Bike line-up

Photo: Dave Jackson

This was a by now-familiar mix of every type of motive power and static engines, arranged around a large site a few miles from Dorking. Not seen at Hadlow but very much in evidence at Rudgewick were displays of various animals, a sizeable fun fair and a brass band which was the only discouragement from regular visits to the beer tent. "Sound Of Music" medley anyone?
On the stand (which had been set up by dedicated volunteers on the Friday night) there was a good range of bikes old and new from Bexley and Surrey plus some from West Sussex if I got it right. Shortly before lunchtime on the Saturday (the only day I made it down there in the end) I joined the parade of bikes around the arena. It was a little bit more organised than at last year’s Danson park spectacular, with each bike getting a solo lap during which the commentator could offer a few well-chosen words on the particular model. Unfortunately it became clear that his previously authoratative descriptions of the tractors which preceeded us was not going to be mirrored by as much detail about the bikes. Never mind, perhaps bikes were not his specialist subject.
After that it was simply a matter of sitting down in the shade of the marquee or walking around in the heat to look at the exhibits. Some stayed the full course until packing up time on the Monday so I hope that the commemarative plaques I heard about were real and ended up in the right hands.