Cop’s three-day cycle challenge
A Bathgate policeman is to cycle 250 miles to honour his war hero great grandfather.
PC Davie Arnott will take part in the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association’s (SSAFA) three-day Ride to the Somme from August 31.
He is one of just 50 riders who will ride over 80-miles each day from London’s Imperial War Museum to the World War I graves at Thiepval in France.
Davie will be representing the Royal Scots Fusiliers, for whom his great grandfather, Alexander Arnott, fought and died during the Great War.
Speaking to the Courier this week, Davie said: “Ride to the Somme 2016 is an event that I saw by accident.
“I answered an ad in a bike magazine because my great grandfather, Alexander Arnott, was a Royal Scots Fusilier who went to the Great War and didn’t come home.
“It seems appropriate that 100 years almost to the day that I’ll be cycling to France from the Imperial War Museum in London to pay my respects.
“I didn’t know very much about my great grandfather. The family have looked into his story for years but there was always missing points to it.
“I started doing searches through the Imperial War Graves and found basic details and I’ve probed further and found out a lot more about the family history. “We’re cycling from London on August 31. “We’ll be cycling to Portsmouth then Le Havre to the big memorial at Thiepval near the French and Belgian border.
“My great grandad is in fact buried nearby there.”
Davie is one of only two police cycling instructors in the West Lothian, having been in the force for 24 years.
He has previously visited the Somme with Balbardie Primary School on their annual trip.
He continued: “Unless you’ve seen it for yourself you can’t believe the numbers involved and are buried in these mass cemeteries. “The amount of people who died is just vast. “There has been a few similar cycles before but with it being the 100 year anniversary this is the big one. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He added: “I’m getting a special one-off bike built for it by Hooked on Cycling and Big Dawg Customs in Broxburn are going to put the bike in a hydro-dipping tank which will make it come out in camouflage colours.
“I’m going to get images of fighting soldiers, the Royal Scots Fusiliers Erskine Hunting Tartan and the black, red and white chequered hat on the bike.
“I’m hopefully going to top it with the Royal Scots Fusiliers badge on the front too, so it’ll be an absolutely one-off bike.”
Davie has raised just over £400 already but is aiming to reach £1300 by the time the journey begins.
He has received backing from the Street Pastors, community councils and Bathgate Councillor Harry Cartmill.
Councillor Cartmill wished Davie well and urged other members of the West Lothian community to get behind his fundraising efforts.
He added: “I applaud my friend PC Davie Arnott in his quest to cycle this gruelling route which remembers the ultimate sacrifice paid by so many during the carnage of the Battle of The Somme one hundred years hence.
“Please join me in sponsoring him and help to raise monies for this most worthwhile cause.”
You can donate by going to Davie’s fundraising Virgin Money Giving page http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DavieArnott.
I applaud my friend PC Davie Arnott in his quest