The Royal British Legion Riders Branch
Encyclopedia
The Royal British Legion Riders Branch (RBLR) is a branch of The Royal British Legion
. It was formed in 2004.
Whilst its membership is dominated by ex and current HM Armed Forces personnel, it also welcomes potential members who support the aims of the Royal British Legion, namely of helping and assisting service people, ex-service people and their dependants.
The members are regularly seen at motorcycle events wearing the distinctive rider's badge, including Wootton Bassett
, where they meet for the repatriation of the bodies of fallen service personnel who are flown into RAF Lyneham
.
Ex-military members of the RBLR often wear medals and head dress with their leathers and motorcycle kit.
It is a politically neutral organisation which the Weston Bike Nights in Weston-super-Mare
,
an annual rally, and is now running the annual RBLR 1000 Iron Butt Rally
. In 2009, 173 riders completed 1,000 miles in 24 hours and raised £10,000 for the Poppy Appeal.
The RBLR also organises Poppy runs to raise both awareness and money for the Poppy Appeal. Its members also become involved in rides to places with special military resonance such as the Armed Forces Memorial
in Staffordshire
and European battle sites. Its membership is younger than The Royal British Legion, with an average age of members being in their mid forties, and it is the fastest growing branch of the entire Legion.
The RBLR has had some celebrity support with Hayley Westenra
who received the Branches' £10,000.00 Poppy Appeal cheque in 2008.
The Royal British Legion
The Royal British Legion , sometimes referred to as simply The Legion, is the United Kingdom's leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to those who have served or who are currently serving in the British Armed Forces, and their dependants.-History:The British Legion was...
. It was formed in 2004.
Whilst its membership is dominated by ex and current HM Armed Forces personnel, it also welcomes potential members who support the aims of the Royal British Legion, namely of helping and assisting service people, ex-service people and their dependants.
The members are regularly seen at motorcycle events wearing the distinctive rider's badge, including Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett
Royal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
, where they meet for the repatriation of the bodies of fallen service personnel who are flown into RAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham
RAF Lyneham is a Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire, England. It was the home of all the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force before they were relocated to RAF Brize Norton.The station was also home to No...
.
Ex-military members of the RBLR often wear medals and head dress with their leathers and motorcycle kit.
It is a politically neutral organisation which the Weston Bike Nights in Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
,
an annual rally, and is now running the annual RBLR 1000 Iron Butt Rally
Iron Butt Association
The Iron Butt Association is a US-based organization dedicated to endurance motorcycle riding with over 35,000 members world-wide who tout themselves as the "World's Toughest Riders." One of its more popular slogans is "The World Is Our Playground."...
. In 2009, 173 riders completed 1,000 miles in 24 hours and raised £10,000 for the Poppy Appeal.
The RBLR also organises Poppy runs to raise both awareness and money for the Poppy Appeal. Its members also become involved in rides to places with special military resonance such as the Armed Forces Memorial
Armed Forces Memorial
The Armed Forces Memorial is a national memorial in the United Kingdom, dedicated to the 16,000 servicemen and women of the British Armed Forces killed on duty or through terrorist action since the Second World War.-History:...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and European battle sites. Its membership is younger than The Royal British Legion, with an average age of members being in their mid forties, and it is the fastest growing branch of the entire Legion.
The RBLR has had some celebrity support with Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
who received the Branches' £10,000.00 Poppy Appeal cheque in 2008.