AN APPEAL has been launched to try and track down the Fairlie man who cycled from Largs to Brisbane and back again 35 years ago.
Francis Howard set out to reach Australia by bike in the fund-raising effort for charity way back in 1986.
Francis's trans-global trip, lasting more than two years, saw him met by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane when he reached Queensland's capital city - and he arrived back home in Largs on July 24, 1988, at the Brisbane Queen Festival's grand parade.
He left town in May 1986, and after a rest on his arrival in Brisbane, he set out on his trip home which included cycling across America.
The last route of the journey from London to Largs posed no problems for the intrepid adventurer who had already cycled across desert and jungle terrain.
On his mission, Francis raised thousands of pounds for the Largs Ayrshire Hospice Appeal.
Now Queensland resident Juliette Bentley has contacted the News in the hope of making contact with Francis or his family to find out more about the trip.
Juliette says she hopes to set up a project for students in Brisbane, Largs, and Fairlie to work in collaboration around the life and legacy of Sir Thomas MacDougall Brisbane - who was born in Largs in 1773 and after whom the city, the third largest in Australia, is named.
Juliette, pictured below, said: "Most Brisbane school children don't know who Sir Thomas was, nor the extent of his influence globally.
"With the Olympics in Brisbane in 2032, it would be a good time to help build a reconnection between our communities and develop our students' digital skills in an authentic way. This is a personal passion project.
"We would love to hear more about Francis's epic cycle between Largs and Brisbane.
"Sally Ann Atkinson was the mayor when Francis came. The twinning was an initiative of mayor Clem Jones Brisbane Mayor."
It follows recent calls on the town to do more to remember the legacy of Sir Thomas - a soldier, astronomer and governor of New South Wales.
Upon the recommendation of the Duke of Wellington, with whom he had served, Sir Thomas was appointed governor of New South Wales in 1821, a post he held for four years.
Brisbane was born at Brisbane House in Largs in 1773, and also died in the same house in 1860, aged 86.
After a highly eventful life, he left a massive legacy locally which included a school for disadvantaged children, called Brisbane Academy.
He also saved locals from cholera and typhoid by introducing a new sewage system to local streets, and donated large areas of land to the community, including Broomfields on Largs seafront.
Juliette is keen to preserve Sir Thomas's legacy through the school project plan and told the News she has been greatly encouraged by the feedback she has received so far from the Largs community - but has drawn a blank so far on finding out more about this epic cycle trip.
If you can help, contact editorial@largsnews.co.uk.
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