursday the weather was superb and all with the exception of Andy Graham went up Glen Lyon to the Bridge of Balgie tearoom. Smith, Fraser, and Mackenzie then went over Ben Lawers to Loch Tay to return to Aberfeldy, while the older members returned down Glen Lyon.
As is now custom, Alex Cameron, Charlie Stewart and Davie Reynolds battled out the challenge for the Bert Waugh Oldies golf tankard at Aberfeldy Golf Club on the Wednesday. Charlie yet again prevailed and held the tankard.
On the social side every night involved the usual banter, fine food, good beer, malt whisky and Ian’s ever expanding repertoire of Dylan and Young classics. Of particular note was the fine casserole provided by Alistair’s good lady for the first night and a fine soup donated by Charlie. The second and third nights were to be spent dining at the Ailean Chreggan Hotel, a short 30 minute hike down the forest path to Weem. Sadly this was not to be, as the hotel closed for business the night before due to management issues – whatever that means. Fortunately we managed to get a table at the Black Watch Hotel in Aberfeldy for both nights. The food and service at short notice were very good.
The Oldies as usual enjoyed fair weather and fine tailwinds and the controversial choice of venue seemed to meet most of our needs. I am confident that the Oldies will reunite again in 2024 and there was even some talk of returning to the Bunkhouse. Meantime the search to find the perfect venue continues and will no doubt be a topic for debate at the Horseshoe Bar.
Footnote: Mr Fixit managed to lose a wheel while loading up his car in Aberfeldy at the end of his day three ride. Fortunately it was picked up by an American tourist who took it to his digs where the owner posted the find on the Aberfeldy Facebook notice board. Our waitress at the Black Watch recalled our conversation on Alex’s loss and passed my telephone number on to the public spirited landlady who called me with the news of the find. I understand that Alex and the wheel have been reunited. A case of “ Nae Wheel” I guess.
L to R: Colin Fraser, Tam Barr, Greg Mackenzie, Jim Wood, Jim Smith
L to R: Jim Wood, Alistair MacDonald, Tam Barr, Alex Horn
In the wilds of Rannoch. L to R: Ian Russell, Andy Graham.
An Alpine Scene. L to R: Jim Wood, Greg Mackenzie, Colin Fraser
18/06/23
Jim Robinson writes:
By popular request I’m making photographs of the first Oldies re-union available again. Follow this link.
15/08/23
Jim Robinson writes:
Jim Taylor
Besides his family and friends Jim had three life-long interests which greatly enriched his life, art, cycling and photography.
I first met Jim and his brother, Bert, in the early 1950s when they were members of the VC Stella although he later joined the ‘Gale. Possibly marrying my sister had something to do with that.
Jim was physically very strong and produced some fine performances as a rider in his younger years but the demands of a young family and, eventually, running his own business meant he couldn’t devote the time and energy that would be required to continue racing. Nevertheless the effect that cycling has on people continues throughout their lives. It never leaves them. So Jim arranged to combine two of his interests and became well-known for his cycling photography.
When I alerted our old cycling friends to Jim’s passing several mentioned that they still had photographs that Jim had taken of them in their racing days. They were valued because he had the expertise, the equipment and an artistic eye which enabled him to produce images of professional quality.
In later years when Jim became housebound and my sister, Isobel, had to leave him alone at home she would sometimes ask me to be with him and I was always happy to do so. Our shared interest meant that we had a ready-made topic of conversation.
The cycling world is a bit of closed world to outsiders and was, and is, populated by some great characters, some so characterful as to be properly described as eccentric. They were a great topic of conversation when we could remind ourselves of some of the mad things we’d seen, and done, in out heyday. No matter how difficult his current circumstances were, I hoped that these visits would brighten his day.
And, of course, cycling on television was something he looked forward to especially during the Tour de France.
When my father died Jim and I jointly presented the Sam Robinson Memorial Trophy to the club for annual competition in his memory and, quite by co-incidence, this year’s edition of that event took place on the Saturday between his death and his funeral.
15/08/23
Jim Robinson writes:
Alex Smith
Yet another old club member departs. Alex Smith, who has died within days of celebrating his 84th birthday, was a massive contributor to the club over his many years of membership.
He joined the club in 1951 and contributed at every level to the club’s success, from event promotion to, latterly, auditing the club’s accounts. For many years he drove lead car in the Sam Robinson Memorial RR which meant he saw nothing of the race but was still happy to help out in an essential task.
With the death of his wife, Jean, and subsequent ill-health he retired from the scene to live a very quiet life. The club has survived and prospered for almost 100 years due to the unsung efforts of the Alex’s of this world. The clubs centenary celebrations would have brought him great pleasure.
15/08/23
Jim Robinson writes:
Bert Waugh
At the invitation of Bert’s wife, Lena, a number of his old pals met on the Crow Road to share in the scattering of his ashes. At a spot on the hillside overlooking the Campsie Glen waterfall the ashes were scattered followed by a sprinkling of wild flower seed. A measure of malt whisky loosened tongues as we reminisced with Lena and her daughters and daughter’s partner. It was a fitting tribute to Bert who lived in the shadow of the Campsies, in Kirkintilloch, for many years and was much appreciated by we oldies.
Glasgow Nightingale Cycling Club 