BIKERS were revving up for their new season as they prepared to mark the death of one of their keenest members.Members of the Felixstowe Motorcycle Club are starting work over the next few months on a project to create a memorial to popular biking enthusiast John Sheppard, who was killed in a crash while enjoying a pleasure ride on his bike.

By Richard Cornwell

BIKERS were revving up for their new season as they prepared to mark the death of one of their keenest members.

Members of the Felixstowe Motorcycle Club are starting work over the next few months on a project to create a memorial to popular biking enthusiast John Sheppard, who was killed in a crash while enjoying a pleasure ride on his bike.

The 46-year-old father-of-three, who lived in Trimley and was a member of the motorcycle club, was riding on the A145 when the accident happened.

Club members are raising money for a memorial bench with a plaque to remember Mr Sheppard, a captain for a tug company at Felixstowe Port also the union convenor for 72 men on the tugs for the TGWU.

Despite the sadness, the bikers injected a bit of fun into proceedings as they got together to kick-start their season.

Dennis the Menace, Catwoman, Minnie the Minx, Popeye and Penelope Pitstop mingled among the crowd as the bikers let their hair down and held a fancy dress bash.

Theme for the evening was TV and cartoon characters and everyone attending the event at Trimley Sports and Social Club had entered into the spirit of the occasion by hiring costumes or improvising with their own designs.

The evening, organised by Felixstowe Motorcycle Club, featured live music by Cut 'n' Edge and a disco, as well as a fundraising raffle.

The club – which meets every Tuesday at the sports and social club in High Road, Trimley St Martin – has a busy few months lined up, with guest speakers on a variety of motorcycle topics and also its popular evening ride-outs.

The club's next event is tonight when they meet at 8pm for an 8.30pm start with motorcycle safety the topic for the evening with representatives of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Suffolk Accident Rescue Service and St John Ambulance talking about their work.

On Tuesday April 16, it will be the first ride-out of the season to a mystery venue. Bikers should meet at the social club at 7.30pm.

WEBLINK: www.fmcsuffolk.co.uk