Latest news with #JamesWhitham
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Motorway shut for mass biker charity ride-out
Thousands of bikers have taken part in a ride-out on Shropshire roads to raise money for charity. The convoy set off on a 26-mile route from Meole Brace, in Shrewsbury, at 10:30 BST on Sunday as part of the Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival. About 3,500 riders drove in convoy along stretches of motorway that had been closed for the event, to reach the festival site at Weston Park on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border, organisers said. Former World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty is attending the festival, which aims to raise money for the Midlands Air Ambulance charity. The ride-out followed the A5, M54 and A41 to the event's home at Weston Park, with the A5 and M54 shut to other drivers for a time. Highways agencies had previously advised motorists to avoid travelling at the same time and allow extra time around related traffic restrictions. The road closures have since been lifted. Visitors to Weston Park have been promised celebrity guest appearances, live music, food and stunt shows. Among celebrities expected to attend are Bez from the Happy Mondays and former professional motorcycle racer James Whitham. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Drivers warned of charity motorbike convoy Related internet links BikefLife Ride Out Midlands Air Ambulance
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
M54 and A5 shut for mass biker charity ride-out
Thousands of bikers have taken part in a ride-out on Shropshire roads to raise money for convoy set off on a 26-mile route from Meole Brace, in Shrewsbury, at 10:30 BST on Sunday as part of the Bike4Life Ride Out and 3,500 riders drove in convoy along stretches of motorway that had been closed for the event, to reach the festival site at Weston Park on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border, organisers World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty is attending the festival, which aims to raise money for the Midlands Air Ambulance charity. The ride-out followed the A5, M54 and A41 to the event's home at Weston Park, with the A5 and M54 shut to other drivers for a agencies had previously advised motorists to avoid travelling at the same time and allow extra time around related traffic road closures have since been lifted. Visitors to Weston Park have been promised celebrity guest appearances, live music, food and stunt celebrities expected to attend are Bez from the Happy Mondays and former professional motorcycle racer James Whitham. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Drivers warned of charity motorbike convoy
Drivers are being advised to allow more time for journeys when a convoy of about 3,500 motorcyclists takes to the roads in Shropshire. The Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival, attended by former World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty, will see riders travelling on a 25-mile route starting from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, at 10:30 BST on Sunday. They will follow the A5, M54 and A41 to the event's home at Weston Park to raise money for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and there will be traffic restrictions from 10:20 for up to two hours. National Highways said it advised anyone due to travel through the area to avoid the times of the ride out if possible or set off early and allow extra time. There will be traffic restrictions at Meole Brace roundabout if travelling from Sainsbury's. All eastbound movements will be stopped at A5 Dobbies, A5 Emstrey and A5 Preston Boats roundabouts. There will also be closures of the eastbound entry slip roads on the M54 at junctions 7, 6, 5 and 4 and no traffic movements other than the motorcycles at junction 3 and the A41 northbound as far as the junction with Offoxey Road until the ride out clears. The convoy will be led by a National Highways traffic officer vehicle and junctions will be reopened as soon as the convoy has passed. Attendees will also include former professional motorcycle racer in the British Superbike and World Superbike championships James Whitham and Happy Mondays dancer and DJ Bez. National Highways senior network planner David Patmore said so many bikes heading down the motorway and into the festival "is quite the sight and one we are happy to support as we see the vital work Midlands Air Ambulance Charity does". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Thousands to support charity motorbike convoy New date announced for delayed motorbike festival Charity postpones bike ride due to wet conditions Midlands Air Ambulance Charity Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival National Highways
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Shropshire drivers warned of motorbike convoy for air ambulance charity
Drivers are being advised to allow more time for journeys when a convoy of about 3,500 motorcyclists takes to the roads in Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival, attended by former World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty, will see riders travelling on a 25-mile route starting from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, at 10:30 BST on will follow the A5, M54 and A41 to the event's home at Weston Park to raise money for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and there will be traffic restrictions from 10:20 for up to two Highways said it advised anyone due to travel through the area to avoid the times of the ride out if possible or set off early and allow extra time. There will be traffic restrictions at Meole Brace roundabout if travelling from Sainsbury's. All eastbound movements will be stopped at A5 Dobbies, A5 Emstrey and A5 Preston Boats roundabouts. There will also be closures of the eastbound entry slip roads on the M54 at junctions 7, 6, 5 and 4 and no traffic movements other than the motorcycles at junction 3 and the A41 northbound as far as the junction with Offoxey Road until the ride out clears. The convoy will be led by a National Highways traffic officer vehicle and junctions will be reopened as soon as the convoy has will also include former professional motorcycle racer in the British Superbike and World Superbike championships James Whitham and Happy Mondays dancer and DJ Highways senior network planner David Patmore said so many bikes heading down the motorway and into the festival "is quite the sight and one we are happy to support as we see the vital work Midlands Air Ambulance Charity does". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Cision Canada
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
Canadian War Museum acquires rare Second World War Sherman BARV from The Tank Museum in the UK
OTTAWA, ON, July 2, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian War Museum is once again boosting its reputation as a centre of expertise for the restoration and display of specialized historical military vehicles, with its acquisition of an M4A2 Sherman Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle (BARV): a type of vehicle important to Canada's D-Day story. This BARV hull was donated by The Tank Museum in the United Kingdom. It is one of only five such vehicles known to exist, and will become the sole Sherman BARV on display in North America. Its transportation to Canada is due to the generous support of the Friends of the Canadian War Museum. "The War Museum is one of the only institutions in Canada with the expertise to fully restore these types of complex military vehicles," said James Whitham, Director General of the Canadian War Museum. "We are excited to be able to bring this into our collection and begin the painstaking restoration of this rare vehicle, which will help us tell the story of Canada's involvement in the Normandy landings and subsequent beach operations." This is a unique and rare example of a specialized armoured vehicle developed for amphibious landings. BARVs would prove vital to Canadian and Allied success on June 6, 1944, during the D-Day landings at Juno Beach and elsewhere. These vehicles could operate in water up to 3 metres (9 feet) deep and helped move vehicles blocking the beaches that had either broken down or had been damaged by enemy fire. Sherman BARVs were also used during the Rhine River crossing in March 1945, and remained in British military service until 1963. The precise involvement of this particular BARV on D-Day is still being researched. "Whilst unique in our collection, this vehicle was not used by the Royal Armoured Corps, which means The Tank Museum is not the best home for it. We are therefore delighted to be able to donate it to our partners at the Canadian War Museum, so it can be restored and put on display," said Chris van Schaardenburgh, Vehicle Collections Manager at The Tank Museum. "Only a handful of Sherman BARVs are known to survive; two of these are on display in the UK. It is therefore hugely significant that we share this vehicle, once used on the beaches of Normandy, with Canada." The vehicle was originally recovered from a firing range on Salisbury Plain in southern England, and has been preserved at The Tank Museum since 2009. The Canadian War Museum plans to restore it for eventual display in the LeBreton Gallery. It will join the Museum's impressive collection of 200 military vehicles in that space, vividly illustrating Canada's rich military history. Due to the extent of restoration required, it will be several years before the BARV is ready for public display. If you would like to have your name removed from our distribution list or if this information should be directed to someone else, please email us. SOURCE Canadian War Museum
