Thousands join remembrance rideout
Thousands join remembrance ride and raise cash for charity
Bikers take over the M25 as part of the Ring of Red event
‘It’s a ride of respect but it also raises awareness’
Thousands of bikers in red filled the M25 on Sunday in an attempt to turn the 117 -mile ring into an enormous poppy. Meeting at nine different staging points, riders defied the wet and windy weather before making a carefully-choreographed clockwise circuit whereby each group’s lead bike caught the tail of the one ahead to complete the Ring of Red.
The event has taken place every Remembrance Sunday since 2013, but this year’s ride marked 100 years since the armistice that ended the First World War.
Organiser Ali Scott made an early start from Poole in Dorset to marshal the riders assembling at Fleet services on the M3. We caught up with her as they reached their destination of South Mimms. “I’m delighted with the turnout,” she said. “There are a lot of people here who have been with us since the start, as well as loads of new riders. The Ring of Red is a ride of respect, but it also raises awareness. We held a two minute silence this morning and even the lorry drivers joined in. The pride that people have in taking part really brings a lump to my throat.”
As we stood talking in the late afternoon sun, a steady stream of
red continued to fill the parking area and reports started coming in of groups that had managed to join up as planned – despite delays caused by unrelated incidents on the M25. It’s unclear as to whether the ring was actually completed in its entirety but for most people it’s the taking part that counts. “I want to thank everybody for
coming out and doing this,” Ali continued. “Because it’s good for us, good for them and raises a lot of money for charity. This year we’re supporting Soldiers Off The Street, a small charity who do a tremendous amount of work in finding places for homeless veterans to live and building them back into the community.
“It’s important that we pay our respects and remember,” added Nicky Howard. “The members of our armed forces who gave their lives in two World Wars and continue to do so in conflicts around the world gave me the freedom to ride my motorcycle. They shall not be forgotten.”