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"My grandad cycled to Moscow
We're looking for the best stories of your grandparents, whether they are still alive or no longer
with us. Here, IT support engineer Valerie Alexander tells how her grandad cycled into the heart of
the Soviet Union in the 1960s. Let us know what your grandad or grandma did, using the form at the
bottom of the page.
What my grandad did My grampa, Alex Craig, cycled from Glasgow to Moscow in the 1960s. He was very
left-wing in his politics and he wanted to visit a communist country.
He worked on the railways, as a station master at Westerton in Glasgow, and so went to Russia on
an exchange.
He caught the train down to Dover with his bike - he had a privilege ticket on British Rail - and
once he got across the Channel, it took him a couple of weeks to cycle across Europe. He was a very
keen cyclist and runner, and in 1936 had cycled to Berlin to be a spectator at the Olympics.
He had a great time in Moscow, and his hosts didn't allow him to spend any money - everything was
bought for him during the month or two that he was there.
He was a complete teetotaller. One of the many stories that abound regarding his trip is how he had
a gripping cold cured by a clear liquid with a "kick like a donkey" supplied in quantities by his
host. He never found out what it was; we assume vodka.
How I first heard this story He died when I was one, but as a child I remember Grandma Molly
allowing us to play with what seemed to be an endless Russian doll. It was about a foot high, and
opened up and up and up until finally you came to a little doll about the size of a thimble. He also
brought back a painted wooden chalice, which contained an entire miniature tea set.
Obviously I wanted to know where these treasures came from, and his epic trip soon became the stuff
of family legend.
The influence he had on me My mum says all of his descendents are passionate about politics - either
strongly supportive of a party, or very strongly apolitical. Me, I'm interested in politics,
although I haven't really inherited his views or opinions.
But he did pass on his love of Russia; I even work in a building next to the Russian Consulate in
Edinburgh.
My mother and I both learned a bit of the language in school, and I still have his dictionaries. I
also collect those Russian dolls, except the first one I bought I was horribly disappointed - it
only had three dolls inside.
While I would like to visit Moscow and I do cycle, I don't know if I could ride all the way there."
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