Ride of Remembrance

On a crisp November morning the Fulham Brass Band set off along the New Kings Road with the army, police force and local worthies watched by around 500 scooterists from as far afield as Sheffield and Dorset. At 11am the last post sounded out across Parsons Green and talk of carburettors and engine performance ceased as the local vicar asked for the two minutes’ silence, so that we may honour those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

With the silence observed, talk resumed until it was time to rev up and start our own parade, one even noisier then the brass band that had left not long before! A cloud of two-stroke fumes billowed out over Parsons Green as the Ride of Remembrance wound its way through Fulham and Chelsea and on to the Army memorial at Hyde Park corner. There a short piece, Remembrance Day by Maria Casse, was read by Mark Oakes of the Wasps and there was the annual laying of the wreaths by the various scooter clubs from London area and beyond. Each club was announced by name and respectfully applauded as their chosen member laid their wreath on the memorial. Respects paid, it was on the scooters again and back to the warmth of the British Legion for the annual auction of goods and services donated by generous companies and individuals. This included everything from record players, records and CDs to clothing, tyres, crash helmets, panel wraps and signed photos. I even saw a year’s subscription to Scootering fall under the hammer! It was thought that by the time the last collection box is counted over £5000 will have been collected making, to date, a staggering £50,000 that the Wasps have collected for the British Legion Poppy Appeal! Well done!

Words: Roger Allen – Wasps of London Scooter Club

Photographs: Lloyd Jones