Bikers gather for service of remembrance

Hundreds of people, many of them arriving on motorbikes, have gathered in Staffordshire to remember those who died for their country.

The 19th annual Ride to the Wall was the first big event to have taken place at the Royal British Legion Remembrance Gardens since its name change, which sparked controversy last week.

It was formerly known as the National Memorial Arboretum and thousands of people had signed a petition opposing the change on the grounds it "undermines its rich heritage and the deep emotional connections many have with it".

But most people taking part in the Ride to the Wall, which ended with a service of remembrance at the gardens, said they were not concerned by the new name.

Phillipa Rawlinson, the Director of Remembrance at the Royal British Legion, said she was "really excited that Ride to the Wall is the first big event with the new name".

"We're doing remembrance here today and people are outdoors and they're really enjoying it," she added.

Tracy Cross from Solihull was one of those attending and she said: "As long as they keep the memorial arboretum open, it's fine by me."

She visits the gardens several times a year and said the Ride to the Wall event was special.

"Everybody here's so respectful it's just a beautiful place to be anyway," she said.

Asked about the name change, Gina McDonagh from Burton upon Trent said: "It is what it is, we can't change it. As long as it remains free for everybody to come and remember."

Both her brother and her brother-in-law served in the armed forces and she said: "I think it's really important that we come and remember everybody and that we bring future generations and they need to remember as well.

"Nothing changes if we forget what happened."

Speaking about the motivation behind the event, Martin Dickinson, the founder of Ride to the Wall said: "One of the worst things a family have to go through is losing a child.

"The second worst thing is that name being forgotten, so what we do here today is remember the names."

The event is named the Ride to the Wall because it involves motorbike riders from all over the country remembering the sacrifice made by the service men and women whose names are engraved on the wall of the Armed Forces Memorial at Alrewas.

It also raises money to help pay for the upkeep of the memorial gardens.

Local resident Bethan said she came to see the Ride to the Wall every year and said: "There's so many motorbikes it's so lovely to see and loads of people showing respect for remembrance as well."

Her father served in the Royal Signals and said he had been in her thoughts on the day.

David Evans, 89, from Reading said: "I'm an ex-national serviceman from way back. It brings you back to the lads, you feel it when you get back in the group. It's a long time but it never goes away."

Henry Burgess from Suffolk said: "I've been coming her for a few years now just to pay my regards to those we've lost."

He is an ex-serviceman too and added: "Things just get left behind, don't they, so you've got to keep remembering."

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