Hello everyone!  This years ‘Ride to the Wall’ or RTTW as it is now becoming known amongst the biking community was an astounding and memorable day for everyone that attended.

Jan and I rode up the night before and after leaving our B and B rolled into Drayton Manor at just after 9am on Sat 10th Oct to be met with the site of well over 1000 bikes already parked up and waiting for the off at 11am in order to ride in convoy to The National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.  Motorcyclists from as far away as Penzance, Brighton and Northern Scotland had made the pilgrimage.

And what a ride!  At 11am the first bikes gently pulled away to the sound of ‘rolling thunder’ as the bikes who’s numbers had by this time swollen to a staggering 5000,  began riding through Tamworth and off along the dual carriageways northwards to ‘The Wall’.   Along the route we were greeted by dozens of well-wishers waving and shouting encouragement to us, not that we needed encouraging, it was a thrill just to ride along.

At the Arboretum we were again met by people lining the route waving and shouting as we entered the grounds and trundled in procession to be lead to a parking space within the wonderful grounds amongst the memorials.

After a look around at some of the memorials Jan and I headed off to the base of the steps of the main memorial wall for the service which was due to start at 1.30 and we could still hear the rumbling sound of hundreds of motorbikes still arriving.  As the time drew near for the service we heard word that there were now 4000 bikes parked up within the grounds and that the remainder had been asked to find a space anywhere they could along the neighbouring roads.

At 1.30 the service began with a speech from the Reverend Lionel Fanthorp, who is himself a biker. The service was also fortunate to have been addressed by a serving senior Army officer, Major General Lamont Kirkland, who paid tribute to the bikers who had arrived saying that ‘the RTTW was to become even bigger in future years’.
I have a feeling that he will be proved correct on that.  The final estimate is that somewhere close to 6000 machines made the trip, which means that we will have to get there even earlier next year!

During the wait for the fly past we were treated to the sounds of two pipers as they played in turn.  This was eagerly applauded by all and the lads and lasses from the Dunedin Chapter of the Harley Davidson Owners Club, joined in with whooping and clapping along to the tunes. It made a wonderful atmosphere.

The fly past by the spitfire was both emotional and thrilling and a fitting salute to all those whom have lost their lives in conflict since the Second World War.  A look back across the grounds of the arboretum towards the main entrance was unbelievable, a sea of people all clad in motorcycle gear for as far as the eye could see in any direction, broken only by the machines they were stood near, not a blade of grass it seemed was spared this most friendly and welcoming invasion within the grounds.

The Riders Branch work very hard indeed throughout the country to promote and support the RBL  and my own thanks goes out to those who are the driving force behind each sections efforts.

And what of next year?  Well we are definitely going, rain or shine.  Want to join us?
Chris and Jan Smith.  Lowestoft British legion and Riders Branch.