Berks Branch TOMCC Nacelle Report – December 2019
Just a perfect day!! There was a clear blue sky as Branch members joined with around 6000 other riders for the Ride of Respect for PC Andrew Harper, the young local Police Officer and fellow biker who was killed on duty recently just a few weeks after his wedding. A group from our Branch met up early in Thatcham to ride to the start point at RAF Benson together, others went straight to Benson and a couple were marshals at the finish point at RAF Abingdon. The whole event was exceptionally well organised with marshals at every junction and Police and RAF personnel supporting it. Seeing 6000 thousand bikes formed up in tight formation ready for the start was incredible. The ride, with PC Harper’s widow, Lissie, at the front riding on her late husband’s bike, was very disciplined. The 16 mile long staggered crocodile of bikes moved at a steady 28 mph, symbolising PC Harper’s age when he died. The streets were lined with people showing their support as the bikes went past. This was the motorcycle community coming together, both to collectively pay our respects to the memory of a young man who made the ultimate sacrifice and to show our gratitude to the police for the risks they take to protect the rest of us.
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We are still organising some rides through our Facebook Group and the next big event we’ll be attending is the Reading Toy Run on Sunday 8th December.
Keep on rolling!
Ton-Up Ted
Just a perfect day!! There was a clear blue sky as Branch members joined with around 6000 other riders for the Ride of Respect for PC Andrew Harper, the young local Police Officer and fellow biker who was killed on duty recently just a few weeks after his wedding. A group from our Branch met up early in Thatcham to ride to the start point at RAF Benson together, others went straight to Benson and a couple were marshals at the finish point at RAF Abingdon. The whole event was exceptionally well organised with marshals at every junction and Police and RAF personnel supporting it. Seeing 6000 thousand bikes formed up in tight formation ready for the start was incredible. The ride, with PC Harper’s widow, Lissie, at the front riding on her late husband’s bike, was very disciplined. The 16 mile long staggered crocodile of bikes moved at a steady 28 mph, symbolising PC Harper’s age when he died. The streets were lined with people showing their support as the bikes went past. This was the motorcycle community coming together, both to collectively pay our respects to the memory of a young man who made the ultimate sacrifice and to show our gratitude to the police for the risks they take to protect the rest of us.
\t
We are still organising some rides through our Facebook Group and the next big event we’ll be attending is the Reading Toy Run on Sunday 8th December.
Keep on rolling!
Ton-Up Ted