Bike night organiser thrilled by visit of biking ‘royalty’

Sponsored by local bike shop Millard & Co, the event, which was held outside White Rock Cafe, raised more than £3,000 for local charity Dementia Friendly Guernsey.

Host and club member Jason Rostron said that the amount was the most the club had ever raised in a single evening.

‘We are over the moon by the generosity shown by the great biking community of Guernsey. We couldn’t do it without their continued support, we’re absolutely blown away.’

Local companies NE Electrics, Guernsey Rentals and Sarnia Refrigeration put in a combined £2,000 to help get the evening started, while biking enthusiasts were left star-struck by the presence of renowned motorcycle builder and engineer Allen Millyard, who came from the UK especially for the event.

Mr Millyard recently set a new world speed record for two-up riding, with partner Henry Cole, reaching 183.5mph on Mr Millyard’s 8000cc Viper V10.

‘I was shaking like a little girl waiting for him to come off the boat. I watch all his videos on YouTube, he’s a huge inspiration for many of us,’ Mr Rostron said.

‘He was an absolute star, he took selfies and brought over 50 postcards of his bike collection and signed them for a kind donation, all off his own back.’

The nights, which are held on the second Wednesday each month between May and September, continue to go from strength to strength, with more than £40,000 now raised for a range of local charities since the first one was held a decade ago.

‘We’ve got over 1,200 members in our Facebook group, and our good friend Dave Prevel lets us advertise the nights on the Guernsey Biker Group page which has over 5,000 members,’ Mr Rostron said.

‘We’re only a small bike club, but the atmosphere is just incredible and we truly feel blessed and very humbled by it all, we only do it because we love it.’

The club’s next bike night will be on Wednesday 13 September, with funds being raised for the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation.