In the mid-1950s I was working as a rigger on Liverpool Docks. I’d read The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists at the age of 25 and it opened my eyes to the class nature of capitalist society. 

I was invited by a leading Mersey Docks shop steward Alec “Bunny” McKechnie to attend a Communist Party rally at St George’s Hall in Liverpool. 

It was addressed by the general secretary Harry Pollitt and I joined the party at that meeting. I became a regular reader and seller of the Daily Worker from then onwards. 

Later, as the local Morning Star organiser, I developed a huge order across the Merseyside labour movement. 

For over a quarter of a century, I organised and delivered a daily round of papers by bicycle. My bike was a second-hand Raleigh Green. 

I would collect at least one quire (24) of newspapers from the wholesalers and deliver them to MPs’ offices, trade union buildings, unemployed centres and bookshops across Merseyside. 

Eric Heffer MP was one of my regular readers, as was Billy Hayes who is now general secretary of the CWU union. 

During general elections the local MPs’ offices would take 25 copies daily throughout the campaign.

One of my deliveries was to the North West TUC office and some years ago the former regional secretary Alan Manning instituted an annual appeal for the paper across the region’s trade unions. 

This continues to be very well supported and it has raised many thousands of pounds for the Fighting Fund. 

The Morning Star cycle challenge, which originated in Merseyside, is an example of the goodwill which continues to exist locally. 

The paper is essential reading not only for the trade union movement but for the general public. 

It’s a tough job to keep it going, but it’s definitely worth it. 

I got my political education from the Daily Worker and the Morning Star. If the current and future generations are to get the same benefit, our paper needs serious investment. 

I would like to send my greetings to all the cyclists and logistical support staff on Team Star. I hope you have a safe journey to Paris and achieve your £10,000 sponsorship target. I’ll be backing you all the way!

Team Star: Meet your Heroes of Pain

Dan Smith  

Maillot Blanc

“I’M riding to Paris because the Morning Star provides the lone voice for peace and socialism in a daily media dominated by vested interests and reactionary forces. 

It is not beholden to media moguls or advertising barons, it is owned and run by its readers. 

It seeks to build the trade union and labour movement at home while providing solidarity to progressive governments and movements around the world. 

It is subversive, cutting-edge and radical. It is our paper. That’s why it matters.

David Owen

Lanterne Rouge

“AS chair of the Halton Unison local government branch I work in our union office and the Morning Star is my reference point for the day. 

It is the only national newspaper that reports the truth about ordinary people and their extraordinary lives, with depth, context and knowledge. 

The Morning Star features case law articles and international news, independent of big business agendas and government briefing. 

And what greater newspaper byline is there than “For peace and socialism”?

Matthew Tollitt  

Finisseur

“I HAVE been a trade union solicitor with Thompsons since qualifying in 1987. We provide regular law reports for the Morning Star from important employment and industrial relations legal cases. 

I read the paper every day because, alone among the national dailies, the Morning Star reports the news of the labour movement and the struggles of working people. 

There are three ways to sponsor the ride:

• To pay by card, phone the Morning Star on (020) 8510-0815 (lines are open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday)
• Go to www.morningstaronline.co.uk/support to make a one-off donation and sponsor a rider
• Send us a cheque, payable to Merseyside Morning Star Supporters Group and send to Pedalling4Progress, 
• 10 Hadassah Grove, Liverpool L17 8XH