Triumphrat

Jarvis1966

Mothers Day Bikers Event 2010

Thousands of bikers from throughout the country are planning a spectacular mass ride through Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire on Mothers Day to honour soldiers who have lost their lives in Afghanistan.

More than 1,000 riders are expected to ride through the Wiltshire town on Sunday March 14 and then gather on the runway at RAF Lyneham. They will there hand over funds raised for the Afghan Heroes charity set up last September by a group of mothers who lost their sons in Afghanistan.

The bikers will descend on Wiltshire from throughout the UK and gather at the Leigh Delamere services on the M4 (Junction 17 - eastbound) before the mass ride through Wootton Bassett to RAF Lyneham at 12 noon where the fallen were repatriated into the UK.

Each rider will pay £5 (on the day) and receive a special commemorative Afghan Heroes wristband, which will be their entry pass to the RAF base.

All proceeds raised from the ride will go to the Afghan Heroes charity, which helps our service personnel in theatre, families of the fallen and our returning troops.

Register and find out more here - over 8500 bikes turning up so far!!

http://www.afghanheroes.org.uk/bikersevent.asp

Bonnie06Tangerine

I signed up; hope you don't mind a yank on a Triumph I will be there if my bike isn't already packed up and shipped out of here.

tbspete

I'll be there to.

Keep an eye on the website as there are more than 10,000 bikes registered now and they are having to change the start and finish points.

phil the greek

Interesting article in the Swindon Advertiser http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/n...eekend/?ref=mr
It seems the residents of Wootton have only just been told about this bike ride, and they’re not terribly keen.

One bit of the article says this:
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“It seems to me that this is going to encourage more people to come and use Wootton Bassett for political reasons – something we have always been against.

“There is a massive difference between a repatriation and a rally.

“Thousands of motorbikes throbbing through the town will be noisy, smelly, thrilling, almost martial – miles away from the quiet, spontaneous and reflective commemorations of young lives lost prematurely.”
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Rather inflammatory language, but then I guess that’s what being a journalist is all about.

tbspete

"I don’t see why these hairy bikers cannot just do their ride somewhere out in the countryside"

So nice isnt he? I think people would complain wherever its held.

Bath Bonne

I was on this ride yesterday and let me tell you any-one who didn't agree with the event was by far in the minority!!
We had a fantastic day, 15000 bikes that covered the whole length of the main runway totally, then onto the perimeter track, the Police did a fantastic job of leading us through the villages to Wooton Basset, and the people of the villages and hamlets were out in force flag waving, cheering and clapping us, we could not have been made more welcome!
Thank you to the people of Wooton Basset and surrounding villages en-route, you made the waiting more than worth it, but lets not forget the reason we were there, it was to send a message of support our troops and thank Wooton Basset for their shows of respect in the repatriation of the lads and girls who didn't get to see Mothers Day.
As for the moaners and groaners, up yours, you were out voted by people power hundreds to one!!
Here's looking to next years event.