Youngsters at a Nottingham primary school had a lesson in road safety… 1950s style.

The pupils at Southwold Primary School in Radford were put through their paces in a reconstruction of the original cycling proficiency test.

The event launched a project led by the University and local community theatre group Hanby and Barrett to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Nottingham-based Raleigh, the world’s oldest bicycle company.

Professor Christine Hall, Head of the School of Education and one of the academics leading the project, said: “This year marks 125 years since Raleigh began trading in Nottingham and its name has since become synonymous with the city.

“We were delighted when Raleigh agreed to collaborate with us on a community history project to commemorate this very special occasion. The site of one of the company’s most important factories on Triumph Road is now home to our own Jubilee Campus and, as such, we feel that we have a very special relationship with the company and its roots in the city.”

Pupils had a go at the original cycling proficiency test — which resulted from a report from a working party set up in 1958 by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation — under the direction of actors from Hanby and Barrett in the guise of 1950s’ cycle inspectors.

Headteacher Kate Clifford said: “We are very excited at being chosen as the partnership primary school in this project. It will be great for the children to learn more about the history of the area while at the same time taking part in some fun and enriching activities. We are hoping it will also encourage more children to bring their bikes to school in the future.”

The Raleigh project, which involves staff from the University’s Schools of Education, History, English and Computer Sciences, aims to engage with the local community to celebrate Raleigh’s history and heritage.

A Raleigh-based lecture series — organised by the University’s Centre for Advanced Studies — kicked off on February 21 with Andrew Ritchie, the creator of the Brompton folding bike. Cycling historian Roger Lovell spoke about the origins of the cycle industry on February 28. On March 6, former Raleigh employees gathered to speak about their experiences, while John MacNaughtan and Tim Buxton, of Raleigh, will round off the series on March 20 with a talk on the company’s international reach and future plans.

Hanby and Barrett will also be creating a performance looking at Raleigh’s history and the experiences of the thousands of Nottingham men and women who worked there. The performance will tour venues across the city in May and June. Producer Julian Hanby said: “This is a great opportunity to work with members of the community and The University of Nottingham on an event that will celebrate the Jubilee Campus and its former use. It was once the most modern bicycle factory in the world and we hope that members of the public — including many former Raleigh employees — will visit the site for these events, and relive memories of past activity there.”

The events will culminate in a community open day at Jubilee Campus on Saturday 16 June.

Raleigh’s story began in 1887 when Sir Frank Bowden bought an interest in a small bicycle shop based on Raleigh Street. During its 125-year history, the company has become famous for its innovative bicycle designs, particularly the iconic children’s bikes the Burner, Grifter and Chopper. Despite moving from its Triumph Road factory in the early 2000s — now home to the University’s Jubilee Campus — the company has retained its strong links with Nottingham and the company’s HQ is now in nearby Eastwood.

John MacNaughtan, from Raleigh, said “As the leading UK bike brand for 125 years, Raleigh shaped many of the engineering and processing practices seen in today’s cycling industry. In the 1960s, 70s and 80s these practices were refined through studies carried out by a number of Nottingham University departments, narrowing the gap between ‘theory’ and ‘practice’, resulting in many new innovations and revolutionised working practices. Raleigh is proud of its long association with The University of Nottingham and we’re pleased to be collaborating again in our landmark anniversary year.”