Cyclists memorial

[Tinnishill]

I was told by an elder of the tribe that there is a roadside memorial to a cyclist killed by lightning in the 1920's, somewhere a few miles north of Newton Stewart. I have hunted for it a few times over the years but never found it. Anybody know where it is ?

[gaz]

Bell's memorial?

Although Davie Bell died in 1965 and no mention of a lightning strike.

[Tinnishill]

No, it's not Bells memorial. The person who told me about this had actually been David Bell's office junior on the Ayrshire Post, but Archie has been dead himself a few years now so I can't go back and check. Somewhere west of Glentrool perhaps, and a small roadside stone with an inscription ? There are a few of these stones in Galloway, not well mapped by OS; I know of two to shepherds, one to a district midwife and two larger memorials to postmen, all killed by weather events while going about their duty. Can't find the cyclist, though.

[Paulatic]

I was told by an elder of the tribe that there is a roadside memorial to a cyclist killed by lightning in the 1920's, somewhere a few miles north of Newton Stewart. I have hunted for it a few times over the years but never found it. Anybody know where it is ?

I can't give you the grid reference but from memory this is how you get there.
It's about 6 1/2mls from Newton Stewart. Take the Girvan road out of NS and at the Challoch church turn left. I think locals call this the back road to Girvan. It's along this road, a white stone, to a lad who worked on a farm cycling to or from work I believe.

The other I know of is on the Dalry heading to Kendoon. Approx 2 mls before the hostel. Two cyclists, from Ayrshire, heading to the hostel and one had a heart attack.

[Eyebrox]

The person who told me about this had actually been David Bell's office junior on the Ayrshire Post, but Archie has been dead himself ...

Archie Venters? Ex-Navy News and Mullwharchar enthusiast.
Archie Hutchison? Ex- Daily Express. Only reporter to speak to Elvis at Prestwick Airport.

Great memories of the twa Archies, both Ayrshire Post stalwarts.

[Tinnishill]

Thanks gents, I think that should do it. And, yes it was Archie Venters.

[Paulatic]

Thanks gents, I think that should do it. And, yes it was Archie Venters.

I've had my map out tonight. I hope this is where I recall. I'm fairly sure it was close to Knowe road end. Grid ref NX306724. Probably a few hundred yards past it.

[Tinnishill]

Here we have it. It's at grid NX332698, on the western verge of the road.

It's just as it was originally described to me. Unlike the other Galloway stones I mentioned there is no inscription of any kind, so passers by wouldn't know why it is there. After getting on for nearly a century, somebody is obviously still looking after it.

Cheers.

[Paulatic]

Pleased you found it. I was close but no T shirt. I remembered it after a farm road it must have been the on to Glassoch.
In my defence it's probably 20 yrs since John Taylor pointed that one out.