I was born and raised in the North East of Scotland, near Elgin.
I came to Glasgow in 1985 to go to university. At the time the bus routes were hard to find out, almost a secret, so I started riding my bike to get around. I did my own repairs. I’ve always liked fixing things. I learned from books and helpful bike shops.
Time passed and I graduated, did a Masters degree but didn’t find the perfect job. I became involved in cycle activism, and then the M77 road protest. I carried on fixing my bike, and friends’ bikes.
Through the cycle campaign I met Colin Guthrie a GP and Alistair Wilson, a psychiatrist. Alistair had an idea which was quite radical at the time of a social prescription project, where people with mental health problems would come and repair bikes. This would give them something to do and have the benefits linked here. In 1997 this was far from mainstream. Mental health provision was changing from the old hospital model to care in the community, and Common Wheel was opposed by some in the health hierarchy.
Alistair has many ideas, but is not good at making things happen. Getting Common Wheel going became my job, initially unpaid. We started a group in the multi purpose room of the Riverside Resource centre with borrowed tools and a few of Alistair’s patients. This worked, and we eventually persuaded Glasgow City Council to give us an industrial unit at 53 Chapel Street at a very cheap rent. The first bit of funding came from a philanthropic trust, and we were given a grant by Greater Glasgow Health Board annually for many years.
I’ve grown with Common Wheel, and have seen the organisation become more professional. I’ve got better at fixing bikes, and learned to weld properly and braze. I’ve learned from the people around me, clients, volunteers, staff and directors.
I’m still at Common Wheel because it’s fun, challenging and rewarding.