Afghan Heroes Ride, Sunday 14 March

[Achim]

Great day out! Superbly organised and everyone was very well behaved - I think everyone who attended did motorcycling a great service.

There are some great pictures on the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8566860.stm

Achim

 

[Paul Rochdale]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THYgeETrkPs&feature=related

 

[Uncle Ricky]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THYgeETrkPs&feature=related

 

[Mutley]

the Mayor of Wootton would like us back again next year! Can't all be bad can it?

More than happy to bow to your superior knowledge of the workings of the Wooton Basset RBL, however they were the ones who said on Panorama that they didn't want fuss or a circus surrounding the town. If the mayor and the locals want you back then I'm glad it was well received. I'll be on the RTTW as I always have been.

Howie, I'm sorry mate but you are coming across as a very uptight self righteous knob. There may have been one or two WB people who had misgivings about the event but the vast majority came out and supported it - I know, I was there and I found it to be one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done.

And as for taking on a 24 year veteran of the Armed Forces in debate - well mate his measured responses have already beaten you in that argument.

We were welcome in WB, of that there is no question and if it is repeated I will be there again whilst you pontifiate from your armchair.

If having a different opinion to you and listening to what is said clearly in the media makes me a knob in your opinion then I'm happy to be one Snooty. I took nobody on, just reiterated clearly publicised opinions from those that have a right to them. If they have changed their opinions then I haven't seen them publicised, hence why I stayed away. As for 'taking on a 24 year veteran' I had no intention of doing anything of the sort, but if we can't have discussion and differing opinions on here then where can we?

This was a sensible and fact based debate until you jumped in with your unhelpfull name calling. Can I suggest you go away and grow up before entering your next thread?

 

[Uncle Ricky]

spoke to the organisers after everyone had left the airfield and they think there were around 25000 bikes that passed through the start line as an ex squaddie with tours of iraq ect under my belt it is wonderfull to see the support for the lads.
oh and just for the record i live on the route and the bikes started coming past at about 0700Hrs on there way to Hulavington and the last bikes passed about 1730Hrs and there were people out showing there support till the end including residents from the Nursing home In Malmesbury.
oh and the last group of bikes that went out was 2500 strong.
A great day and it shows that Britain isn't as broken as some people would have us believe.

Bugger if I had known we rode pass your house I would have stopped for a bacon buttie

 

[sieve68]

bacon buttie

you would have been more than welcome in fact there were several locals out with T and coffee for anyone who stopped.

After the event i went in to the Prince of Wales (its the one on the round about) and had a coke and a chat with some of the locals some of which were moved to tears by the show of support.


and since when have the media ever reported anything without putting there own spin on it?

 

[Big Den]

How many times has it been said Mutley, "don't believe what is says in the papers"

 

[MikeP]

Well I'm glad that it all went off without any major drama but I still wonder what exactly the link is between motorcycling and supporting the troops, or the bereaved.

I guess that this sort event caters for those who like to ride in huge numbers and getting them to make a charitable contribution for doing-so seems a novel way to raise funds.

It all seems a bit narcissistic.

 

[digga]

perhaps you woul like to take a choice from those here ?

 

[bowser]

Well I'm glad that it all went off without any major drama but I still wonder what exactly the link is between motorcycling and supporting the troops, or the bereaved.

I guess that this sort event caters for those who like to ride in huge numbers and getting them to make a charitable contribution for doing-so seems a novel way to raise funds.

It all seems a bit narcissistic.

I think the link is that there are a large number who have some connection, I know that myself and my club were involved in helping to run the event and we are mostly miltary and ex military, along with the RBL riders branch, those who chose to start the whole thing off have relative and friends in the military.
Of those that turned up I wouldnt try and guess what percentage have a military connection but I would have thought it high given the number of cap badges I saw on peoples jackets and stickers on the bikes.

Why does anyone support any event in large numbers

 

[MikeP]

I think the link is that there are a large number who have some connection, I know that myself and my club were involved in helping to run the event and we are mostly miltary and ex military, along with the RBL riders branch, those who chose to start the whole thing off have relative and friends in the military.
Of those that turned up I wouldnt try and guess what percentage have a military connection but I would have thought it high given the number of cap badges I saw on peoples jackets and stickers on the bikes.

Why does anyone support any event in large numbers

Well I come from a family with long connections to the military, one that has lost members in conflicts, I am an ex-soldier that has lost friends in conflict, a member of the RBL, a member of my Regimental Association and I've owned motorbikes since I was nineteen but I feel no natural link connecting my experiences as an ex-serviceman and riding through a small market town that makes its own, very respectful, observances.

My real question is why does it take herding together in large numbers where the main catalyst for such an action is two-wheeled transportation to get (some) people to donate?

The answer seems to be that it was the motorcycling that was the main attraction of the event and not the putative cause, otherwise this would have been as effective had the organisers suggested a lazy amble on foot through the town.

Granted, the cause was a good one and hopefully it will have benefited significantly but I suspect that I'm not alone in thinking that for many the charity was a secondary consideration.

 

[david a hall]

Well I come from a family with long connections to the military, one that has lost members in conflicts, I am an ex-soldier that has lost friends in conflict, a member of the RBL, a member of my Regimental Association and I've owned motorbikes since I was nineteen but I feel no natural link connecting my experiences as an ex-serviceman and riding through a small market town that makes its own, very respectful, observances.

My real question is why does it take herding together in large numbers where the main catalyst for such an action is two-wheeled transportation to get (some) people to donate?

The answer seems to be that it was the motorcycling that was the main attraction of the event and not the putative cause, otherwise this would have been as effective had the organisers suggested a lazy amble on foot through the town.

Granted, the cause was a good one and hopefully it will have benefited significantly but I suspect that I'm not alone in thinking that for many the charity was a secondary consideration.

An interesting thought, however there are plenty or well advertised bike rallys that occur through the year that dont receive the surpport of this size, somtimes there is no one answer, just a collective responce that seems to work to the good. The night before i like mutley had reservations about riding on mass through WB, no one wants to cause inconvieice or offence to others. The truth is though that WB has become a focal point, anywhere else wouldnt of had the same draw im sure. In summary it was a good thing to of done, by good people for others, thats rare in this day and age and i was proud to of been part of it

 

[bod]

I was one of the doubter's - And pleased to say I was wrong!

I do wonder how commited a lot of people would have been, had it been raining all day or bitterly cold? Fact is, it was a nice day to be out on your bike!
25k bikes from all over the country - seems to me the real winner was Alistair Darling's coffers!

Well done to those who went, seems everyone was a winner - except Mum

 

[Lord Snooty]

More than happy to bow to your superior knowledge of the workings of the Wooton Basset RBL, however they were the ones who said on Panorama that they didn't want fuss or a circus surrounding the town. If the mayor and the locals want you back then I'm glad it was well received. I'll be on the RTTW as I always have been.



If having a different opinion to you and listening to what is said clearly in the media makes me a knob in your opinion then I'm happy to be one Snooty. I took nobody on, just reiterated clearly publicised opinions from those that have a right to them. If they have changed their opinions then I haven't seen them publicised, hence why I stayed away. As for 'taking on a 24 year veteran' I had no intention of doing anything of the sort, but if we can't have discussion and differing opinions on here then where can we?

This was a sensible and fact based debate until you jumped in with your unhelpfull name calling. Can I suggest you go away and grow up before entering your next thread?

You're right I shouldn't have called you a knob, I apologise for that and I willingly retract that one word.

At the end of the day you stated that we were not welcome in WB and as you have seen by the reports in both the media and on here we were anything but, you were proved comprehensively wrong. So as I have been man enough to admit I was wrong then maybe you could be man enough to do the same, over to you.

 

[Mutley]

If the mayor and the locals want you back then I'm glad it was well received.

So as I have been man enough to admit I was wrong then maybe you could be man enough to do the same, over to you.

 

[Invicta Moto]

I'll be on the RTTW as I always have been.

We know. You have told us at every fucking opportunity.

Well done to those who went, seems everyone was a winner - except Mum

I told my Mum weeks and weeks ago. She called last night after seeing about it on the BBC News and asked if I could find out where she can send a donation. She lost relatives to wars in the past and my Dad was 21 years in the RN. I'm sure loads of other Mum's across the country and the Commonwealth were happy to see their sons and daughters supporting the Afghan Heroes Charity.

 

[BAKERMAN]

RTTW

 

[BAKERMAN]

a few

 

[STUBBS]

just hope they continue to remember and support for the years to come

 

[BAKERMAN]

Dave being interviewed, Daves Victory, Police escort at the start