Bikers delighted with much-loved Shakedown's return

Hundreds of motorcyclists have been left delighted after a popular rally was revived in a coastal city.

Southend Shakedown first made its debut at the Essex seaside city's famous pier on Easter Monday 1998.

While there had been uncertainty over the event for the past three years, on Monday it was back with a vroom after a £100,000 cash injection from Southend-on-Sea City Council.

Mark Wilsmore, 67, one of the organisers, said it had been a "nail-biting" few weeks as the event depended "so much on the weather".

"Of course [over] the last two weeks, or more than that, we've had some fantastic sunshine," he explained.

"We've been down here a number of times to meet with the police, the council and various officers, and walking up and down the seafront in glorious sunshine, but bitter cold.

"Today it has just about held, the sun's out and it's not bitter cold. We've had a result I think you could say."

It was cancelled in 2022 due to a lack of funding. Organisers had also reportedly faced threats of violence at previous Shakedowns.

Mr Wilsmore, also the managing director of Ace Cafe, a well known bikers' haunt in London, said it was "marvellous" it was back.

"It really is wonderful," he continued.

"I've just had a great ride coming out of London: all a bit dark, gloomy and threatening [rain] as you come out of east London, but as you come toward the coast, getting brighter and brighter and you can't help but smile.

"May it be repeated next year, see you at the seaside."

Karen Gelsthorpe, from Westcliff-on-Sea in Southend, has been going to the Shakedown since it first began.

On Monday, she arrived with her 1975 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead motorbike, modified by her husband.

"It is great to have it back again - the atmosphere, the bikers, as long as everyone behaves," she said.

"It's just a big social... it's a brilliant atmosphere, it's just great."

Mrs Gelsthorpe's husband, Mark, was on his Flying Merkel motorbike - a replica of a United States board-track racer from 1911.

"I'm just fascinated with that era so I had to build one," he explained. "It took me on and off about two years [to build]."

He said it was "brilliant" to be back at the Shakedown.

"I'm happy to be here, coming down here with my wife and her bike, and friends, it's nice to bump into old friends," he continued.

"I'm glad they put it on again, it's really good."

Paul Vincent, from Canvey in Essex, travelled on his Triumph Speedmaster, spray-painted in tribute to the World War Two Spitfire fighter.

The decorations included an image of the RAF Spitfire pilot Douglas Bader.

Mr Vincent said the Shakedown was "very important".

"It's part of the area and it has been for years," he explained.

"It's just nice to see everybody out again and able to get down this year, whereas for the last couple of years they haven't been able to."

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