Latest news with #Wilsmore
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Bikers delighted with much-loved Southend Shakedown's return
Hundreds of motorcyclists have been left delighted after a popular rally was revived in a coastal Shakedown first made its debut at the Essex seaside city's famous pier on Easter Monday there had been uncertainty over the event for the past three years, on Monday it was back with a vroom after a £100,000 cash injection from Southend-on-Sea City Wilsmore, 67, one of the organisers, said it had been a "nail-biting" few weeks as the event depended "so much on the weather". "Of course [over] the last two weeks, or more than that, we've had some fantastic sunshine," he explained."We've been down here a number of times to meet with the police, the council and various officers, and walking up and down the seafront in glorious sunshine, but bitter cold."Today it has just about held, the sun's out and it's not bitter cold. We've had a result I think you could say." It was cancelled in 2022 due to a lack of funding. Organisers had also reportedly faced threats of violence at previous Wilsmore, also the managing director of Ace Cafe, a well known bikers' haunt in London, said it was "marvellous" it was back."It really is wonderful," he continued."I've just had a great ride coming out of London: all a bit dark, gloomy and threatening [rain] as you come out of east London, but as you come toward the coast, getting brighter and brighter and you can't help but smile."May it be repeated next year, see you at the seaside." Karen Gelsthorpe, from Westcliff-on-Sea in Southend, has been going to the Shakedown since it first Monday, she arrived with her 1975 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead motorbike, modified by her husband. "It is great to have it back again - the atmosphere, the bikers, as long as everyone behaves," she said."It's just a big social... it's a brilliant atmosphere, it's just great." Mrs Gelsthorpe's husband, Mark, was on his Flying Merkel motorbike - a replica of a United States board-track racer from 1911."I'm just fascinated with that era so I had to build one," he explained. "It took me on and off about two years [to build]."He said it was "brilliant" to be back at the Shakedown."I'm happy to be here, coming down here with my wife and her bike, and friends, it's nice to bump into old friends," he continued."I'm glad they put it on again, it's really good." Paul Vincent, from Canvey in Essex, travelled on his Triumph Speedmaster, spray-painted in tribute to the World War Two Spitfire decorations included an image of the RAF Spitfire pilot Douglas Vincent said the Shakedown was "very important"."It's part of the area and it has been for years," he explained."It's just nice to see everybody out again and able to get down this year, whereas for the last couple of years they haven't been able to." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Southend Shakedown makes comeback after hiatus
Thousands of bikers are expected to line the seafront after a popular event that started in the 90s has been resurrected after a three-year Shakedown made its debut at the Essex seaside city's famous pier on Easter Monday 1998 and a range of riders on scooters and more powerful two-wheelers are due from across the Wilsmore, 67, one of the organisers, said it had always been about bringing people together and giving back to the have asked attendees to bring Easter eggs to the free event so they can donate them to food banks. He said giving to charity had been a staple part of the event since the 90s. Mr Wilsmore said: "We want to make the experience of Easter better for those in crisis." Before foodbanks took off in the UK, the organisers used to donate the chocolate to a children's hospice in Southend. After three years of uncertainty about the event's future, a £100,000 cash boost from Southend-on-Sea City Council's budget has funded the rally's Wilsmore is also managing director of the famous Ace Cafe bikers' haunt in north London, which is one of the key organisers for the hoped there would be a big turnout and added: "London loves its days out at the seaside."London will be emptying and visiting the seaside I'm equally sure. It's all fingers crossed; it's all subject to the weather."Speaking as a motorcyclist, we get up in the morning, we look out at the weather and if it's good we think 'yippee'."Mr Wilsmore has been riding since he was 17-years-old and said the attraction was simple: "It's the thrill."He said the event had always been popular, but they had to take a step back due to a lack of funding. Hundreds of bikers staged an unofficial rally on the seafront in 2024 in protest against the event's this year, people can expect "all that is associated with the seaside and a fun day out," the biker said there would be stalls from bike-related groups talking about road safety and different types of biking gear. There would also be a live band and DJ playing from noon until 17:00 Wilsmore said: "Late Roger Glover was instrumental in getting it all started in 1998."It was his constant badgering of me and leading me to the council that put the thing on the map in the first place."Matt Dent, the council's cabinet member for culture, tourism and business, said: "We are proud the city is hosting another weekend of events that residents and visitors to Southend can enjoy. "Shakedown is a much-loved event, we said we'd bring it back – and we have." Parking The council said a section of Marine Parade would be closed to traffic between Three Shells and The access to Hartington Road and Pleasant Road would be maintained for residents, businesses and emergency services. The council has also urged people not to park on pavements, block footways or obstruct emergency access routes. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
