Organiser’s labour of love at Wootton Bassett (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Organiser’s labour of love at Wootton Bassett

11:20am Thursday 11th March 2010 in Royal Wootton Bassett

Oorganiser Julia Stevenson volunteered to take over the organisation of Sunday’s ride and found herself engulfed by the event.

She will be on her Harley Davidson among the riders and says the achievement will make the hard work worthwhile.

“We have soldiers in Afghanistan sending messages of support and that is what is making it so special.” she said. “It has been hard work and I am absolutely exhausted but it is going to be spectacular.

“If the day goes well perhaps people around the country and the world will realise that bikers are not all undesirables.”

Mrs Stevenson, who lives in Kent, will be staying in Calne before the ride and is going to visit RAF Lyneham tomorrow.

Mrs Stevenson, who belongs to The American American Motorcycle Owners Club, saw the ride on Facebook and asked to be involved. When founder Lizzie Stevens could not cope with the responses she offered to take over.

“I’ve been working 24/7 on this and it has taken it out of me,” she said.

She has been the last few weekends visiting Wiltshire to meet with the police. She said: “The police have been excellent. Chief Inspector Owen Gillard has been absolutely brilliant. It has been a pleasure to work with all these people.”