Charity
REMEMBRANCE AND THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Scribe: Steve Colling – Corps Historian
T
his year marks the Centenary of the Royal British Legion and in September the Legion ran its twenty-fifty Pedal to Paris (P2P). It’s not a race but an opportunity for enthusiastic cyclists to cover the 460 km from London to the centre of Paris in just four days while supporting the charitable work of the RBL. We assembled at Eltham Palace on Thursday 1st September 2021. It was the home of the Royal Army Educational Corps from 1948 but is now managed as a visitor attraction by English Heritage. Of about three hundred that signed-up about half withdrew or deferred to 2022 when France was placed on the Covid Amber List. On the day about 130 crossed the start line all sporting the latest RBL Cycling Jersey. Getting to the start was in itself a challenge. The 2020 P2P was cancelled. For 2021 the RBL planned a Covid safe event. We all had to have both jabs and test negative using a lateral flow kit the night before the start. In addition we had to pre-book a test which would take place in France prior to our return and a Day 2 test to be taken after our return. We also had to download and activate the French Covid App. Fundraising required some lateral thinking! By comparison training was straight forward as cycling was something that could be done throughout the lockdown!
Day 1 – Eltham Palace to Dover Up at 5.30am for the short walk from a convenient hotel (no sign of Lenny Henry) to Eltham Palace to collect registration paperwork, drop baggage and grab a bacon roll before the obligatory team photo. Then through Sidcup and out of London as a large peloton guided by experienced team captains. It was a bit chaotic but the early morning traffic was sympathetic and supportive. Breakfast was taken at the RBL Village at Aylesford. Once outside the M25 Ring cyclist were allowed to free run to Dover. I stopped briefly at Lenham where a number of REME servicemen were buried following an incident at Charing when a V1 Flying bomb hit 6 Guards Tank Brigade Workshop in 1944 a few days before the unit was to embark for Normandy. The hill outside Folkestone was the first big physical challenge. 97m up a 10% gradient and opportunity to seek out the very low gears. Cyclists arrived midafternoon at Dover. One managed to dislocate a shoulder somewhere enroute and was evacuated to hospital. All paperwork was scrutinised and, for the first time in about 40 years, I had my passport stamped at Dover. Once ashore it was just a short ride to one of Calais’s historic forts where the bikes were secured overnight. The fort saw action in 1940 and later when elements of 79 Armoured Division supported 2 Canadian Corps in the assault at the end of September 1944.
Final preparations at Eltham Palace
Deuxième Journée – Calais à Abbeville After speeches, cyclists headed out in three pelotons escorted by motorcycle outriders. For the next three days we ignored red traffic lights. All food and accommodation was pre-booked by the Legion and was mostly to a very good standard. Dan, the historian, gave several interesting talks about the Great War and highlighted the relevance to the route we were using. En route there was opportunity to talk to fellow cyclists despite travelling at speeds of up to 30km/h (a bit faster on the downhills). I met Paul and Alex
Paul Harding carrying the Standard for the Royal British Legion. He has ridden 24 of the 25 annual P2P events
22 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
