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| David Morris MP with “Thankful Villages” rider Dougie Bancroft and John Tamlin of Docker Park Farm. |
This summer Medwyn Parry and Dougie Bancroft have been riding Triumph motorbikes to all of the 51 “Thankful Villages” in the United Kingdom – villages with no traditional war memorial because all who went off to fight in the Great War were lucky enough to return home. 14 of these (including Nether Kellet) are “Double Thankful”, where they also returned from the Second World War.
Despite surviving the war many veterans had been scarred physically and/or mentally by their horrific ordeal.
On Saturday 3rd August the Thankful Villages Run reached Nether Kellet and Arkholme, where crowds of residents were present to see the presentation of commemorative slate plaques to the local communities.
The visit was one of the last stops on a run taking in all 51 villages, which the pair hope will raise over £51,000 for the Royal British Legion.
Guests at the charity evening event at Docker Park Farm in Arkholme in support of The Royal British Legion included Lord Shuttleworth, the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale and Lancashire County Councillor Susie Charles. Tom and Martin Holden were guests representing descendants of servicemen from Nether Kellet and Joan Haston was a guest representing descendants of servicemen from Arkholme.
“The response from the communities has just been brilliant, and we
have been overwhelmed by the generosity of complete strangers,” say the team of the entire Run’s success. “Amazing
things have happened.”
• More about the Thankful Villages Run: http://thankfulvillagesrun.com
• For an incredibly well researched history and comprehensive list of the Thankful Villages, just go to http://www.hellfirecorner.co.uk/thankful.htm