The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Davie makes trips down memory lane on iconic Chopper bikes possible
The Raleigh Chopper embodied rebellion and freedom, and brought a taste of cool Americana to the playgrounds of Britain.
Inspired by drag-cars and motorcycles, the iconic bicycle was quickly elevated to cult status when it hit the streets in 1970 and topped Christmas lists for a decade.
With its high-rise handlebars, unique wedgeshaped frame, and likeness to the Harley Davidson in blockbuster film Easy Rider the Chopper was unlike any other bike around.
However, it fell out of fashion in the 1980s when the cheaper BMX arrived on the scene, and the last genuine Chopper rolled off the production line in 1982.
But now, a Fife man is lovingly restoring old Choppers and transforming them from scrap to soughtafter collectors’ pieces.
Like so many children of the 1970s, Davie Speake had his heart set on owning a Chopper, and would gaze at them longingly in Kirkcaldy Halfords.
But the bikes cost upwards of £32, around £500 in today’s money, meaning the dream was never realised for many youngsters, including Davie.
But he now owns several Choppers, and has restoring around 700 of them in the last 10 years.
It all started when Davie fixed up bikes in his youth; his brother raced stock cars so he spent a lot of time in the garage with him.
Over the last decade, Davie started tinkering with them again.
Driven by his love for the retro bicycle, he dedicates all his free time to saving scrappy bikes and carefully refurbishing them, and has even scooped prizes for his delicate handiwork.
The production window, was limited, so coming by original Choppers and the parts to repair them is no mean feat.
But Davie is so renowned in vintage vehicle circles as the man who rebuilds bikes that he is called on an almost daily basis by people who have spotted an old bike or some useful parts.
The wide appeal of the unique bike means the Choppers he works on often come imported from America via collectors the length and breadth of Britain.
It is a labour of love, and Davie devotes his evenings and weekends to rebuilding bikes in his Falkland workshop.
Starting from the frame up, he spends weeks and months getting each piece restored to perfection.
A builder by trade, he said: “I probably don’t make a penny out of them, I just love restoring them.”
Starting off with only the bare skeleton of a strippedback bike, Davie has the frame and forks sandblasted to remove years of wear and tear.
The stripped-back metal is then ready to be chromeplated or painted, before the Chopper decals are carefully placed on the tubing.
Then comes the replacement handlebars, wheels, brakes and the distinctive padded seat with its sissy bar.
Davie’s attention to detail has seen his authentic restoration catch the eye of judges at car shows in Fife, and collectors as far afield as America.
He said: “I won a competition at the Fife Vintage Vehicle Owners Association show in 2019. I go every year to take bikes and display them.”
Nostalgia plays a big role in the bikes that Davie sources, with many people seeking their childhood pride and joy once again.
Davie added: “One man wanted the Chopper he had when he was a kid – a 1971 orange MK1 – which he said he wanted to buy and donate to the V&A Dundee for a display.
Davie also thinks that lockdown has kickstarted a Chopper revival as people reconnect with past-times.
He added: “Some people are buying them to use them, but others want them for man caves and shop window displays, too.”
Military personnel were dispatched to a Coupar Angus chicken factory to help tackle a third coronavirus outbreak.
Health chiefs asked the Army to attend at the 2 Sisters plant to support a mass testing operation.
NHS Tayside said there has been a “small but sustained increase” in the number of positive cases at the George Street abattoir, which employs around 1,000 people.
Since the beginning of the month there have been 25 positive cases linked to the factory.
The Courier understands more than 100 staff have been told to stay home.
Measures that were put in place to prevent infection spread, including outdoor testing that began last month, are now being reviewed.
The factory was first hit by a coronavirus outbreak in August, when the premises was shut down for a fortnight while all staff were sent home to self-isolate.
New positive cases were detected again just after Christmas.
The small number of confirmed infections rose dramatically during the first weeks of January.
The Army said it was asked by NHS National Services Scotland to offer assistance to the company’s ongoing testing operation.
The Courier understands there were no concerns about testing on site, but advice was given about a technical issue concerning data flow.
Dr Emma Fletcher, chairwoman of the multi-agency Incident Management Team (IMT) which met to discuss the situation yesterday morning, said: “An IMT was called in response to a small but sustained increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 associated with the 2 Sisters factory.
“The IMT is working closely with 2 Sisters to put in place preventative measures to limit further transmission of the virus amongst factory workers.
“This includes supporting them to review existing infection prevention processes and procedures in place.
“The factory is working closely with NHS Tayside’s Public Health team and Food Standards Scotland to ensure all arrangements for contact tracing and self-isolation are in place.
“Staff who are selfisolating are being given appropriate advice and additional support from their relevant local authority if needed.”
Dr Fletcher added: “The IMT is reassured that the factory can remain open at this time.”
Deputy First Minister and local SNP MSP John Swinney said: “News of a further outbreak at 2 Sisters is a matter of significant concern, and will understandably worry the local community.
“It is now vital that all necessary steps are taken to ensure that this cluster of cases does not spread.”
A British Army spokeswoman said: “Some military personnel attended the 2 Sisters factory at the request of NHS National Services Scotland, in order to provide assistance and assurance to the asymptomatic testing team on site.
“There are no plans to have military personnel regularly based at the factory.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman added: “We will work with public health to support staff at 2 Sisters if required.”
The 2 Sisters Food Group declined to comment.
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Working to put in place preventative measures to limit further transmission
Scotrail services will be taken into public ownership, Scotland’s transport secretary has announced.
Michael Matheson told MSPS the rail service will be run through an arm’s-length company owned and controlled by the Scottish Government.
The takeover will happen when the current franchise with Abellio ends, currently expected in March next year.
Mr Matheson said: “I have repeatedly stated the current franchising system is no longer fit for purpose.
“Following a detailed assessment process and given the uncertainty caused by Covid-19, alongside the continuing delays to the UK Government White Paper on rail reform, I have decided that it would not be appropriate to award a franchise agreement to any party at this time, either through a competition or a direct award.
“That is why I have confirmed that, from the expiry of the current franchise, Scotrail services will be provided in public hands through a company wholly owned and controlled by the Scottish Government. This is in line with our operator of last resort duty.
“Scotrail staff will transfer to the new Scottish Governmentowned entity, with their terms and conditions protected. This approach will provide a stable platform for Scotrail services and certainty for passengers and staff.”