Yesterday, around a hundred Vespas and Lambrettas gathered for the annual Ride of Remembrance, hosted by the Wasp London Scooter Club. Riders met opposite Urban Rider in Fulham, with the route taking us through London to Hyde Park Corner before finishing at The Duke’s Head in Putney.
This was also my first meet as a member of the Vespa Club of Great Britain, joining the Wasp London Scooter Club under its umbrella. I’ll admit, pulling up at Eel Common for the first time felt a little like the first day at school — new faces, new names, and that quiet sense of “who’s the new guy?” in the air. But the atmosphere was friendly, the banter easy, and once the engines fired up, any awkwardness disappeared into the sound of shared purpose. Hopefully, after a few more rides, this camera-carrying newcomer will be seen not as a stranger, but as part of the fold.
A group of scooter ladies were raising funds for charity, selling official Poppy Appeal items — a reminder that remembrance is kept alive not just by money, but by the people who give their time.
At 11 a.m. the two-minute silence was fully observed. Hundreds of engines fell quiet, and for a moment the city itself seemed to pause. When we rode on toward Hyde Park, the sight drew attention from passers-by — flags flying, cameras out, people smiling and waving. It was a wonderful thing to see, proof that shared remembrance still brings people together.
When we parked up at Hyde Park, the scooters instantly became a small tourist attraction. Questions, photos, and curious onlookers reminded us just how much colour and character the scooter scene still adds to London.
During the day there were moments of humour too. At one zebra crossing, every rider stopped to let an elderly lady cross — until a rental cyclist tried to barge through, unaware that two police officers were standing nearby. Let’s just say he got a proper dressing-down, and the lady gave us all a happy wave as we rode off. A little reminder that respect never goes out of style.
The ride ended at the pub in Putney, where laughter and conversation flowed as easily as the beer. It was a respectfully cheerful close to a somber day — one that reminded us of the millions who gave their lives to defeat tyranny.
Let’s hope history isn’t repeating itself.
Alongside the video footage, I shot a roll of Kodak Gold 200 on my Canon AE-1. For a brief moment, I thought the camera had finally given up on me — the shutter started taking an age to release on a couple of frames. Turned out the culprit was the on switch not engaging properly. Once I’d realised, everything returned to normal and the rest of the roll was spent with pure pleasure.
Gallery is below and are straight scans with no edits to capture that vintage feel of Kodak film.
These frames, soft and honest, have the colour and warmth that only film can give. They’ll appear soon on davesphoto.co.uk as a small companion gallery to this ride — a reminder that even in a digital age, there’s still something special about the mechanical rhythm of film and the patience it asks of you.
For now, here are a few shots taken on my Nokia 235 4G — proof that even low-tech tools can still capture moments with a touch of old-school charm.
A Note of Thanks
To the Wasp London Scooter Club for organising such a meaningful ride, and to every rider who turned up in honour of those who can’t.
FOR THE MILLIONS WHO GAVE EVERYTHING,
SO WE COULD LIVE — AND RIDE — FREE.
🎥 Watch the full film on YouTube: @DavesAdventuresUK
Ride sharp. Live loud. Stay free.
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