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Chamber and committees

MBE Awarded to Johnny Dreczkowski, Bridge of Allan, who Completed a 2,500-mile Cycle to Africa for Charity

  • Submitted by: Alexander Stewart, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
  • Motion reference: S6M-17995

That the Parliament congratulates a retired detective, who took on a 2,500-mile cycle to Africa for charity, on being awarded an MBE for services to a local charity in His Majesty The King's Birthday Honours List; understands that Johnny Dreczkowski from Bridge of Allan, a former detective inspector, who worked with the head of counter terrorism and covert specialist training, aged 57, completed a 2,500-mile charity cycle from Stirling Castle to Morocco in aid of the Eilidh Brown respite home; notes that the respite home is run by the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund, which was set up by the family of a young girl from Stirling who tragically passed away due to a rare germ cell cancer on 25 March 2010, just nine days before her 16th birthday; understands that her final wish was to have a respite centre created close to her home in Stirling, which became a reality in 2023, when her family oversaw the opening of the respite home in Thornhill; further understands that, setting off from the historic Stirling Castle at the beginning of May 2025, Johnny cycled solo and unsupported through seven countries, across two continents, crossing three different time zones, and all of this within just 34 days, having traversed some of Europe and Africa's most challenging landscapes and toughest terrain after travelling south from Scotland, through England, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain and finally Morocco; believes that the respite home, nestled in the Stirlingshire countryside, holds a special significance for Johnny, as his wife, Ally Croll, was the architect who collaborated closely with Eilidh's family to turn her dream of the respite home into reality; understands that this dream may have been inspired by Eilidh and her family from St Ninians, after spending quality time together at the Calum's Cabin respite home on the Isle of Bute whilst living with her rare condition, and sends its deepest condolences to Eilidh’s family on their tragic loss, as well as commending everyone involved in the creation and running of the respite home, and further commends Johnny on what it sees as his phenomenal feat and highly magnanimous undertaking.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Foysol Choudhury, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Annabelle Ewing, Russell Findlay, Meghan Gallacher, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Stephen Kerr, Bill Kidd, Douglas Lumsden, Fulton MacGregor, Stuart McMillan, Douglas Ross, Paul Sweeney, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle