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Thousands of motorcyclists pay special Mother's Day tribute

5:35pm Sunday 14th March 2010 in


A TOWN used to silent tributes reverberated to the noise of motorcycle engines today as around 15,000 bikers poured through the town.

They were paying tribute to Wootton Bassett for the part it plays in welcoming home fallen soldiers from Afghanistan after they have been repatriated at RAF Lyneham.

The motorcyclists had gathered at RAF Hullavington early in the day and made their way in batches of 500 to the town, where they were greeted by cheering townsfolk lining the streets.

Wootton Bassett mayor Steve Bucknell said: “I hadn’t expected this many people to turn up.

“We have had to stand out here in the High Street in stillness and silence too many times over the last few weeks.

“It’s a welcome change to see lots of movement and noise and people smiling.”

Bikers had come from all over the country to take part in the event, with around £100,000 expected to be raised for the charity Afghan Heroes.

Juliet Stevenson, who helped organise the event, said: “What better day than today, Mother’s Day, to celebrate the sacrifice that our men and women have made in defence of freedom.

“Today is our chance to salute our heroes.”

Comments(28)

RFM says...
6:37pm Sun 14 Mar 10

".......... in defence of freedom."


Debatable.

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ferret850 says...
7:04pm Sun 14 Mar 10

RFM wrote:
".......... in defence of freedom." Debatable.
RFM, you can't even get your quotes right! IT says "in defence of freedom. "

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XJR says...
7:42pm Sun 14 Mar 10

A truly amazing day thank you to all the organisers and all that lined the route from Hullavington to Wootton Bassett, fantastic !!!!. A day I will never forget.Thank you WOOTTON BASSETT
ps not a hairy biker !!!!

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Bobfm says...
7:47pm Sun 14 Mar 10

For the record I am not RFM, and I whole heartedly support the motor cycle ride as the pictures clearly show Wootton Bassett did, despite the 'alleged' outcry.

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I Too says...
7:56pm Sun 14 Mar 10

I'd like to say thankyou, to all who took part in this event.
The organisers did a superb job.
The spectators were fantastic along the entire route.
The police were very efficient and cheerful ( I believe many of them volunteered their services today)
And of course all the motorcyclists were, as ever, friendly to the core.
FANTASTIC!

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ohyea says...
8:14pm Sun 14 Mar 10

I was one of the many riders who took part. As well as the towns people who turned out to greet us, I'd like to say a big thank you to all of the people who lined the roads on the route through Malmesbury and the villages as we rode towards Wootton Bassett.

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claire1979 says...
8:35pm Sun 14 Mar 10

What an amazing day i had today...... mothers day and taking my 2 children with my husband to see all the bikes in wootton bassett. What a great idea to raise money there was a great sense of community spirit with people lining the streets aplauding and waving at the bikers, just knowing that each biker had paid £5 for the privilage of riding down wootton bassett high street to join in on this "ride" was amazing there arent many other ways you can raise this sort of money in so little time, without out huge expenses at the cost of the charity.
I would love this to happen as an annual event! Our soldiers would be proud!

ps - yes i have lived in wootton bassett and no i dont support the war but what i do support is our soilders!!!

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RFM says...
8:51pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Ferret850 - have you been on the lemonade? Or did you not read the quote in my post correctly?

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Mrs Miggins says...
9:02pm Sun 14 Mar 10

What a fantastic day. A really amazing and positive experience. Well doen to all of the bikers, and all those that turned out to watch and show their support.
Nice touch by the perosn who had the "welcome to all the bikers" message hanging on the union flag on the property next to the town hall.

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Amberflame says...
9:12pm Sun 14 Mar 10

RFM

So, did it all come to pass??

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Biggles46 says...
10:04pm Sun 14 Mar 10

As one of the 15,000 bikers that took part into days ride through Wootton Bassett and also an ex serviceman I was proud to be with my fellow bikers to thank the people of Wootton bassett for thank you for the heart felt reception that we where given as we road through for all of us on the ride this was all we wanted to do to thank you for welcoming our heroes those fallen men and women who give us our freedom to do what we want to do I felt privelaged to be part of an outpouring of support for this small Wiltshire town that has taken on it shoulders the nations mourning for our heroes. THANK YOU WOOTTON BASSETT

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Versysrider says...
10:04pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Just got home to Devon after a memorable day, very emotional and moving. Thanks to all who lined the route and cheered us along, in the villages and WB itself. A very big thanks to the members of Wiltshire Constabulary, who restored my faith in the Police force, with their politeness and skill. The ride would not have run smoothly without them and I think they did a great job.

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Robh says...
11:20pm Sun 14 Mar 10

Now the circus has been and gone it is unfortunately back to sad reality for the residents next week.

It just doesn't stop.

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Yazoo says...
1:18am Mon 15 Mar 10

A truly amazing, spectacular and emotional day all in one. God bless every one of those bikers- hairy or not!!

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Oik1 says...
1:27am Mon 15 Mar 10

Well, well despite the whiners previous to this event taking place, what a wonderfull day and event.

I would like to personally thank everyone who was out there supporting this event today, as a rider, it was great and emotional at times, the support from Hullavington to Bassett was a sight to behold, flags, youngsters waving us bye, and the not so young, a bit like myself, for just this special day we were one, no divides, just support for a common cause, our brave fighting men and women and those who will never see what we saw today, our fallen.

To those who were there today who had lost a loved one, thank you, they will never be forgotten.

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TRKE says...
7:38am Mon 15 Mar 10

"THANK YOU" to the people of Wootton Bassett and neighbouring villages, for making us so welcome. "THANK YOU" for each and every sad time you stand in silence at the side of the road when another of our fallen service men / women are brought back. "THANK YOU" for being the wonderful people you are.

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itsamess says...
8:51am Mon 15 Mar 10

As has been stated--a fantastic event for a worthy cause. Yes and a big thanks to our Police and all the bikers nationwide and those that came from abroad. Let us all hope that one day our boys -men-and women will return safely and the need for repatriations and events like this are not needed. Thanks to the folks and groups of Bassett as without you our heroes would face a lonely journey. Not forgetting the folk who turn out at other places along that final journey.

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ferret850 says...
10:04am Mon 15 Mar 10

RFM wrote:
Ferret850 - have you been on the lemonade? Or did you not read the quote in my post correctly?
Good morning RFM. Please accept my sincere apologys for my post yesterday, it was due to too much tea & choclate cake.

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albertsfatchick says...
10:34am Mon 15 Mar 10

Absolutely amazing day - makes you proud to be British and show support to our troops - respect and thanks to all the bikers - you were absolutely brilliant.

Here's to next year.

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scottwichall says...
11:14am Mon 15 Mar 10

Enormous thanks go out to the residents of the villages on the route through, especially Malmesbury, and Bassett itself.
Your support made this a very, very emotional event for all of us on the ride. I had a lump in my throat nearly all the way from Hullavington to Bassett.
Nice to see all the Union flags flying, and the Cross of St George, it just goes to show their is still a lot of national pride left, and overwhelming support for our troops.

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Graham M says...
1:00pm Mon 15 Mar 10

A group of us came up from Hastings, East Sussex on Sunday to take part in this ride. I have been a biker for many years, but I have NEVER experienced anything like this in my life. Thank you Wooton Bassett for opening your village to us with open arms, and thank you all for all you have done, and do with your heart, GOD BLESS YOU ALL. To the chap, a short distance down the road from Hullavington base who thanked me for coming along (my pleasure) and said 'his boy is out there', I wish him a safe return, your message still leaves a lump in my throat, and a tear in my eye, as it did along the whole route.

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Graham M says...
1:11pm Mon 15 Mar 10

An apology to Wootton Bassett for mis-spelling your name in my previous post. I did not realise until I posted it.

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springfieldpage says...
3:16pm Mon 15 Mar 10

wow what a great day was so nice to see so many bikes and a big thanks to the 2 guys playing the bagpipes xxx

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Bassett-Boy says...
5:06pm Mon 15 Mar 10

We went along and watched for a while - what a fantastic atmosphere! Well done to the organisers and all who took part, a brilliant feat, and a great sum of money raised. Lets do it again when the war is over, that will be a great celebration!

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ratticus says...
10:09pm Mon 15 Mar 10

Just a note to say a big thanks to all involved in organising this event; the fund raisers, the council, the police, ambulance service. It ran far better than could have been expected at such short notice. It was an incredible sight seeing soo many bikes at Hullavington and the reception from the locals on route, brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. In a day and age when hardly anyone talks to their neighbour, it was refreshing to experience such community spirit and carnival atmosphere.

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zakbiker says...
9:42am Tue 16 Mar 10

what can i say that has not been already said except a megga thanks to all the people who organised sundays run, and to all the people in Wootton Bassett and the surounding villages. I drove on the run i was the only car as i am too disabled to ride, one of my passangers was a biker who is just getting over a major heart attack so is unable to ride, but we are still bikers and would have not missed it for the world. Even my wife who is not a biker was moved as we were, it brought a tear to my eye on more than one occasion on the ride through, and would take the days of suffering and pain i have to come again to do it all again .....

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TRKE says...
1:56pm Tue 16 Mar 10

zakbiker wrote:
what can i say that has not been already said except a megga thanks to all the people who organised sundays run, and to all the people in Wootton Bassett and the surounding villages. I drove on the run i was the only car as i am too disabled to ride, one of my passangers was a biker who is just getting over a major heart attack so is unable to ride, but we are still bikers and would have not missed it for the world. Even my wife who is not a biker was moved as we were, it brought a tear to my eye on more than one occasion on the ride through, and would take the days of suffering and pain i have to come again to do it all again .....
Oh mate once a biker always a biker.xx

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jock_biker says...
2:59pm Thu 18 Mar 10

Whatt an amazing day! My wife and I felt so privilaged to be able to attend and will keep the memory of this for the rest of our days. I just wanted to say a special THANK YOU to the gentleman who had the "well done" sign out side his house as this was the first of many sights that brought a tear to my eye during the ride to Bassett and through Bassett.
To all those who made the effort you can be proud of a job well done.

THANK YOU WOOTTON BASSETT.

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