Event Reports

Remembrance Sunday - Sunday 11th November 2012

For the fourth year running, we attended the City of Wakefield Remembrance Sunday parade and wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial on Wood Street, to pay our respects.

We met at the car park adjacent to Charley Browns from 10:30 and thirteen Wakefield MAG members then joined the large crowd which had gathered at the Wood Street War Memorial.

At 10:45, the parade, which had set off from the cathedral, marched up Rishworth Street, led by the Wakefield Cathedral clergy, marching bands, members of the 9th Parachute Squadron of the Royal Engineers (Wakefield's own TA unit), army, air & sea cadets, police, fire service, a big group of veterans, scouts and numerous others.

Parade at Wood St War Memorial

The service started after the 11:00 town hall bells, with the two-minute silence and wreath laying, led by the Dean of Wakefield. Chas Milner, ex-RAF man, laid our own Wakefield MAG wreath, which we had ordered from the Royal British Legion. The service was over by 11:30, and we made our way back to the car park, where we bumped into a large contingent of the Westgate Runners Scooter Club, who had also attended the service to pay their respects.

We then had a ride over to Mirfield and the Old Colonnial pub, to meet up with the Royal British Legion Riders Branch, who were attending the Mirfield Remembrance Sunday event. Last year, a dozen bikes led the procession, which Chas and Jagster attended. This year, our attendance doubled the number of bikes to 21. We were a little worried that the RBLRB would feel that we were taking over but we had not to worry, as they were absolutely delighted we came along to support the parade and service, and boost the number of bikes in attendance.

The role of the bikes is to lead the procession, with the marching bands, service personnel, cadets , veterans and others following behind.

Parade at Mirfield

It was indeed an honour to lead this procession and even an unforecasted downpour did nothing to dampen the spirits.

Parade at Mirfield

Following the service at the Mirfield War Memorial, the bikes led the procession back, then peeled off to the Old Colonnial where the Royal British Legion treated us to food and a beer. Thanks guys, hugely appreciated and it was our pleasure to attend.

Everyone agreed it was a great thing to do and we will be attending both services again in 2013. Let's try to get even more bikes on the procession in Mirfield next year !!!!