Answering the call

THE COVID-19 crisis hasn’t been easy for anyone – Zoom and Netflix shareholders excepted – but some have had it far worse than others. My own London lockdown has been relatively stable, for which I’m grateful, so with time on my hands and a desire to help out the less fortunate, I’ve joined the ranks of volunteers determined to make a difference.

Alongside 1200 motorcyclists across the UK, I’m now a key worker with the Bike Shed Community Response initiative. We’ve been liaising with the NHS, community groups, crisisresponse charities and PPE networks to help get essential supplies to staff in hospitals, care homes, GPs and dental surgeries.

In addition, we’ve been delivering food, medicines, antibody tests and lifesaving pulse oximeters.

So far I’ve completed around 90 jobs, and the work continues to be immensely rewarding. Getting out and about for essential purposes while most people had been commanded to ‘stay at home’ during deepest lockdown also helped keep me sane, while giving me a viewpoint on a deserted world that was both fascinating and unnerving.

The 1950s-esque traffic levels perfectly suited the classic motorcycles on which I’ve been carrying out my BSCR work. Of my four older bikes, two have been pressed into action in addition to my 2007 Triumph Thruxton café racer, which boasts all of its forebears’ style but none of the breakdown potential.

My 1958 Triumph Thunderbird, restored by my father in the 1970s and owned by me for 30 years, is known as my ‘old trusty’. True to character, it’s performing admirably while ferrying packages of scrubs and facemasks strapped to its period leopard-print saddle.

Meanwhile, my 1939 HarleyDavidson WL45’s leather saddlebags are also carrying their fair share of PPE. Before traffic started building up again, as I handshifted through the quiet capital, distributing 3D-printed visors for the Royal London Dental Hospital, I often reflected on how delightful it was not to be filtering past endless stationary traffic or constantly tussling with psychotic drivers.

Aided by an iPhone sat-nav secured to my tank, and wearing the ultimate PPE – gloves and visor are motorcycling must-haves – I’m relishing the opportunity to ‘do my bit’ for just as long as I’m needed. The fact that I can do so while riding my cherished classics makes my volunteer work even more satisfying.

Top and above

Sarah on her 1958 Triumph Thunderbird with the Bike Shed volunteers, and out couriering on her 1939 Harley-Davidson WL45.