Skegness Light Parade 2017

The fourth Skegness Light Parade took place 30 September 2017.  Wingers arrived from all over the country to take part so that this year we had a record 124 inscriptions.  The event was based, as before, at the Golden Palm Holiday Resort in Chapel St Leonards.  We conducted a static light parade at the resort on Friday evening and then retired to the Club Tropicana for libations and entertainment.  Saturday morning saw wingers assembling at the RNLI car park in Skegness.  Three bikes took off to park in front of Hildred's Shopping Mall to advertise the parade and send people down to the RNLI to see the rest of the bikes. 

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YouTube Videos:

Skegness Light Parade 2017 1
Skegness Light Parade 2017 2
Skegness Light Parade 2017 3
Skegness Light Parade 2017 4

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Static Display at the Golden Palm Resort

The Big Day

  The Saturday static display launched at 10.00am at the RNLI Car park in Skegness.  This year, we re-organised the entry system so that all bikes had to pass the inscription tent on their way in.  This resulted in 124 inscriptions and the bikes and trikes were then parked up so that the public could walk around, admire , take pictures and of course ask questions.  As the parade ground (car park) filled up, we were joined by the LINCS FM mobile radio station who gave us great coverage throughout the day and provided musical entertainment to keep everyone in high spirits.  Later, we welcomed the Town Mayor - Danny Brookes - who enjoyed a good look around the assembled bikes and even had a sit on Sandy's Trike.  Throughout the day, it felt like thousands of spectators came to look, touch, ask questions and of course to sit on a Goldwing for a photo. 

 

 

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Hildreds

 This year, we moved 3 bikes up to Hildred's from the start.  Stephen and Lynne, Trevor and Marion, and Martin took our wings to the main shops to tell people about the parade and to direct them down to the RNLI car park.  We had lots of interest in the wings and the parade, together with many people keen to get closer to look and sit on the bikes.  Here are just a few of our happy customers.  Martin's Starship Enterprise complete with Shuttle Craft attracted many customers - but everyone was keen to sit on a Goldwing, people from 2 years old to **** a little bit older.  They all loved the Goldwing.

Our Friend Jack

Ever since we began the Skegness Light Parade, we have been visited by a young chap named Jack, accompanied by his Grandma Cath.  Unfortunately, this year, Cath was unable to bring him along which was a great shame.  Jack suffers from cerebral palsy so he has great difficulty communicating and his muscles do not respond to his wishes.  None the less, whenever he is helped aboard a Goldwing his smile breaks out and you can feel the joy within him.  We learned that he has now been equipped with an eye-scanner that allows him to 'say' words by looking at them.  Apparently he has become quite the chatterbox with his new kit and he has even been heard to crack a joke.  So Jack we were sorry you couldn't come to visit us this year and instead, Cath has sent us pictures of Jack and his brother Oliver to fill in for this year.  We look forward to seeing you again next year and wish you best of luck with your new kit.

The Parade

By 16.00, the Goldwings dispersed from the RNLI Car park to go for an evening meal (and a well earned rest) and then we re-assembled from 18.30 to start the Light Parade.  Once again visitors were allowed to wander amongst the bikes to view our preparations and by this time, the crowd had swelled considerably.  At 19.30 sharp, Sandy (the LINCS Wings Rep) set off on his GL1500 trike to lead the parade around the town.  We followed the same route as last year going along the South Promenade, returning to the High Street, around the one way system and then up the North Promenade.  After swinging around at the North end of the town, we returned down the Promenade back to the RNLI. 

Again we are grateful for the crowds of spectators who assembled to watch us go by and they are to be congratulated for enduring the rainy downpour that accompanied our parade.  So whilst we rode around in the rain, they stood for around 30 minutes just to watch us.  I'd say well done to all.  Also a big thank you goes to Major Brooks of Skegness who braved the rain to give us all a great send-off

 

 

The After-Party

At the conclusion of the parade, we made our way back to the Golden Palm for an evening's entertainment.  Finally, Sandy took the microphone to announce the winners of awards for best bike and Trike and - of course - further travelled followed by the Prize Raffle organised by the Golden Palm.  He was then pleased to inform us how much the receipts so far had totalled.  In fact by the time he delivered our donation to the RNLI it had just topped £3000 so well done to everyone who helped and contributed.

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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.  At the conclusion, we inscribed 124 bikes, acquainted lots of folks with the Goldwing, and collected over £3000 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 29 September 2017

Hope to see you there !

Saturday at the RNLI Car Park