Motor Vehicle, Bicycles & Welding
John is one of the specialist teachers at the learning hub in Hammersmith
Qualified cycle mechanic and community educator John Merriman is one of the top tutors at Hammersmith & Fulham's Macbeth Centre. With years of experience in both advertising and cycle mechanics, John brings a unique blend of creative problem-solving and practical engineering skills to his bike maintenance courses in the centre's fully equipped workshop.
John has always enjoyed tinkering with bikes. As a child, he would take bits off his bike and attempt repairs, often with disastrous consequences - but it proved to be an excellent way to learn! This lifelong passion for cycling and mechanics has evolved from childhood curiosity into professional expertise, leading him from a successful advertising career to becoming a qualified cycle mechanic and dedicated educator.
John worked for many years in the advertising industry as an Art Director, where his first teaching experience came through visiting lectureships at Art Colleges and Universities around the country. This background in creative problem-solving and visual communication has proven invaluable in his approach to teaching practical bike maintenance skills. When he decided to leave advertising, he trained as a cycle mechanic, combining his passion for bikes with formal technical qualifications.
John's interest in cycling led to meaningful community work with The Bike Project, a charity that gives donated bikes to refugees and asylum seekers in London. For the past two years, he has worked part-time with Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Justice Department, providing basic cycle mechanics training to youth offenders. In this programme, young people restore recovered and abandoned bikes provided by the police, which are then donated to good causes such as West London Welcome and The Bike Project.
John believes everyone can learn bike maintenance, regardless of their previous experience or technical background. He taught his own children how to maintain their bikes, and they would mend neighbours' bikes for pocket money - often receiving old or unwanted bikes which the family would renovate and donate to The Bike Project. His approach welcomes students from all sorts of backgrounds, from complete beginners to those with considerable mechanical experience.
John's teaching style is hands-on and inclusive, drawing from his belief that learning through doing - even through mistakes - provides the most valuable lessons. His advertising background helps him communicate complex mechanical concepts in accessible ways, whilst his real-world experience ensures students learn practical skills they can immediately apply to their own bikes.
John teaches cycle maintenance courses to adults at the Macbeth Centre in the fully equipped workshop, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds and experience levels. Beyond the centre, he works with schools, universities, and councils around London, repairing students' and staff bikes whilst teaching practical skills that empower people to maintain their own transport. His courses combine technical knowledge with environmental consciousness, helping students extend the life of their bikes whilst developing valuable mechanical skills.
Watch this video to find out more about what John covers regarding the ABC's of Bike Maintenance.
