Founded | 2004 |
---|---|
Leader | Paul Woodward |
Leader title | Acting Branch Chairman |
Type | Charitable |
Purpose | Charitable Motorcycle Group |
Membership | over 6000 |
Website | www.rblr.co.uk |
Welcome to the website of Frensham Royal British Legion. We are a social club situated in the picturesque village of Frensham in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the south west border of Surrey.
The Royal British Legion Riders Branch (RBLR) was formed in 2004 as a branch of The Royal British Legion, a registered charity that supports past and present members of the Armed Forces.[1][2][3]While its membership is dominated by former and current HM Armed Forces personnel, it also welcomes members who support the aims of the Royal British Legion charity, namely of helping and assisting service people, ex-service people and their dependants.
The members are regularly seen at many motorcycle events wearing the distinctive rider's badge. They have become synonymous with the repatriations of fallen service personnel at both Royal Wootton Bassett, where they have met since 11 December 2008 for the repatriation of the bodies of fallen service personnel who were flown into RAF Lyneham.[4][5][6] and since 1 September 2011 at Carterton, Oxfordshire after repatriation flights were moved back to RAF Brize Norton. They still attend all Repatriations & continue to do so. Ex-military members of the RBLR often wear medals and head dress with their leathers and motorcycle kit.
RBLR runs events such as Weston Bike Night in Weston-super-Mare,[7]an annual rally, and is now running the annual RBLR 1000 Iron Butt Rally. In 2009, 173 riders completed 1,000 miles in 24 hours and raised £10,000 for the Poppy Appeal.[3][8]
The RBLR also organises poppy runs (a kind of motorcycle rally) to raise both awareness and money for the Poppy Appeal. Its members also become involved in rides to places with special military resonance such as the Armed Forces Memorial in Staffordshire and European battle sites.
The RBLR has had some celebrity support with Hayley Westenra and Simon Weston both having received the Branches' Poppy Appeal cheque.[9]The Hairy Bikers are members and can often be seen wearing their riders branch wristbands.
References
- ^Eastwick, Philip (25 October 2007), 'Poppy Appeal launches in town', Wiltshire Times
- ^'Last chance to join thousands on motorcycles at Ride to Wall', Tamworth Herald, 20 September 2011
- ^ abKeeling, Mark (9 January 2009). 'The Royal British Legion Riders Branch 2009 World Record Attempt'. Motorcycle News. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^'British Legion Riders Bike into Bassett'. Wootton Bassett Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^Gillan, Audrey (25 February 2010). 'How Wootton Bassett became the town that cried'. The Guardian. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^Deal, Paul (10 November 2009). 'Wootton Bassett sheds tears for soldiers'. BBC News. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^'Weston Bike Night - Bigger and Better for 2009'. Motorcycle News. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^'RBLR 1000'. Iron Butt Association. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^'Bikers present Poppy Appeal cheque to Hayley Westenra'. The Royal British Legion. 25 April 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
External links
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Royal_British_Legion_Riders_Branch&oldid=763669034'
Bikers from across the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, South Africa, France and New Zealand are invited to attend the eleventh Allied Memorial Remembrance Ride creating one ride worldwide, its riders united in remembrance of our fallen heroes from the allied forces, past and present, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The UK ride will take place in Cambridge, with a short service being held at the American War Cemetery in Madingley, Cambs. US rides take place in Texas, with a short service being held at the RAF Memorial located at the Oakland Memorial Park Cemetery in Terrell, Texas, east of Dallas. A further two rides take place in Oklahoma; one to the RAF Memorial at the IOF Cemetery in Ponca City and the other to the RAF Memorial at the GAR Cemetery in Miami, and a fourth ride in the US will take place in New Hampshire. There will be three Canadian rides taking place in Ottawa with a ride to the Ottawa Memorial (Commonwealth Air Force Memorial) located on Green Island where a short service will be held. A second Canadian ride will be held in Calgary, starting at Kensington Legion wtih the third ride taking place in Owen Sound, starting at Thomboys.
The links on the left of this page, under the heading 'General Menu', are provided for information pertaining to all rides irrespective of any country or state involved. For specific details of individual AMRR events throughout the globe, use the links at the top of the page to select your country of interest.
Hopefully, we have covered everything you need to know about the rides but, if after reading through our website you still have questions, please visit us on Facebook and post your queries where one of the event organisers will respond as soon as possible. If you do not have a facebook account, click on the 'contact us' link in any of the individual rides and you will be provided with a form that can be submitted direct to our organisers or you can contact site admin staff via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also keep updated with ride information via email by subscribing to the AMRR Newsletters using the module on the left of this page.
If you are not a biker, or unable to attend as a biker, but want to show your support, please sign our guestbook and if you live along the route of any of our rides, we encourage you to come out to show your support and witness this extra ordinary mark of respect by the biking community as they ride past. They ride with pride, ride with respect and ride to remember.
LEST WE FORGET