During the month of August, a team of four veterans of the Falklands war rode around the UK by motorbike visiting the graves and memorials of men who lost their lives in the Falklands war in 1982. A total of 2600 miles in 15 days, visiting over 80 graves and memorials of the war.
The team had several aims, to promote: Remembrance, Respect, Awareness and Support. They wished to The team had several aims, to promote: Remembrance, Respect, Awareness and Support. They wished to demonstrate that these men are not forgotten, to pay their respects to each one and the families of those lost. Finally, to raise funds for the South Atlantic Association who continue to support veterans of the Falklands war and importantly the families who have lost loved ones.
On Saturday 14th August Gordon Mather (Dean Waterfield Lodge) had the great privilege to host the team at a service held in the SAS memorial plot at St Martin’s church. He said to his surprise and delight that three of the bikers are Freemasons. Knowing that our Provincial Grand Master is himself a keen biker, indeed a founder member of Columbanus Lodge No. 9941. (A lodge for motorcycle enthusiasts based in Somerset, but which meets peripatetically across Wiltshire and Gloucestershire also) I contacted him and he met the team in Ross on Wye on Friday evening at a ceremony at the grave of Timothy Jenkins, Killed In Action aged just 19 whilst serving with the Parachute Regiment.
The following morning, Lee Oxenham of Dean Waterfield led the riders along with 15 other bikes from Ross to St Martins where once again the PGM joined the team. Following the ceremony the PGM accompanied the team for their next leg to Worcester.