Gainsborough Charity Ride 9th June 2024

Cycling UK Gainsborough’s Ride Leaders Trevor Halstead and Dan Nicholson greeted various members from across the region for the annual charity ride to raise funds for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

 

Representing Cycling UK Louth were Tim Newbery and Rob Cook. Last year John Ambler and Paul Linder had joined Tim.

Today would end up rather chilly with a top temperature of about 14 Degrees Celsius and just a few sunny breaks in the largely cloudy skies. Having assembled for a number of photo calls, we’d depart Morrisons Supermarket a little after 10.30 am.

 

A strong westerly allowed a speedy outbound ride, the bunch having split up into a number of smaller groups with Tim and Rob at times riding by themselves. Onwards through the ‘Stow’ villages; Stow itself the most impressive boasting a Saxon Minster, partly built under the patronage of Leofric, Lord of Mercia, and his wife, Lady Godiva! The name stōw is Old English meaning a holy place.

More notably today there would be an association with aviation.

 

Firstly, the village of Brattleby and its connection to the former first world war Royal Flying Corps air station. The village church of St Cuthbert has memorials to aircrew of both world wars from those serving at RFC Brattleby Cliff and RAF Scampton.

We’d finally reach the airfield having climbed up the steep escarpment to the Lincoln Edge. RFC Brattleby was short lived (1916-17) before reopening in 1936 as RAF Scampton.

 

With great views to the Trent Valley all along the chalk escarpment we’d shortly arrive at the Polish Bomber Squadrons Centre at the former RAF Ingham. The Centre officially opened less than couple of months ago and was open today but sadly there wasn’t time to visit on this occasion. Well worth a return visit to learn more of the fascinating history of the Polish Squadron’s endeavours, the airfield operational between 1940 and 1946.

 

Before long a steep descent at Glentworth and a fine ride crossing the River Till. Trevor later remarked that the route crossed the river three times, the Till having its origin at a spring line in Gainsborough.

 

A stop at Sturgate Airfeld between Upton and Heapham was very welcome having struggled into the strong headwind for a number of miles. Refreshments were enjoyed by a number of riders. This former RAF station was one of the last to be built in WWII not opening until March 1943, initially under the control of Hemswell and Bomber Command. Thus, completing a ‘tour’ of former RAF stations.

Forgoing a ‘Picnic in the Park’ being organised by Trevor and Dan, Tim and Rob departed for home having completed about 27 miles. Thanks go to Cycling UK Gainsborough / Gainsborough Aegir for organising the event.

 

Tim's 'Relive' fly through video: