Southsea Remembrance Service 2023

The largest 'Ride in' Remembrance service on the south coast.

Report by Dan Walton

On a less than a shiny morning of Sunday 12th November 2023, three Howlers, Michael Keeler, Gary Clark and myself met in Crawley with a nearly 2hr ride ahead of us.  Setting off under the mottled cloud filled sky, heading south west through the wilds of Sussex, then galloping past Fontwell down the A27 to Portsmouth and finally arriving at Southsea common. There we joined approximately 1200 other bikers parked up for The Royal British Legion Riders event to remember those lost in conflict. This is the largest ride in remembrance ceremony in the south and for good reason, a beautifully crafted all inclusive ceremony with so many like minded biking people brings it home and humbles the best of us. 

After paying our respects we headed to the Driftwood Kitchen where we sought sustenance whilst talking to each other about our own and our families military backgrounds. We headed for home under the same mottled sky leaving the Naval memorial monument guarding the position between past and present ensuring we never forget.