THE PILGRIM GRANDFATHERS ARE GETTING ON THEIR BIKES TO CYCLE 400 MILES FOR CHARITY!
2020 is the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower sailing and the 50th anniversary of the
Torrington Cavaliers, a long established fundraising group who are known nationally and
internationally for building spectacular giant sized themed bonfires. For the past three
years we have been building a life-size replica of the Mayflower ship which will be burned
on the 28th August 2021. (New date due to Covid 19) We are officially an "On Board” partner of the Mayflower 400
team who are coordinating the national commemoration and the links with the USA and
the Netherlands. The burning of the Mayflower is hoping to raise in excess of £100k for
local charities.
Bernie Wittram, a long-serving Cavalier, together with six of his friends will be going the
extra mile to raise additional funds towards our 4 main charities. The Pilgrim Grandfathers
(as they have dubbed themselves) have an average age of approximately 70 years old
and they have set themselves an extraordinary challenge - they will be cycling from
Leiden in Holland to the Plymouth Mayflower Centre, in Plymouth, Devon following the
steps of the original Pilgrim Fathers, many of whom were religious exiles in Holland who
made their way to Plymouth to board the Mayflower and set sail to America.
There will be a meet & Greet in Leiden and hopefully a tour of the Pilgrim related sights
then we will all get together to send them on their way with the Mayflower team out there,
I will also be there to see them off! On Arrival in Harwich there will be another meet and
greet with the Harwich Mayflower team before they continue onwards via Great
Torrington where they will arrive in the Square om Mayfair day during the Cavaliers
entertainment slot then onto Plymouth and a reception at the Plymouth Mayflower Centre,
where they will complete their journey on 9th May.The cycle tour will be completed in nine stages.
Leiden Holland
Bishop’s Stortford
Aylesbury
Farringdon
Trowbridge
Glastonbury
Tiverton
Great Torrington
Plymouth
New dates to be confirmed
‘This is probably the most challenging project our group of amateur cyclists have ever
undertaken but it will certainly be worth the effort to raise vital funds for North Devon
Hospice, Devon Air Ambulance, Guide Dogs for the Blind, The Torrington Common’s
Conservators,’ says Bernie and adds, ‘The Torrington Cavaliers have achieved national,
and international recognition as builders of sophisticated structures, following as near as
possible the design of the original and the building of the Mayflower ship will undoubtedly
be their most ambitious to date. We are very proud to support their magnificent efforts
and hope to raise in excess of £5,000 for their charities.’
Photo of attached Pilgrim Grandfather is of Geoff Norman (76 years), Bernie
Wittram (69 years), Jerry Crowle, (68 years), Graham Isaac (67 years}, Chris Sing
(66 years) and baby of the bunch 55-year-old Shaun Roach.
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