Worcestershire Veteran's day made with biker meet-up
91-year-old motorbike fanatic, Gerald McCarty’s dream came true when members of the Bikers of Worcestershire gathered at his care home to show him their bikes up close.
Gerald, who lives at Woodland View care home in Droitwich, is an RAF veteran and life-long motorbike enthusiast.
Buying his first motorbike during his RAF training in 1952, a 500cc BSA Swinging Arm Gold Star which costed him £200, some of Gerald’s most cherished memories are of exploring the country on two wheels.
Sharing some of his memories with staff at Woodland View, Gerald said his favourite memory was of riding his motorbike from his RAF post in Pembrokeshire to Liverpool to meet one of his friends.
They decided to attend a dance at a local village hall, and it was there that Gerald would meet his future wife, Audrey. The following day, Gerald and Audrey spent the whole day riding around Liverpool on his bike.
Touched by the memory and by Gerald’s passion for motorbikes, the team at Woodland View contacted the Bikers of Worcestershire, who planned a ‘Ride for Gerald’.
Meeting in the car park at Woodland View, the Bikers of Worcestershire showed Gerald and his fellow residents all the different motorbikes they owned, telling them all about the different models and features over a cuppa and some cake.
Gerald said, "It was great to meet and greet the Bikers of Worcestershire! It brought back so many memories from when I owned my own bikes. It made my day."
One of the bikers from the group commented, ‘It was an honour and a privilege to bring the bikes to a war veteran, we really enjoyed being able to show the residents the different bikes and stop for tea and cake.’
Lisa Dews, the Home Manager at Woodland View, added, "Watching Gerald admire all the motorbikes and talk to the bikers was an incredible experience, and so heart-warming to see.
"At Woodland View, we aspire to give our residents days that they’ll never forget, creating memories and making dreams come true. We can’t thank the Bikers of Worcestershire enough for helping us to give Gerald such a special day."