bekisman
14-Mar-10, 17:04
What a nice thought.. 15,000 bikers - what a beautiful sight that would have been.. (Video on link)
"An estimated 15,000 bikers and pillion passengers congregated at Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire earlier. The first batch of 500 riders left at 1100 GMT to ride to Wootton Basset via the M4 motorway. The event was expected to last until early evening, with bikers leaving the airfield at 30-minute intervals to make their way to Wootton Bassett.
Crowds gathered along Wootton Bassett's High Street to watch the bikers pass the war memorial. Local MP James Gray added that people in the town appreciated the gesture and were "very supportive of it indeed".
Thousands of bikers have been riding through Wootton Bassett to honour the people of the Wiltshire town - and the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. Each rider has paid £5 to take part, with the proceeds going to the charity Afghan Heroes.
Sue Sullivan, from Gloucestershire, is one of those taking part. She said: "We rode at 1130 GMT and I've never seen so many bikes. "I'm one of thousands of people who support our girls and boys." Denise Harris, the founder of Afghan Heroes, said troops on the front line had sent her e-mails backing the event. She told the BBC: "It boosts morale for them. "I mean they just are so grateful to the general public for their support and their kindness."
The Bike Run was the idea of 18-year-old biker Elizabeth Stevens. Ms Stevens, a mechanics student at the Central Bedfordshire College, had only planned to ride through the town with a few friends."Our local bike club was throwing around the idea of a bike run," she said in January, "so I decided to make a Facebook page, and it's just taken off".
Laurence Phillips from Afghan Heroes said the event had gathered pace after being posted on the social networking site Facebook. "It's quite a staggering spectacle and an unbelievable show of support for the troops in Afghanistan and a mark of respect for the town of Wootton Bassett."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8566626.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8566626.stm)
"An estimated 15,000 bikers and pillion passengers congregated at Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire earlier. The first batch of 500 riders left at 1100 GMT to ride to Wootton Basset via the M4 motorway. The event was expected to last until early evening, with bikers leaving the airfield at 30-minute intervals to make their way to Wootton Bassett.
Crowds gathered along Wootton Bassett's High Street to watch the bikers pass the war memorial. Local MP James Gray added that people in the town appreciated the gesture and were "very supportive of it indeed".
Thousands of bikers have been riding through Wootton Bassett to honour the people of the Wiltshire town - and the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. Each rider has paid £5 to take part, with the proceeds going to the charity Afghan Heroes.
Sue Sullivan, from Gloucestershire, is one of those taking part. She said: "We rode at 1130 GMT and I've never seen so many bikes. "I'm one of thousands of people who support our girls and boys." Denise Harris, the founder of Afghan Heroes, said troops on the front line had sent her e-mails backing the event. She told the BBC: "It boosts morale for them. "I mean they just are so grateful to the general public for their support and their kindness."
The Bike Run was the idea of 18-year-old biker Elizabeth Stevens. Ms Stevens, a mechanics student at the Central Bedfordshire College, had only planned to ride through the town with a few friends."Our local bike club was throwing around the idea of a bike run," she said in January, "so I decided to make a Facebook page, and it's just taken off".
Laurence Phillips from Afghan Heroes said the event had gathered pace after being posted on the social networking site Facebook. "It's quite a staggering spectacle and an unbelievable show of support for the troops in Afghanistan and a mark of respect for the town of Wootton Bassett."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8566626.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8566626.stm)