Anyone who took part in the ride through Wootton bassett earlier this year will know what an emotional ride it was. Arrangements are currently in progress for a repeat of this ride next year on Mothers Day, 3rd April with the addition of regional rides for those who do not get places on the main ride.
Details can be found on the facebook page “Ride of Respect 2011” and Julia Stevenson, the ride organiser, is also appearing on Biker FM every Monday evening between 6.45pm - 7.15 to give up-to-date details. Registration will be via the Agfhan Heroes website.
A merchandise package containing t-shirt, cap, patch etc. is also available and details of this can also be found on the facebook page.
Help make this the event of the year, raise valuable funds for Afghan Heroes and show your support for our service personnel by signing up for this as soon as it registration goes live.
This year it is expected there will be a number of other rides on the same day as not everyone who would like to will be able to register for the Wootton Bassett ride. I expect one to operate in the SE somewhere.
Yeah i’m being serious, i really don’t know, what would have been more helpful than the above comment would have been an explanation. I would not have posted it if it hadnt been a question :ermm:
Essentially, the original ride was to thank the good people of Wootton Bassett for their (sadly all-too-often) public shows of respect during the repatriations of British servicemen and women from overseas operations in Iraq and Afghanistan - their coffins are driven through the town from nearby RAF Lyneham en route to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, in readiness for the Coroner.
The ride’s official charity was Afghan Heroes, set up by mothers of some of those killed or injured during the conflicts. The date of ‘Mother’s Day’ was chosen pretty much as a show of support and respect for the mothers in question.
I was there in June with a small group from the H4H 4x4 European Rally to lay wreaths the day before we set off.
We were welcomed by the Lady Mayor, deputy Mayor and some of the British Legion.
We also met the landlady of the pub opposite the memorial who takes the families of the bereaved in and looks after them whilst they are in the town
I think the people of the town are amazing and it’s a shame that the respect they show to our fallen heroes is not always echoed across the rest of the country.
Registration for the Wootton Bassett and regional rides opens at 5pm on Wednesday, 27th October. This will be on the Afghan Heroes website and the ride through Wootton Bassett is expected to be heavily oversubscribed. Details on the facebook page ‘Ride of Respect 2011’.
If you can’t get on the Wootton Basset ride then regional rides will be held all over the country and these will be regarded as part of the same ride. Everyone riding together for the same cause.
Listen to Julia Stevenson on BikerFM between 18.45-19.15 on Monday evenings.
