18/10/12…….’Red Kites’ scoot along to the ‘Swan’

EAGLE eyed shoppers having a mooch and a browse around the shops in Thame last Sunday (14/10), may have noticed a growing flock of ‘Red Kites’ gathering in the Upper High Street early in the morning – not the beautiful feathered variety, but the local Red Kites Scooter Club (Thame). There they met with other like minded souls who had also braved the cold October morning, with some travelling through freezing fog to reach Thame’s Swan hotel.

The occasion was the October ICRO (Inter County Ride Out) where various clubs in neighbouring counties take it in turns to host a monthly rideout throughout the scootering year. Sunday’s meet was the last ICRO of the year, and the third time that the Red Kites (RKSC) had chosen October to be hosts.

Fellow scootering friends and buddies came from Beds, Bucks, Herts, Oxon, Northants and surrounding counties to catch up, share news, show their Scooters, take photos and have a sociable Scootering Sunday. In total, 159 Scooters trode into the square ready for an 11.30 a.m. leave time.

“Huge thanks to the new owners of the recently refurbished and re-opened Swan Hotel,” said Serena Chamberlain of the Red Kites. “Rich and Nic worked tirelessly, along with all their staff, to provide a bounty of bacon rolls and hot dogs along with piping hot tea’s and coffee’s which they handed out to the shivering Scooterists. To say they were warmly welcomed, would have been an understatement!

“Thankfully, the sunshine soon appeared (hurrah!) and the group took a leisurely and scenic scoot through the stunning Oxfordshire countryside, passing out through Thame, towards Stadhampton and Watlington with the final destination being The Wheatsheaf pub in Chinnor, where we were warmly and enthusiastically greeted by Roger the Landlord, and his team who pulled out all the stops for a stunning lunchtime meet.

“Being besieged by 159+ hungry and thirsty Scooterists can be a daunting task. However, the pub (famed for it’s South African food) was ready, willing and more than able! A giant marquee in the beer garden had been erected in case of bad weather (phew), with an outside bar, and the bar indoors doing a roaring trade. Huge slabs of beef and ham had been slowly roasted in the open oven and along with home baked bread rolls, salad, relish and soup, it was no wonder that our feathered Red Kite friends were seen and heard circling overhead – word soon gets around….

What’s next for the Red Kites?

“The next big event for the Red Kites is our End -of-Season ‘Do’ which once gain will be held at the Snooker Club in Thame, on Saturday, November 24. We have almost sold every available ticket and shall be donating all funds from our Charity Raffle to the locally based charity, Thame Young Carers, who are based at Lord William’s School – a very deserving cause and one close to our hearts.

“Scooter Club DJ’s will be providing a mix of sounds from the scooter scene, and we have been very fortunate to receive stunning raffle prizes, including a trial flying lesson from Helicopter Services Ltd, based at Wycombe Air Park.”