Airborne Forces Riders Branch – The Parachute Regimental Association Annual Return – Charity Commission (England & Wales)
1. Charity Details
Charity Name: Airborne Forces Riders Branch, The Parachute Regimental Association Address: c/o 5 Bewley Grove, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 1PP
Charity Registration Number: 1206999 Financial Year End: 31 March 2025
Board of Trustees :
Paul Moore
(Chair of Board of Trustees)
Phil Hannah Stephen Bone David Raes Adrian Roberts
Branch Committee :
David Lang (Branch Chair & President) Paul Moore (Immediate Past President) Alex Brownhill (Treasurer) John Harratt (Assistant Treasurer) Alastair Pearson (Secretary & Membership) Andy Rennison (Webmaster)
Barbara Bone (Social Media Co-ordinator) Charlie McColgan (Welfare Officer)
Ron Webster (Standard Bearer)
Mike Turnpenny (Equipment support)
2. Financial Summary
| .Financial Summary | |
|---|---|
| Subscriptions Received: | £1834.71 |
| Fundraising events: | £1213.72 |
| Donations Received: | £1919.00 |
| Total Income: | £4967.43 |
| Charitable Donations: | £1185.69 |
| Administration: | £320.55 |
| Total Expenditure: | £1506.24 |
| Balance at year end: | £3461.19 |
3. Activities & Achievements
In 2024–25, the charity achieved the following:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 27 April 2024 | Held a Branch Trustees meeting at Cleethorpes PRA |
| 27 April 2024 | Held a Branch General Meeting and AGM at Cleethorpes PRA |
| 11 May 2024 | 1stAirborne Depot Commemoration Service, Hardwick Hall |
| 01/02 June 2024 | Falklands Ride of Respect in aid to the South Atlantic Medal Association (15 separate co-ordinated rides in UK) |
| 07/08 September 2024 |
Arnhem 80thAnniversary Commemoration Service & Parade (10 PARA) Burrough on the Hill,Somerby,Lincolnshire |
| 17-23 September 2024 |
Arnhem 80thAnniversary Commemorations 2024, Netherlands |
| 19 September 2024 |
Branch General Meeting, Arnhem, Netherlands |
| 28 September 2024 |
Cromwell Lock Memorial Service 2024, Lincolnshire |
| 29 September 2024 |
1 Para Sqn RE Memorial Service, Donington, Lincolnshire |
| 30 September 2024 |
Donation of £815 to the Market Garden Foundation, Arnhem, Netherlands to assist with repairs to the Engineer Memorial at Driel. |
| 05/06 October 2024 |
Attendance at Ride to the Wall 2024, National Memorial Arboretum, Stafordshire |
| 19 October 2024 | Branch Trustees Meeting, Devonshire Farm, Mansfeld |
| 08 January 2025 | AFR Membership Co-Ordination Meeting (Online) |
| 07-09 February 2025 |
AFR Standard paraded at the Birmingham Military Tattoo 2025 |
4. Serious Incidents
None reported.
5. Governance
Number of trustees at year end: 5
Trustee payments or benefits: None
Branch Constitution: Adopted 06 February 2024 (Edition 5)
6. Public Benefit Statement
For clarity, the charitable aims of the Airborne Forces Riders are:
To further the objects of the Parachute Regimental Association which is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. (Registered Charity No: 214015)
To promote the efficiency of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces by any charitable means including but not limited to fostering esprit de corps and maintaining contact between past and present members.
To relieve , either generally or individually, persons who are serving, or who have served in the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces, or the dependants of such persons who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.
To commemorate and remember those members or former members of the Armed Forces of the Crown who have lost their lives or suffered injury, or put themselves at risk of loss of life or injury, in service to the public.
7. Trustee Report
As this is our first year of reporting to the Charities Commission, a duty which we take very seriously, I feel that it is necessary to outline the process by which we, as an organisation arrived here.
Members of Airborne Forces have been attending the annual Arnhem commemorations either as individuals or in unit groups for many years, but in September 2014, a number of those whose common interest was motorcycles attended the 70th anniversary of Operation Market Garden together, and this gathering of the few became the foundation of the Airborne Forces Riders, and those first 15 have become known as the Founding members. Our friends in Arnhem encouraged and supported our formation throughout, and the Market Garden Foundation convinced the town of Arnhem that Airborne Forces Riders should form an ‘Airborne Ride of Respect’ on the Friday of the commemoration week, with the specific aim of riding to the graves that lie many miles from Arnhem but are associated with the battle.
Since 2014, this ride has been supported by our good friends in the Dutch Motorcycle Association, who act as guides and provide flowers for each grave, and it has become our tradition to ride to Ginkel Heath DZ each year with our Dutch counterparts – The Red Beret Riders, whose continued friendship and support is without comparison. Our links with Arnhem are strong and the production of the ‘Flower Children Pin’ each year not only raises funds for the Market Garden Foundation but also enhances our links with the Dutch schoolchildren who have laid flowers on the graves of our fallen each year in Oosterbeek, an unbroken tradition and mark of respect since 1945.
Several Riders have organised rides in support to a variety of charities such as the Falklands Ride of Respect in aid to the South Atlantic Medal Association, and organised guided tours to Normandy and the Somme battlefields. The Riders Branch also take part in the annual ‘Ride to the Wall’ every October at the National Memorial Arboretum to pay respects to the fallen since WW2.
Many Riders attend funerals as escort riders and visit veterans who are not well, to boost morale and demonstrate our enduring comradeship. This is an expanding and worthwhile thread of Airborne Forces Riders, and we aim to provide a ‘focus’ for veterans of Airborne Forces who enjoy motorcycles and the comradeship of their former Service. Likewise, we
have several members still serving thus reinforcing our links to 16 Air Assault Brigade and UK Special Forces.
Currently, Airborne Forces Riders have around 650 listed riders from all units within Airborne Forces (about 550 Riders and 100 Supporters) and since 2014 we have gained an excellent reputation both within the UK and in the Netherlands for conducting ourselves well, operating professionally, and demonstrating respect for all who we deal with.
Consequently, as the size of Airborne Forces Riders grew, so the need for structured organisation and governance became evident in order that we could complete our charitable aims legally and with transparency. Following the proven model of many other military motorcycle groups, in 2020 it was decided that official affiliation with our military secretariat The Parachute Regimental Association was the correct path to take, and in 2021 Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer agreed to become Patron of the Airborne Forces Riders. Shortly thereafter in January 2023 the Airborne Forces Riders officially became ‘The Riders Branch’ of the Parachute Regimental Association and adopted its constitution on 06 February 2024.
Looking forward, and as we immerse ourselves into the fabric of The Parachute Regimental Association, so the evolution of Airborne Forces Riders will continue. We will continue to be a respected group of Airborne veteran bikers and supporters, who actively raise funds for charity, carry out acts of Remembrance and Respect and act as a hub for comradeship and support.
P Moore Maj (Retd) Chair of Board of Trustees