48 year UK bike trade veteran John Macnaughton publishes memoirs

UK bike trade veteran and retiree John Macnaughton has published a book with Red Juice Press on his 48 years spent between Nottingham bike giant Raleigh and Sturmey Archer Ltd, among other significant roles in the industry.

Available for order now, the book takes the reader through an era of transformation where production relocated to Asia, but also recounts John’s role learning the ins and outs of the business while moving through Africa and the Middle East, plus latterly setting up Raleigh Australia.

Titled Jungle-Wallah to International Businessman: A Memoir, the 241 page read begins with John’s application for a job with the UK Foreign Office, which though it did not come to fruition, prompted the uptake of a role at Tube Investments, at the time the owner of Raleigh, among other businesses.

By 1967 the world travel ramped up with Raleigh’s export division sending John to South Africa to represent the business. From here on in, John travelled the globe as the face of Raleigh, establishing international links at a time when the bike trade was undergoing fundamental changes.

John became part of Sturmey-Archer in 1977 and was promoted to Sales and Marketing Director in 1981. Thereafter, when Sturmey-Archer sold to SunRace, John continued his career as Managing Director of Raleigh International.

Furthermore and later down the line, John was a key figure in the rescue of the Brooks Saddle company. More recently John has been known as the co-owner of present day UK bike maker Pashley, plus a key figure in the export of Moulton Bicycles. On the subject of Moulton, the modern day business recently re-acquired the site of its original bicycle works in Bradford on Avon.

For those keen on insight before buying into the book, John took time after his retirement for interviews, which can be listened to here and here.

To buy the book, head here