Scotland's 'Victorian Mo Farah' to be celebrated in home town

He was the son of a Victorian shoemaker who went on to become a world record-breaking Scottish running sensation.

The runners William Cummings and Walter George had a fierce rivalry in the late 19th century. Picture: British Newspaper Archive

Now the largely-forgotten exploits of Paisley-born William Cummings are to be celebrated in his birthplace.

Cummings, whose contests with an arch rival English runner, Walter George, attracted huge crowds of spectators, will be recognised as Scotland's 19th century equivalent of Mo Farah when Paisley's new-look museum reopens in 2024 after a £45 million overhaul and expansion.

The project will allow double the number of objects from Paisley’s historic collections to go on display.

The Paisely-born runner William Cummings will be honoured with the town's new-look museum opens in 2024.

New research into the life and running career of William Cummings after one of his world championships belts was discovered in an extensive trawl of the archives.

Cummings, who was born in Paisley in 1858, will be recognised in the museum alongside modern-day local hero Callum Hawkins, who has competed in the Commonwealth Games, Olympics, London Marathon and World Cross Country Championships.

Achie Henderson, a social history researcher at the museum, which dates back to 1871, was cataloguing objects for the new-look museum when he came across a world championhip belt won by Cummings in its archives.

He said: “We were keeping an eye out for anything interesting and I opened a box and there it was.

William Cummings' world championship belt will be going on display in the new-look Paisley Museum.

"Initially I thought it was a boxing belt, but I quickly noticed that it had depictions of runners and an inscription for the 10-mile world champion.”

The discovery of the belt sparked a research project into the exploits of Cummings, who turned professional at the age of 18, went on to win a string of major titles competing in races around the UK and broke the world mile record in 1981.

Cummings’ rivalry with Walter George can be traced back to the latter’s emergence in 1882, although it was not until the latter turned professional three years later that they were finally able to race against each other, when more than 30,000 spectators turned out for their first enounter, at Lillie Bridge, in London.

Mr Henderson added: "You had the perfect recipe for competition and the public wanted to know who was best.

Donations from Renfrewshire runner Callum Hawkins will be going on display alongide William Cummings' world championship belt in the new-look Paisley Museum. Picture: Iona Steph

“George turned professional to take part in a series of head-to-heads over a three-race challenge – over one mile, four mile and 10 mile distances. Two races took place in London, with one in Edinburgh, with the 10-mile race in London the decider.

“It really captured the imagination of the public at the time. There were thousands of people coming just to see these two race around a track. Cummings won the decider, which saw him crowned champion.”

Cummings and George would go on to stage a one-mile rematch in 1886, which the Englishman won and set a new world record, however the Scot claimed revenge with a string of other wins over his rival.

The “Champion’s Belt” presented to Cummings in 1880 for his win 10-mile challenge win will have pride of place in Paisley Museum when his achievements are highlighted alongside memorabilia donated by 30-year-old marathon runner Hawkins.

The revamped and extended Paisley Museum is expected to open to the public in 2024.

He said: “It’s an honour to be part of the museum. I remember going as a kid and it’s amazing to think I’m going to be part of it when it reopens. I can’t wait to see it up and running again next year.”