Editor's comment on Wootton Bassett bike ride (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Editor's comment on Wootton Bassett bike ride
9:59am Friday 12th March 2010 in
by Editor, Dave King THE volume of comments and some of bitter anger that has been vented over the Wootton Bassett bike story has been staggering.
On Thursday, we reported how some residents of Wootton Bassett were concerned with the bike ride coming through their town tomorrow, and we followed that up with a story in yesterday's paper reflecting the thoughts of bikers, local people and the authorities.
It was interesting to hear an item on BBC Radio Swindon yesterday when, picking up on our story, they interviewed townsfolk who were equally divided over the merits of the bike ride. "Please leave our town alone" was the appeal from one lady. She wasn't in the majority, but hers was a voice that had to be heard.
Bikers emailed and telephoned us in huge numbers. Many picked up on the phrase “hairy bikers”. It wasn’t our phrase, it was contained in a quote given by one of those we interviewed in Bassett.
We have had many bitter comments published on our website because the Swindon Advertiser had the temerity to raise the issue of the the value of the bike ride. We didn't question it, the people of Wootton Bassett did. I make no apologies for publishing that article. That is what free speech is all about.
I wonder whether those people who complained really did read the articles carefully and, in particular, whether they read the leader column on March 11, which is the editorial viewpoint of this newspaper and which clearly supports the bike ride.
In case you missed it, and for those who complained, this is what was published on Thursday under the headline of: "Tribute ride will honour Bassett". It's a view I hold to now, as I firmly believe that the bikers' tribute in Wootton Bassett is one which is dignified and fitting, telling our servicemen and women that we support them.
Swindon Advertiser Comment
"It really is hard to imagine 15,000 bikers revving their way through tiny Wootton Bassett on Mothering Sunday. Think about it, that's twice the size of Swindon Town's average home gate this season
descending on the tiny market town.
"All this, as a show of support for the military charity Afghan Heroes and which is being viewed as the biggest bike ride the UK has ever seen.
"Police have given permission for the tribute ride and warned motorists to expect long delays on Sunday morning.
"Surprisingly, some of the townsfolk of Wootton Bassett are unhappy about the idea, asking the bikers to leave the town alone.
"Surely, this is a mark of public respect and admiration which the peole of this country hold for the town. Unlike, the proposed march last year by an extreme Muslim group, this is a very public show of solidarity, albeit a very noisy one.
"It is an event which has been carefully planned and one which would not have been sanctioned had Wiltshire Police felt there would have been problems.
"The scale of the tribute is immense, but hopefully it will be one which will be captured by the media and relayed to our trops in Afghanistan demonstrating how much the British public supports them."
Comments(30)
politicrat
says...
10:10am Fri 12 Mar 10
Robh
says...
10:40am Fri 12 Mar 10
The bike ride is a tribute to the residents of Wootton Bassett but in support of something different and not in the spirit of the silent tribute.
Home Boy
says...
10:42am Fri 12 Mar 10
.
That aside lets just hope it goes off without a hitch and the predicted thousands of unregistered riders don't turn up at Leigh Delemare to ride in the opposite direction!
Mr_Big
says...
10:44am Fri 12 Mar 10
ohyea
says...
11:15am Fri 12 Mar 10
It came across as prejudiced ill informed ramblings, and your man 'scott' did the town, the organisers and the riders a massive dis-service by reprinting it.
As it stood late last night, there were approximately 9000 riders (not bikes) signed up to ride. Many more wanted to come, many have been put off by the very rigorous registration process imposed by the charity.
If you do want to publish more articles on this event, can I suggest you speak to the organisers directly before going to press !
zoso
says...
12:00pm Fri 12 Mar 10
>David. What incensed me was the >way in which your 'reporter' >plagiarised the Guardian article >which was originally written by Neil >Burden
The Adver's lazy journalists are always plagiarising articles from other news outlets. The whole rag is a disgrace and should be a weekly publication at best. Shameful.
Billy Jo
says...
12:42pm Fri 12 Mar 10
So the fact that YOU did not find the term "hairy biker" offensive enables you to repeat it? How so?
You advocate "free speech" but then have a team of censors on hand to eradicate negative comments on articles and on occasion the article itself. Smacks of a little hypocrisy does it not?
You as editor are given a great deal of responsibility in publishing opinions. Yet you prefer to dwell on a point made by what you admit to be a minority of Bassett residents and use that as your "headline".
SHAME!
Home Boy
says...
12:47pm Fri 12 Mar 10
Is it really a local newspaper's place to express an opinion one way or the other on a clearly divisive local issue?
Mr_Big
says...
1:00pm Fri 12 Mar 10
swinDON Quixote
says...
2:01pm Fri 12 Mar 10
Mr_Big wrote:And today children....we'll look through the round window ...comment enough ? Wotta comic the Adver really is !!
Sorry King but what would you know about “free speech”??? The amount of articles I’ve read in your paper to find they haven’t even been properly researched and are one-sided is breath taking. I think it’s fair to say that many readers have no confidence in the credibility of your paper. Anyone else have a view on this?
HarryPotter
says...
2:38pm Fri 12 Mar 10
KSav
says...
6:18pm Fri 12 Mar 10
I don't quite understand why anyone would object.
Please, I'd love 15000 bikers to show their respects and support to our servicemen and women, and their families, in my home town of Accrington, the home of The Accrington Pals.
Your welcome in this town anytime.
Regards
Kevin
I Too
says...
8:01pm Fri 12 Mar 10
.
I'd just like to correct this headline.
I'm pretty certain that most bikers understand concerns of residents. Most are educated people (residents and bikers). It is understandable that some will object to increased traffic et .
I believe that most of the bikers were offended by the way that the article was written, and the way that they have been portrayed, the image used etc.
the depth of the riders intentions, and the cause, for which we are riding, coupled with the support already shown by many residents, far outweighs a few stereotype blinkered prejudgements.
We can easily prove sceptics wrong, but biased, ill informed journalism is a bit harder to swallow.
Also I always switch the radio off, in the morning, when you come on, and talk mostly twaddle about football. It spoils an otherwise pallatable radio show
jmostfc
says...
8:39am Sat 13 Mar 10
KSav wrote:you have obviously never been to wootton bassett, if you had you would realise that this is a ludicrous idea. its a tiny little town with two main roads. people have still got to live here and go about their normal business. the tail backs will stretch all the way back on to the m4 and pretty much grind the town to a halt. its not really fair on the townsfolk who live here not for the media circus but because this is where they were brought up and mostly enjoy living. would it not be a better exercise to donate all the money whish you would spend on fuel to the charity and let the town of wootton bassett carry on as normal.
My wife and I are riding down from Accrington Lancs to show our support, like many many other bikers. I don't quite understand why anyone would object. Please, I'd love 15000 bikers to show their respects and support to our servicemen and women, and their families, in my home town of Accrington, the home of The Accrington Pals. Your welcome in this town anytime. Regards Kevin
it was a big enough problem when the skinheads turned up a few months ago and there were only a few hundred of them.
KSav
says...
9:32am Sat 13 Mar 10
SELFISH SELFISH SELFISH
What a star ! You clearly only think of yourself.
ME ME ME
You should be ashamed of yourself, but I bet your not...
All you deserve is contempt.
I Too
says...
10:38am Sat 13 Mar 10
I guess we should all wait, with abated breath, to see what great event YOU are going to organise, in order to top the £70,000 plus raised by this event.
Make yourself and the event known tomorrow and I'll donate a fiver to start it off.
jmostfc
says...
11:18am Sat 13 Mar 10
jmostfc
says...
11:20am Sat 13 Mar 10
KSav wrote:well done dcikhead. hope it rains all day!
In reply to jmostfc, wootton bassett SELFISH SELFISH SELFISH What a star ! You clearly only think of yourself. ME ME ME You should be ashamed of yourself, but I bet your not... All you deserve is contempt.
ohyea
says...
11:43am Sat 13 Mar 10
jmostfc wrote:And if it snowed, we would still come and show our respect to both the locals who turn out and respect the fallen, the injured troops, and those still out in Afghanistan fighting for queen and country.
KSav wrote:well done dcikhead. hope it rains all day!
In reply to jmostfc, wootton bassett SELFISH SELFISH SELFISH What a star ! You clearly only think of yourself. ME ME ME You should be ashamed of yourself, but I bet your not... All you deserve is contempt.
The traffic will still flow, no one will be a prisoner in their homes whilst the day proceeds, and the message will go out loud and clear that we as a nation support our countrymen who are fighting under our flag.
We bikers are not grief tourists, we are respectful countrymen who are giving up a good part of our weekend, and the opportunity to be with our mothers in a selfless demonstration that we care.
I wonder if you even care of those caught up in this conflict by the way you speak?
You give the appearance of a vexatious, selfish and spiteful person jmostfc - Shame on you!
jmostfc
says...
11:59am Sat 13 Mar 10
even on a repatriation day the national press arrive early in the morning or late the night beofre to pick a good parking space. if you have ever been to the town you will understand the parking restraints so these are valuable spaces to local people and business.
all im trying to say is the town does exist outside of the fallen heroes being transported through our town and although it sounds terrible life must go on.
lonestranger
says...
12:58pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Billy Jo
says...
1:00pm Sat 13 Mar 10
jmostfc wrote:What happens in Wootten Bassett during repatriation ceremonies is a symbolic of how most of the country feel about our soldiers coming home.
wootton bassett has got a large percentage of current or ex military personnel and i happen to count many as good friends. the problem is there has got to be a limit of how things effect the local residents and the disruption it will cause them. why so many people have to descend on this small town is beyond me. why there cant be smaller rides through other towns/cities more capable of coping with large volumes of traffic is a question which should of been asked. i mentioned in an earlier post the skinheads who came to the town from all over the country a few months ago. you may only hear of this event but it is not the first and will not be the last. even on a repatriation day the national press arrive early in the morning or late the night beofre to pick a good parking space. if you have ever been to the town you will understand the parking restraints so these are valuable spaces to local people and business. all im trying to say is the town does exist outside of the fallen heroes being transported through our town and although it sounds terrible life must go on.
If fifteen thousand people from one select group choose to show their respects then that in itself shows the enormity and strenght of feeling towards our fighting men and women. Putting aside the fact that a large amount of money will be raised to help them can you imagine the boost in moral they will get when they read of this wonderful gesture.
I would suggest you put aside your petty arguments and get behind this grand procession. Failing that maybe you should just keep your selfish comments to yourself.
Versysrider
says...
6:34pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Robh wrote:"Robh", I would be interested to know what you mean by our tribute being "something different"! I and my friends are coming on the ride to pay tribute to the fallen, the maimed and injured and those still fighting for our country at the behest of our democratically elected government. We are also expressing our respect to Wootton Bassett itself, which has, whether it likes it or not, become a focal point of the feelings held by many in this country for the men and women who serve in our armed forces. I and my friends are not stupid, I can see that the run is bound to cause extra traffic, but the organisers and the Police, have made it plain that we do not stop in WB and we cannot return to Hullavington after riding through, we are to "disperse" at the roundabout after WB. What many of the nimbys and whiners on here should think about is that we are "not skinheads", we do not have a political agenda, we do not take part in this event to glorify the war, or promote English nationalism, we do it as a mark of respect and to raise money for badly injured servicemen and women. If one day of minor disruption out of your life, is too much to bear, when it means 70000 pounds going to people who have given their futures for your freedoms, then the world is a sadder place. You should perhaps remember that they give their tomorrows for our today's!
They still don't get it. The people of Wootton Bassett stood in silent tribute to our fallen soldiers. It was in no way a sign of support for the war or our soldiers fighting there.
The bike ride is a tribute to the residents of Wootton Bassett but in support of something different and not in the spirit of the silent tribute.
I Too
says...
7:00pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Why anyone thinks it's a political event is beyond logic.
Incidentally you and I , and the rest of the motorcycling community, are apparently, members of the BNP.
One commentors stated that 80% of the BNP are members of the BMA, which is apparently the British Motorcycling Association ( I think it's actually a classic bike club? as opposed to a nationalist group) Hilarious, or what?
I'm off out for a pint in Bassettt tonight.
Shall we take bets, that I don't get run out of town?
I suspect the odd small group might stand around admiring my bike (woo, scary).
Have a good ride tomorrow. I'm pretty certain the blinkered fools don't, by any means, represent the majority of good people within Wootton Bassett.
Tonights trip to the pub will no doubt prove that.
A.N Englishman
says...
8:53pm Sat 13 Mar 10
ferret850
says...
7:19pm Sun 14 Mar 10
I Too
says...
8:21pm Sun 14 Mar 10
Despite obviously being a "biker".
Nobody gave me any condemning glances. Nobody asked me to leave, despite the pub being absolutely packed.
I noticed a couple of other motorcyclists, from Manchester. The seemed to be in a pretty calm state also.
I can only conclude that the "mass objection" is in the imagination of a few minor individuals.
The point proven by the fantastic reception we were given, by the town and outlying villages.
A massive thankyou to the organisers, the police. the participants, and the spectators.
A fantastic day.
swindonslicker
says...
11:43pm Sun 14 Mar 10
There was no need for the Advertiser to even create such a circus over WB, when infact the majority of WB were in favour of it.
Please report on something else, find something else to obsess about. To jump on the WB bandwagon is disgraceful. 'BIKERS HIT BACK OVER PROCESSION CONCERN'
- what a load of nonsense! - to add to this outrage, the article was also copied from the Guardian!
I will never buy the adver again. It's filled with absolute tripe these days.
Alpine1000
says...
12:06am Mon 15 Mar 10
First of all a great many of the biking community are ex soldiers or have relatives who have served.
secondly going off my own experiences of 9 years in the forces and 2.5 years of which were in NIreland.
In the forces I was bothered about looking after the guy next to me, half the time I either didn't understand or agree with the reasons for the war.
We lost almost 20 guys in NI in the last year I was there, few were reported via the news channels and if they were that was it, finished!!
Watching the people of Wooton Basset give so much honour to our fallen troops has filled me with a respect and pride I haven't felt before!
The critics don't realise what a sincere emotional impact the actions of the people of Wooton Basset have had and it maybe anyone that has lived a protected sheltered life will not understand what I am talking about.
How ever believe me! Those amongst the biking community that have served will understand. Those that undertook the ride and have not served probably did so for the same reasons the people of Wooton Basset turned out to pay their respect to our fallen troops in the first place.
Surely the bikers have as much right as anyone to pay their respects to these brave people?
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KSJB says...
10:06am Fri 12 Mar 10
As you will have seen from my comment this morning - I, and my bike club - who met last night, read your editorial item and was disappointed that you allowed the main 'paper-selling' item to be focus on the negative.