On 20 September 2014, Goldwingers from all around the country descended on Skegness to participate in its first ever Goldwing Light Parade 2014. Highly decorated Trikes and Bikes filled up the RNLI car park to provide a static display between 10.00am and 4.00pm allowing visitors the chance to walk around take pictures and ask questions. More than 80 inscriptions helped to raise money for the RNLI charity with a percentage also going towards the GWOC National Committee charity. The event was strongly supported by the RNLI who had helped to set up and advertise the Parade as well as providing marshals to assist in traffic control whilst the Parade made its way around the town. We were also well supported by the Golden Palm Resort at Chapel-St-Leonards where they offered the hire of caravans for the whole weekend (Friday through to Monday) at a special price, and this included entry to their Club Tropicana and all their facilities. We were also pleased to welcome many visitors from different regions as well as our National Chairman (arriving on his brand new GL1800). Our spy within the crowd (actually my wife taking photos of the parade) reported that people were awed by the sights and sounds of the Goldwings saying things like "fantastic" and "Wow !". After the parade we returned to the Golden Palm Resort in Chapel-St-Leonards where our Regional Rep (Sandy) go up to present awards and raffle prizes in the Club Tropicana before we sat back to enjoy a great night's entertainment.
Sunday morning found a number of brave souls ready in the Resort car-park for a ride-out to a carvery dinner and a trip around the Lincolnshire Wolds. Back later that night we once again assembled in the Club Tropicana for another enjoyable evening of entertainment (and good priced beers).
Overall, a great weekend and a spectacular Light Parade. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the staff at the RNLI and the Skegness Council and Police for their cooperation and support and a special thanks to the Golden Palm Resort and their staff for a great weekend at a great price. The event raised £1096 for charity and we are now all looking forward to doing it again next year on 26 September 2015.
In the meantime, here are pictures from the Static Display and Light Parade.
Also see Derek Hendry's pictures on his Facebook Album