Meet the winner of the Sustainability Champion category of this year’s Provost’s Awards – Denis Bell!
Torrance resident, Denis, who is a ‘retro bikes’ enthusiast, has been applying his skills in upgrading disused middle range and retro bikes to benefit a host of community groups in his local village. Over the last five years Denis has upgraded around 200 donated bikes, from balance bikes to vintage racers. He has then sold the bikes on generating over £2000 which he has donated to local charitable causes.
Some of the recipients of the funds include Torrance Greenspaces, Torrance Football Club, Woodmill Park, Caldwell Halls, Torrance & Baldernock Heritage & History Group, Girl Guiding and Scout groups and Victoria Bowling Club. He has also donated some of the money to CHAS and to Leaders for Learning Malawi.
A keen cyclist himself, Denis is driven by the enthusiasm of local people who are looking to get back on their bikes or teaching their children to cycle - he loves seeing children in the community riding their bikes to school. He is also very passionate about reducing waste.
Denis said, “People in our communities often want to ‘do the right thing’ and are becoming increasingly frustrated by our casual disposal way-of-life. I’m a firm believer in the benefits of ‘make do and mend’, both to prevent perfectly reusable goods going to recycling centres as scrap and to relieve the financial pressures of rising costs.”
Depute Provost Colette McDiarmid presented Denis with his Provost’s Community Champion Award certificate and quaich at Caldwell Halls in Torrance in front of representatives from some of the groups his work supports.
It was a real pleasure to meet Denis and to thank him personally for all he is doing for his local community.
"By upcycling retro bikes, Denis is not only providing local people with affordable opportunities to get fit and active, but he is also reducing waste which significantly benefits the natural environment. Furthermore, the money he has raised from the sale of upgraded bikes has delivered much needed funds to local groups, enhancing the quality of life of people of all ages living in the community. It can’t be overstated just how important people like Denis are to East Dunbartonshire, giving up their time, sharing their skills and talents to better the lives of their neighbours. It was an honour to present Denis with the Provost’s Sustainability Champion Award 2025; he thoroughly deserves this recognition.”
Denis said, “I’d like to say a gracious thanks to the Depute Provost and to everyone who came along to Caldwell Halls as I received the award. The groups in our community are truly marvellous – together we all have our little parts to play, and I find it highly rewarding seeing folk working in the community and enjoying the community. So, I’d like to thank everyone in Torrance, from the community groups, the donators of the bikes and to the new bike owners. I’m just a wee cog in the middle of it all.
Denis added, “I must say a special thanks to my wife Mary as I keep dropping her in it. I just jump in and start doing stuff and Mary picks up the tab. She is very patient and understanding when I create a guddle and mess with the bikes I’m working on. Behind anyone who is maybe half decent there is always a better partner supporting them!”
Retro bikes are those built before 1986, and over the years Denis has upgraded a variety of makes and models, from balance bikes to vintage racing bikes. Some of the projects he has worked on include a Saracen ATB, a Mongoose Gyro BMX, a Mikra and an Armstrong Mothlight. Denis will be displaying some of his work on Doors Open Day on Sunday 7 September between 12 and 4.30pm at Caldwell Halls in Torrance.
