What a send-off eh?
I sloped over to the Baskerville Hall XT meet on Friday morning and set up my tent there. Mark, Ifor and Steve D were there already so we rode together to Church Stretton. After a bonkers but scenic GPS-led detour we arrived at the house and were fed and watered by Mandy and her band of helpers (thanks guys). Without wishing to sound churlish, we thought that Bruce's terrible taste in music was no longer able to torment us, but when we arrived we were each given a CD of his choice of music
With Bruce placed onto a Norton for one last time the cortege set off on the 6 mile ride into town. Mark couldn't get his Enfield started so I took him on the back of the ER5 I had been lent for the ride. Shortly after setting off we were joined by even more riders who had waited on the route. As has been mentioned the sidecar outfit carrying Bruce broke down, but with little fuss the car was brought into play and we continued to the church.
The service was really nice and Ian did a great job with his tribute. My favourite line was, "The very approachable Bruce on his unapproachable Norton". Bruce's dad told us some great stories about the young Bruce. Apparently, as a four year old on a half built housing estate, Bruce would go off and 'help' the builders. When his dad asked if he was annoying them they said no, he was fine. It got to the stage that he started going to 'work' each day with a packed lunch
After the service it was a bit chaotic as the burial ceremony was for the family only. We made our way back to the house and spent an hour or so watching the misbehaving Norton being fixed, chatting about Bruce and laughing at Ian laying on his back working on his brother's Dnepr despite still being dressed in his pin-striped suit.
Tim Berry had lent Mark a battery so he managed to get the Enfield started and he, Ifor, SteveD and I rode back to Hay on Wye.
The rally was, perhaps, one of the best places to ponder on Bruce and what he meant to us because he was such an accomplished rallygoer. The rally itself was a good affair and XTwill and his chums put on a great event. As for the elderly woman being given the bumps, an unfortunate dog and an alarming rendition of an Adam and the Ants song, these things will be better left to another thread.
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