Ride of Respect

Around 10,000 motorbikes are riding through our village today as they take part on a journey through Oxfordshire to pay respect to the brave Service men and women killed in Service. It will raise funds for The Royal British Legion in support of our Armed Forces and their families.

The Ride of Respect was started in 2010, by two biker enthusiasts and the journey used to take them through Royal Wootton Bassett. As the repatriation of servicemen and women now takes place at RAF Brize Norton, the route is now from Dry Sandford near Abingdon to Carterton.

Police escorts and support bikes are necessary to keep traffic running as smoothly as possible. As they pass through the villages, they toot their horns and wave. and the villagers support them by waving flags and cheering as they go by. Some people bring chairs to the pavement and barbecue food at their gates.

They started passing through at about 10am and they are still going past now, at 1.30.
Not a good day to be sleeping off a night duty, which is what Mr E was doing last year!