By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-04 08:07:33 | Updated at 2026-10-04 09:05:22
1 hour ago
Thousands of bikers made their annual pilgrimage to the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens this weekend to remember those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice.
Ride to the Wall saw people from across the country and Europe travel on their motorbikes to the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Remembrance Gardens in Staffordshire.
Arriving in a series of convoys, many of those who took part were veterans, serving personnel or family members of those whose names are inscribed into the memorial walls.
For Director of Remembrance at the Royal British Legion, Philippa Rawlinson, the event shows the strength of the armed forces community.
She told GB News: “It is a phenomenal event, and I'm hugely privileged to be asked by the Ride to the Wall committee to join them on the ride in.
“It gives that perspective of that pilgrimage. That pilgrimage started when John Foster left southern Spain days ago to start riding.
“I was watching someone on the Facebook page posting the first leg of their journey from the northern tip of Scotland.
“You can just feel the support, the emotion and how people are united in remembering.”
Thousands of bikers made their annual pilgrimage to the Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens this weekend
GB NEWS
RAF veteran, Julian Roberts, is no stranger to the day, having taken part in every Ride to the Wall since 2009.
He said: “It's a pilgrimage and it's to pay respects to the fallen.
“I had lots of school friends of mine who were involved in the Falklands, and they were injured on the Sir Galahad.
“A friend of mine in Brackley, she lost her son in Afghanistan, Nicholas Webster-Smith. He was a Corporal in the Royal Military Police and his mum Jackie I’m very good friends with.
Philippa Rawlinson explained the event shows the strength of the armed forces community
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RAF veteran, Julian Roberts, has taken part in every Ride to the Wall since 2009
GB NEWS
“So it's again to come and pay my respects to something on a local level too.”
For the 6,500 people who registered to attend, the day provided a chance to reunite with former comrades and think about those who never made it home and can no longer ride by their side.
It’s almost 20 years since the event began, and each biker donating to take part, plus additional donations, more than £2million has been raised to support the upkeep of the National Remembrance Gardens.
The event was the idea of veteran Martin Dickinson, who led in the final group of riders before the service of remembrance yesterday.
Since the event began 20 years ago, more than £2million has been raised to support the upkeep of the National Remembrance Gardens
GB NEWS
The event was the idea of veteran Martin Dickinson, who led the final group of riders before the service of remembrance yesterday
GB NEWS
He told GB News: “There's a wall behind us called the Armed Forces Memorial, and there are names on there that have served our country and gave their life for us, and they need to be remembered and continue to be remembered.
“You get on the bike to leave, it’s emotional, and then you see everybody that's arriving and it gets quite emotional.
“When I get on the steps and look out, that's when it really hits me, when I realise how many people are here and realise we're doing something that's right.”
