Skegness Light Parade 2018

The fifth Skegness Light Parade took place on 29 September 2018 with 157 bikes and trikes inscribed for the event.  As before, the event weekend was based at the Golden Palm Holiday Resort in Chapel St Leonards and the Reception staff told me that all vacant caravans had been filled for the weekend.  So if you plan to come next year - book early to avoid disappointment.  

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View the SKLP 2018 photo Album

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Video coverage of the Parade:

Skegness Light Parade 2018 - 1
Skegness Light Parade 2018 - 2

 

The weekend started on Friday with arrivals, staff briefing and a static light parade.  Saturday began at 9.30am with the marshals and stewards closing the road down to the RNLI, getting our parking area prepared and putting out road signs.  Wingers began arriving soon after and displayed in the parking area until 4.00pm when we all had to clear out.  Returning at 6.30pm marshals and stewards prepared the bikes so that we could all launch from the start point with the minimum of delay and confusion.  The parade around the town took us down South Parade and then back to the High Street where we went up, around and back down to the Clock Tower.  We then toured up North Parade, took a long loop around and then back along North Parade to return to base.  The return to the Golden Palm was a lit procession using outriders as drop-off markers back to Chapel St Leonards and into the Club Tropicana for beer and awards.  Sunday included a rideout to the Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln followed by dinner and more beer. Then Monday was for going home.

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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.  We had organised the entry system so that all bikes had to pass the inscription tent on their way in and stewards then marshalled them into position.  With 157 bikes and trikes inscribed the car park soon filled and spectators circulated around the bikes to admire our machines. 

 

 

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Hildreds

 This year, we took 3 bikes up Hildred's to advertise the parade and to send spectators down to the RNLI carpark to see the bikes. Martin's Starship Enterprise complete with Shuttle Craft attracted many customers and everyone - both young and old - was keen to sit on a Goldwing for their photo.  Here are some of our many customers that took the chance to sit on a Goldwing.

 

Our Friend Jack

Last year our good friend Jack could not come to visit us as his Nan Cath - who normally brings him - had been diagnosed with cancer.  But this year Cath seemed much better with her treatments and she came along with the whole family so that Jack could see the bikes.  Jack has cerebral Palsy and he is unable to move or speak of his own volition.  However, at his special school he was given a great piece of kit called an 'Eye Gazer'.  This is a computer screen with icons and if you stare at an icon it writes its associated word at the top of the screen.  In this way Jack can stare at the screen to compose sentences and surprisingly his communication is just what you would expect of a 12 year old boy.  Despite his inability to move, Jack has an active and imaginative mind, and he also loves the Goldwings.  We helped him into the seat of my GL1800 and then started the engine.  Jack whooped with pleasure as the engine ran up and his face broke into a great big smile.  So its times like these that helps us to realise why we take the time to display our bikes and raise money for charities.  Here is Jack with his family enjoying the bike.

The Parade

At 6.30pm we returned to the carpark and once again our marshals and stewards organised the bikes and trikes so that we could all set off with the minimum of fuss.  This year, Skegness Council had agreed that we could close the road down to the RNLI to maintain spectator safety, so bikes were lined up along the road and then back into the parking area ready to go.  As we conducted our final rigging of lights, donning costumes, testing horns and turning up music LOUD, spectators filtered through the bikes to take a look before we set off.  Then at 7.30pm prompt the parade set out with Sandy and his trike in the lead.  As we exited the RNLI the crowds of spectators pressed in from both sides of the road.  We set out down South Parade then back around to the High Street.  With marshals at key points and outriders to block off roads, we paraded up around and back down the High Street, returning to the Clock Tower.  Then up North Parade making a big loop before coming back down to the Clock Tower and back into the carpark.  We seemed to have drawn an even bigger crowd than last year and everyone stood, waved, took photos and videos as we passed by.

Watch Videos of the Parade on You Tube:

Skegness Light Parade 2018 - 1
Skegness Light Parade 2018 - 2

Meet The Team

 The safety requirements of our parade this year had grown once again so that most of LINCS Wings members were employed in one capacity or another as stewards or marshals.  We were also supported by 4 fully trained first aiders from LIVES, East Coast BID had sponsored this together with the  road closure signs and diversion signs and the cost of Dave Skells Traffic Management closing the road from Festival Car Park to the mini roundabout on Tower Esplanade.  Paul Dixon Fire & Safety services supplied fire extinguishers and fire cover for the day.  Hi Vis vests were sponsored by The Grosvenor Hotel.  The Golden Palm Resort provided the raffle prizes as well as having 5000 leaflets printed for the event, which Click Ink of Skegness designed free of charge.  MJS Engineering provided communications for marshals with 2 way radios and lanyards with telephone numbers should the radios fail.  Lincs Wings sponsored this years Trophies.  We also have to thank the Skegness RNLI, the Lord Mayor, Town Crier, The Jolly Fisherman, County Lincs Radio, the staff of the Golden Palm Resort and many many others who gave their time and energy to making this a great event.  Most of all we have to thank the Goldwing owners who came to show off their bikes and trikes without which we would not have had an event to enjoy.

 

Awards

After the parade we returned to the Tropicana Club at the Golden Palm Resort for a well earned taste of beer and Sandy's announcements of  how well we had done and also the winners of awards and the raffle.  This year's awards were as follows:

RNLI award for best bike:                     Mark Dibdin,
RNLI award for best trike:                    Trevor Ellis (whiskey barrel)
Blue Anchor award for lit bike:             Sid (Zenon Wozniak)
Blue Anchor award for best lit trike:     Dave Crowley.
Jayne Sands award for best in show:     Mick Conners .
 

 

At the conclusion of the parade, Sandy announced that this year we had 157 bikes/trikes inscribed with 114 taking part in the Light Parade.  The event had raise over £3650 for the RNLI which was a 20% increase over last year.  So well done to everyone that took part and contributed to this great result.

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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.   

Next year's parade which will take place on 28 September 2019

Hope to see you there !