The unopened JD Wetherspoon pub in Caerphilly has been renamed The Malcolm Uphill in honour of the Trecenydd born motorcyclist.
The new pub on Cardiff Road, which is due to open its doors on October 11, was to be called the ‘The Billingsley Rose’ after a of a type of porcelain produced in Nantgarw by William Billingsley in the 1800s.
But residents questioned the naming of the pub and contacted the national pub chain.
A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon said: “We are changing the name of the pub to The Malcolm Uphill in honour of the motorcyclist.
“We always try and have, where possible, historically relevant names for our pubs. This wasn’t a person we were aware of until someone made us aware of him.
“We needed permission from his widow and that’s now been granted.”
Work is continuing on The Malcolm Uphill pub which will be situated in the old Co-Co and Blockbuster buildings. JD Wetherspoon has said it is spending £1.325 million on the development and that it is expected to create up to 40 jobs.
Malcolm Uphill, who lived in from Machen, was the first man to average over 100 mph for a lap of the Isle of Man TT on a production motorcycle with a Triumph Bonneville 650cc in 1969.
He passed away in 1999, aged 64 from asbestosis.
Fundraising is also underway to erect a plaque honouring Mr Uphill between the Irish Tymes pub and the new Wetherspoon at the top of Caerphilly town.
Cheques can be made payable to the Malcom Uphill Commemorative Committee and sent to JET Models and Hobbies, 27 Bartlett Street, Caerphilly, CF83 1JS.
This is really excellent news, Malcolm was Caerffili man of worldwide renown and a real role model. The article implies that he was from Machen but he was born in Trecenydd and lived for many years in Heol Trecastell, Caerffili. Now that his name will be more prominent in the town I hope that young people will seek out more information on the accomplishments of this modest, but talented, man.
The Malcolm Uphill Commemorative Committee was formed last year to raise funds for a permanent memorial. This will still go ahead but the naming of the new Wetherspoon pub is a welcome, but unexpected, bonus.
This really is a winning promotion on behalf of the Malcome Uphill memorial Fund Trustees and thanks has to go to Wetherspoons who have taken Independent Councillors Eddie Talbots suggestions on board to name the pub after Malcolm, who was a Freeman of The Town of Caerphilly.