Weymouth’s ‘Danny the Bike Man’ hangs up his bicycle pump and ‘re-tyres’ – having raised £54,400 for hospice care!

He’s a Weymouth legend. Danny Collins – aka ‘The Bike Man’ – is hanging up his spanners and bicycle pump after twenty years of restoring and selling bikes for Weldmar.

Danny, his friend Margaret, and a group of Weldmar’s ‘Weymouth Friends’ originally ran sales of bric-a-brac in Greenhill Gardens. One weekend, a bike was donated that sold immediately, and Danny turned his attention to fixing donated bicycles and selling them on from his driveway on Dorchester Road.

Now, at the age of 85, Danny is officially retiring having raised an incredible £54,400 to support local people experiencing life limiting illness.

Clare Dunster, Weldmar Fundraiser, says: “This really is the end of an era. Danny has been selling bikes for Weldmar for such a long time and has so many wonderful stories. He’s made dreams come true for local children by selling them their first bike with their pocket money, and the total he’s raised over the years is quite astonishing. I have always smiled when I’ve driven down Dorchester Road and seen Danny’s driveway overflowing with bikes for sale!

“We know that Danny will keep himself busy with other things, but at 85 it’s the right time for him to ‘re-tyre’ from the bike sales. Danny – we can’t thank you enough for everything you have done!”

Clare, along with other colleagues from the team, went to visit Danny and celebrate his incredible achievements: