Meet the armed forces bikers

A few days ago, I was wandering out of a local garden centre when my eyes fell on a beautiful motorbike.

I know little about bikes but can appreciate the style and power.

To prove that statement I will admit that I had a 49cc, Yamaha FS1E when I was about sixteen.

It was unrestricted, and thus it gave you a top speed of 39 mph down Bridford hill… it was a bit slower going up.

Beside this gleaming beast was a table laden with military-based charity goods and a smiling biker in an army berry with a Gloucester regimental cap badge.

We got talking and I challenged the Gloucester to recite his army number, which he did with the greatest of ease and then added: "… Private Benning 1 st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment…. Now representing the AFB, Armed Forces Bikers. Everyone can quote their military number; it is engrained in you."

What is the AFB?

"We are a national charity raising money for veterans and veteran’s families and ‘all’ the money goes to them, we do not touch a penny, not even the CEO of the charity. Our group are called The Wreckers and we run out of The Jolly Roger in Bovey  Tracey. We hold our bike nights there which is once a fortnight with on average one hundred and fifty bikes but in the past, we have had over three hundred. We have a lot of fun, ride out together, raise money and meet some fantastic people, what could be better."

What did service in the army mean to you?

"Everything, it was good, it made me a man. I joined when I was seventeen, saw and did a lot of things and I would recommend it to anyone."

What about the latest idea of conscription?

He thought on the answer carefully.

"It seems to work on the continent," he paused again and then added, "We’ll see! We are a non-political organisation; we will leave it there."

I went back to the Armed Forces Bikers and asked who could join?

"Anybody, from seventeen upwards. Just take a look at our website, www.armedforcesbikers.co.uk and all the details are there. We raise a lot of money in Devon thanks to people’s generosity. Last year alone we managed over £57,000. That’s through different events and having collection points like this one today. Here we are selling knitted toys, bracelets, badges, calendars, mugs, there is a lot of AFB stock. People donate things as well; it all goes into the pot."

I asked if he owned the bike, and could he start it to take me back to the days of my FS1E?

"My friend Graham owns it, I had to drive the van today with all the merchandise, but the bike can be started."

Graham duly pressed the electronic starter button and that magnificent throaty rumble of a VN 800 Kawasaki shook me back to the summer of 1978 when I had to kick start my beast to get that 49cc ‘pootle’!

"There is nothing like the sound of a V configuration engine," said Graham.

"It is twenty-six years old, very low mileage, I bought it a couple of months ago. I had a much bigger bike, but I have arthritis in my hips, so it was getting difficult to push around. I saw this one, a bit narrower, sat on it to see if I could fit, I did, fell in love with it and she has renewed my interest in riding. I am not ex-service; I was a bit of a black sheep when I was a youngster and this is my way of giving back to society now."

It was great to have met the team from The Wreckers and will keep an eye out for their bike evenings at The Jolly Roger.

The one sad thing I have discovered is that my FS1E, which I paid £70.00 for, it now worth £4500.00 minimum.

Why did I have to look it up!