Bath and the surrounding areas are set to welcome two motorbike enthusiasts on a unique ride to raise money for the British Legion.
Medwyn Parry and Dougie Bancroft, both from Wales, will set out on a 2,500-mile ride at the end of July, to visit 51 so-called ‘Thankful Villages’ across the UK.
These are villages with no traditional war memorial because all of the men who left to fight in the First World War were lucky enough to return home.
Amazingly, in 14 of the villages, everybody who left for the Second World War also returned. These are known as ‘Double Thankful villages’.
Bath & North East Somerset has one Double Thankful village, Woolley, and one Thankful village, Chelwood.
The biking duo will visit both villages on Sunday 28th July: Woolley at 8.30am where they will attend a church service; and Chelwood at 12.30pm where they will be taking a short break at the village hall before travelling out of the county. Both villages will be presented with a plaque to commemorate their status.
The ride will raise funds for the Royal British Legion – the pair’s target is £51,000.
The Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Councillor Paul Crossley, and the Vice-Chairman, Councillor Martin Veal, will be at both locations in Bath and North East Somerset to lend their support.
Councillor Crossley said: “We are very pleased to welcome Medwyn and Dougie on their unique journey. We look forward to marking this interesting and little-known aspect of our area’s heritage. We wish them the very best of luck with their fundraising.”
The Reverend Joyce Williams, who will be conducting the church service in Woolley, said: “We are delighted to be visited by Medwyn and Dougie. Their visit allows us to honour those who served and give thanks that they all returned safely and at the same time help raise money for the Royal British Legion.”
Medwyn and Dougie said: “We would be very pleased to meet with residents – especially descendants of those who survived the conflict – and of course members of the Royal British Legion.”
Medwyn and Dougie will be riding Triumph Trophy motorbikes. They will start in the village of Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, near Aberystwyth, and will finish their journey there nine days later.
For further information please visit http://thankfulvillagesrun.com/
