Three Angus service veterans took to the saddle this morning at the start of a symbolic 400-mile journey to the small English market town which has become synonymous with the sacrifice of today’s war heroes.
Ex-soldiers Charlie Brown, Kenny Campbell and Mick McKeown were to be led off from Edinburgh Castle esplanade by motorcyclists from the new Riders’ Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland, the 90th anniversary of which their epic journey aims to celebrate.
The trio’s destination is Wootton Bassett, and on Sunday the Forfar Legion members are set to represent their country at a special drumhead service in the Wiltshire town.
Over the coming four days, the Forfar team whose combined age totals 203 years will cover the distance in relays to arrive at their destination bearing a goodwill scroll from the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
Forfar’s Legion branch is the oldest in the world and having recently been honoured with a visit by Princess Anne, branch chairman Charlie Brown said he was delighted Angus is taking the lead in the national event.
“It is a national celebration of the Legion’s 90th anniversary and we are doing this to represent Scotland. Mick is a member of a national committee and he developed the idea through that, but it just so happens that the three guys who decided to complete the cycle are all from the Forfar branch,” said Charlie.
“There was also a strong feeling amongst the Legion in Scotland as a whole that with repatriations through Wootton Bassett due to come to an end soon it would be nice to mark the appreciation of everyone north of the border for the way that community has come out in remembrance of servicemen and women when they have arrived home.
“We will be taking the Scottish national colour down to participate in the parade on Sunday and I am sure it will be a poignant event.”
He added, “We’ve been putting in as much training as we can but it will be quite tough. It will just be a matter of doing what you can in the saddle before handing over for a break.”
Motor firm Arnold Clark and Forfar’s Strathmore Water have backed the effort, which will include a support team comprising Alex and Barbara Adam and Mike and Linda Wilkie from the Forfar branch.
The 416-mile journey will take the cyclists via Galashiels, Carlisle, Kendal, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Gloucester and Cirencester to their destination just a few miles from RAF Lyneham.
Mick, who biked 50 miles a day round Scotland last year for 24 days to raise money for the Legion, said, “It will be tough but I’m confident we’ll keep to the schedule. If the weather’s bad it will be a matter of keeping your head down and soldiering on but then, we’re used to that.
“It’s only right that the Legion’s 90th should involve a bit of hard work as well as celebration.”
Edinburgh Lord Provost George Grubb said, “I’m sure Scots everywhere will join me in wishing these three men all the very best. The British Legion was founded in Edinburgh in June 1921 and every single Legion branch around the world can look to the city as its ancestral home.
“I’m especially pleased that, with Edinburgh acting as the national focus for Armed Forces Day this month, we are sending greetings to Wootton Bassett, a village which has come to represent a national focus for remembrance.”
Wootton Bassett photo by Flickr user stuff_and_nonsense.