Thank you to each and every one of you for the generous support you offered to me and the Royal British Legion for my 'Pedal to Paris' last week. I am delighted to report that, having set off from Greenwich Park at 8am on Thursday morning, I arrived safely at the Arc de Triomphe at 3pm on Sunday. The trip was fantastic, and one that I would absolutely recommend to anyone who is giving it even half a thought. Police outriders led us off from Greenwich and out of London, and then we had full French police escort all the way from Calais to Paris. Arriving in Paris with 10 support vehicles, 18 motorcycle outriders and the whole city stopped on our account was truly exhilarating. I wouldn't claim that the crowds were ten-deep at all times, but we had amazing support along the way and having sprinted up Grande Armee in sight of the Arc de Triomphe, we crested the top of the road to find hundreds of friends, families and tourists all there to cheer us in. I don't mind saying that a few of us grown-men were blubbing by the end.
The event was also a very humbling one, as in every town in which we stopped for a break, the villagers and veterans came out for a wreath-laying ceremony, a minute's silence and singing of both countries' national anthems. 95 years after the beginning of the carnage of World War One in Northern France, and 70 years to the day after the start of World War Two, there was no better way to highlight the link between what we were trying to do and the effect that war has on families and communities. In one village, Auchy La Montagne, the whole population came out for a street party in our honour. We learned from the Mayor that the village had been under Nazi occupation in WWII and that all male villagers had been shot when the Germans withdrew in 1944. The Allied soldiers who relieved the village showed great kindness, we were told, and since then the villagers have had a wonderful fondness for the British. All wonderful, and emotional, stuff. It also helps that they love their cycling, and cyclists, over there.
Shortly after the race finished on Sunday afternoon, with the Champs Elysees and Place de L'Etoile once again shut, we had a final remembrance service under the Arc de Triomphe, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We marched off with the band playing "It's a long way to Tipperaray" - our aching backsides and legs knew what they meant.
Thank you again for the support you gave me. All in I have raised over £2,000, and the total event raised over£250,000 for the families of soldiers injured or killed in action.
The whole event was tremendous fun, and if any of you are interested in joining me in 2010, please let me know.
Thank you and best wishes.
Graham
