Market Drayton became a biker’s paradise last weekend as thousands of people rode into the area for this year’s Shires Bike Show.
The annual motorcycle and music event celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Grove Feeds site just off the A41 at Tern Hill.
Bike enthusiasts from as far away as Bulgaria and Afghanistan enjoyed music from 20 bands during the show which was extended from two to three days for the anniversary milestone.
Organisers were hopeful of raising thousands of pounds for charities, including Hope House Children’s Hospice, Help for Heroes and Midlands Air Ambulance.
Organiser Ted Campbell said: “Everything went well, we had about 3,000 people there and it was a brilliant weekend.
“We had a top band, The Levellers, who were absolutely brilliant and everybody enjoyed their music.
“There were 300 members of the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment who came and we had a couple of soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment who’d been out in Afghanistan.
“We didn’t get as many people as last year and we think the weather and current economic climate were factors in that, along with the World Cup which didn’t help.
“But everyone that came had a good time and we’ll definitely do it again.”
The show started out 10 years ago as a one-day custom bike event staged in the car park of Market Drayton’s Corbet Arms Hotel.
It moved to Tern Hill around five years ago and last year raised more than £5,500 for various charities in Shropshire and the West Midlands.
Ted said: “This year, we were raising money for the Midlands Air Ambulance, Help for Heroes, the Spinal Unit at Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital and Hope House Children’s Hospice.
“It was hard work to organise and it doesn’t get any easier because of changes to the health and safety legislation.
“Because we’re a small show, the health and safety side all has to be covered and that money comes out of what we raise.
“But the standard of bands and bikes was brilliant, we had stalls selling everything from leather goods and clothing, through to helmets and bikes and everyone enjoyed themselves.
“We’d just like to say a big thank you to all the local firms that sponsored us because it helped a lot.”
By Winston Brown
