Skegness Light Parade 2016

The third Skegness Light Parade took place on 24 September 2016.  Once more, wingers collected from all over the country to take part.  This year we had 120 parade inscriptions together with a Prize Draw Raffle (with prizes donated by the Golden Palm Resort), and collections from RNLI buckets all went to raise £2500 for the Skegness RNLI Lifeboat fund.  

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Click to view the full Photo 2016 Album

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This weekend started once again at the Golden Palm Resort on Friday with wingers gathering to take up their weekend accommodation.  The first parade event took place that evening in the Resort Car Park where we assembled for a static light parade.  Resort staff were asked to judge the best lit bike and trike whilst members of the public were invited to circulate, look and ask questions. 

Static Display at the Golden Palm Resort

The Big Day

  Saturday morning at 10.00am we assembled at the RNLI Carpark in Skegness and once again invited members of the public to walk around and view the bikes.   It is always great to see how enthusiastic our viewers can be and to see the look of yearning on some of the faces.  The ususal questions we are asked will be "how many miles to the gallon do you get" and "how much does one of these cost".  The first answer depends on how you are riding - if you are in teenage sports bike mode, she does about 30 to the gallon, but if the wife is on the back, then we get up to 50.  As to cost, well they go for a range of prices depending on age but a new one will cost around £25,400.  We were blessed with a clear sunny day (which was quite a change from the previous week) and we had lots of visitors coming to see us.





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Hildreds

 At midday, Stephen and Lynne and Dick and Pat took our wings up to the main shops and parked outside Hildred's Shopping Mall to tell people about the parade and to direct them down to the RNLI Carpark.  We had lots of interest in the wings and the parade together with many people keen to get closer.  Here are a few happy customers


Here was one young fellow who was particularly looking forward to the Skegness Light Parade.  This is Jack who suffers from cerebral palsy so he has little movement in his arms or legs and has difficulty in speaking.  However, he and his family members, Kev and Oliver and his grandma Cath, had made a special trip to see the parade.  Despite Jack's difficulty in communicating, it took no time at all to determine that he was looking forward to sitting once more on a Goldwing.  So here he is with his brother Oliver on the back.  Welcome back Jack and we hope to see you again next year.  

By 16.00, the Goldwings dispersed to go for an evening meal (and a well earned rest) and then we re-assembled at the RNLI for the start of the parade at 19.00.  Once again visitors were allowed to wander amongst the bikes to view our preparations and by this time, the crowd had swelled considerably.  As soon as the light had gone down, we set off from the top of the Carpark.  We followed the same route as last year so that spectators will get used to where and when they will best see the parade.  Sandy (our Rep) lead the parade with his trailer loaded with VIPs and following wingers were encouraged to keep close spacing so as to avoid gaps.  The RNLI provided marshals at key points so we could keep the parade running without stops.  All told, it took around 8 minutes for the parade to pass, also the route was arranged so that we passed both ways on the main roads so spectators were treated to a great show twice.   As we traversed the route, the sides of the roads thronged with people waving and cheering and cameras flashed almost continuously.

 
 
  

After the parade, we returned to the Golden Palm for an evenings entertainment and - of course - the delivery of awards for best presented, best lit and furthest travelled bike and trike.


You Tube Videos for 2016

Light Parade 2016

Barry Robinson

Martyn Boon

Setting Off

Back to Base

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Our sincere thanks go to everyone who contributed to the organisation and presentation of this year's parade, for the many bikers who came from all over the country to help make the event a success, to the RNLI and to the Golden Palm Resort for their excellent support and to the Town and officials of Skegness who made it all possible.  Also thanks to Sue Blackeagle for her superb photographic coverage of the parade.  At the conclusion, we inscribed 120 bikes, acquainted lots of folks with the Goldwing, and collected £2500 towards the RNLI Funds - As well as having a great social weekend get together.  

Here's looking forward to next year's parade which will take place on 30 September 2017

Hope to see you there !

Light Parade Slide Show

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