At its height Raleigh employed 8,000 people and produced thousands of bikes a month<\/p>\n
The news the company which owns Raleigh had begun insolvency proceedings means one of Nottingham's most prestigious manufacturing names may have reached the end of its journey.<\/p>\n
From being one of the city's big three employers – along with Boots and Players cigarettes – with 8,000 staff, it may have finished its days being little more than a logo.<\/p>\n
But during the decades of its existence it touched the lives of countless people, both those who worked there and those who enjoyed its bicycles.<\/p>\n
Some of those tell their stories about what Raleigh meant to them.<\/p>\n
For decades Raleigh exported its bicycles across the world, including this shop in Paris<\/p>\n
Mark Hallam grew up being able to see the Raleigh factory from his backyard.<\/p>\n
He said: "Raleigh – Players and Boots too – came to the school offering careers and since it was so close I went for Raleigh.<\/p>\n
"I started in 1978, starting with how to build brakes and put spokes in wheels.<\/p>\n
"It had such a great atmosphere, though you had to be able to take having the mickey taken out of you!<\/p>\n
"It was diverse and so friendly, so full of characters, the social club was a great place."<\/p>\n
"One weird thing was you could smell if someone worked for Raleigh. I think it was the metal mixed with grease and oil.<\/p>\n
"And the factory dominating the area. I once walked past the gate just before four o'clock and everyone was pressed up against it, ready to run.<\/p>\n
"People would say, 'get the bus before Raleigh chucks out'.<\/p>\n
"But here's the thing, I never rode a Raleigh as I couldn't afford one," he said.<\/p>\n