Members Kenny MacDonald Posted May 24, 2010 Members Report Share Posted May 24, 2010 Wullie Burns a life member of the club and one of its legendary characters has sadly passed away. Wullie was racing into his 70s and specialised in long distance events. It was not unusual for him to ride to Dumfries ride a 100 then cycle home after event. He carried out many duties for the club over the years including secretary. He was also an accomplished plumber who did work on many cyclists homes even after he reached retirement age. He was cycling up untill last year although ill health curtailed his activities. He used to be a daily visitor to the Beith "spot " where he always had a can on the fire for any visitors. One of the last of the true cycling characters of the West of Scotland he toured abroad way before foreign travel had become trendy. Funeral details tbc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kenny MacDonald Posted May 25, 2010 Author Members Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 Funeral takes place on Friday at Dreghorn Crem. at 1:00pm All things going well I will be able to attend on behalf of the club. With plans for a centenary book underway its people like Wullie we will miss badly as he had a thousand stories to tell . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat3 Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Very sad news about Wullie. As Kenny said he was a real character, always friendly and very cheery, and happy to blether to anyone in the club. Even when I joined the club back in the 80's Wullie's stories & talk of drum ups and 'spots' seemed like something from a different era as this was a part of club life that we never experienced. It was his love of the bike - along with the fact that he was still so active - that was most noticeable about him back then. In the 25 years I've been in and around the club I never once heard a bad word said about Wullie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertz Van Rental Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Lynne and I went to Wullie's funeral today along with many former members of Johnstone Wheelers. I hadn't seen Wullie for a few years, but he was one of life's true gentlemen. Sadly missed. GG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kenny MacDonald Posted May 28, 2010 Author Members Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 sadly I never managed/down due to work commitments, fortunately as Gordon said a good turnout of former and present members. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertz Van Rental Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 I spoke to Wullie's brother (George) after the service. Wullie had a large collection of old cycling photographs which I'm willing to copy for the website / archives. Bill Taylor is going to get in touch with George later on and arrange this when it's convenient. As many of the senior members / former members get even "more experienced in life", I think it's important for their stories to be told and their memories to be recorded while it's still possible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Boyle Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 I've just read Kenny's post about wee Wullie, what a real shame. Wullie was one of these guys who made going to drum ups a real joy and an education. You could listen to him for hours and was a guy who bridged the gap between the "old" days and what we thought back in the 70s was the modern age of cycling! A cheerier wee man you couldn't have wished to meet and a gentleman through and through. If you had to define the words "cyclist" and "Johnstone Wheeler" Wullie was your man. I'm just so sorry I didn't find out in time to go and pay my respects. Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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