Jock Miller

In his early racing days, American-born Jock Miller was a member of the Royal Albert Cycling Club in Larkhall, Scotland. His cycling successes were limited, but in 1909 he had the honour of winning the first un-paced 50-mile time trial in Scotland, in a time of 2-42.0. He competed in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics in the individual and team road race, finishing fourth as part of the Scottish team in the latter. In 1907 he walked non-stop from Glasgow to Carlisle and in 1911 cycled from Land’s End to John o’ Groats. He once set a record of 8-55.0 for the Glasgow-Dumfries-Glasgow round trip on a bike.

Miller was responsible for getting the Vegetarian Cycling Club started in Scotland, following its formation in London in 1888. After his racing days, Miller became a cycle builder in Scotland before moving to Essex in the 1930s, where he carried on the business at Romford. He accumulated a collection of over 60 famous and antique cycles that he kept after he sold his shop in 1948. Included in his collection was an 1818 hobby horse with solid iron wheels that was built for the sixth Duke of Argyll and was ridden by Miller in the film Great Expectations. An 1897 Tenby-built cycle from his collection was ridden by actor John Mills in the 1949 film The History of Mr Polly. Miller regularly displayed his collection and was often seen riding one of his penny-farthings at shows and exhibitions around Britain. He was well known for his magnificent beard, reminiscent of cricketer W. G. Grace and, because of his appearance, Miller received offers to appear in movies of his own, once playing the part of a Highland Chief in the film Bonnie Prince Charlie. Miller eventually sold his collection of cycles in 1955, two years before his death.