Pedal power (From Gazette Series)

Pedal power

IN about 1890 Mikael Pedersen arrived in Dursley from Denmark bringing with him plans for a startlingly new design of a bicycle which became known as the Dursley Pedersen.

In a small factory in Dursley, these cycles, and gears also designed by Pedersen, were made until the outbreak of World War I.

While still in Denmark, Pedersen had established close connections with the Dursley engineering company R A Lister. The company engaged to make Pedersen's design of cream separator, the Alexandra.

Up to this time, Lister's, founded in 1865 and makers of farm and dairy equipment, was only slowly making headway in a very competitive market. Pedersen's highly successful separator provided the break-through Lister's needed. Production began round the clock for markets at home and abroad. The company thrived and grew to world renown.

The extent of Pedersen's inventiveness was almost limitless, alone or in conjunction with fellow Dane Anders Mellerup. Musical instruments, engineering machinery, toys for local children and early motorcycles, all bore witness to his ingenuity and during the First World War his design of magneto was to be found in many British aircraft.

October was special for Mikael Pedersen. In Denmark he was born on the 25th of the month in 1855 and died on the 22nd in 1929. His baby daughter Margarehte died in Dursley on October 6, 1910.

This year sees the 150th anniversary of his birth and will be marked in Dursley on Saturday, October 22. Some 20 of his descendants plan to come from Denmark for the occasion and riders with original Dursley Pedersens - and possibly also with modern variations - are expected too.

There will be exhibitions relating to Mikael in Dursley Heritage Centre and at Gloucester Folk Museum.

Celebrations will begin in Dursley Town Hall at 11.30am with a welcome by the Mayor of Dursley, Cllr Jane Ball, to which all are welcome, and end at about 1pm when flowers will be laid on his grave in Dursley Cemetery.