Who we are

Major General R L Kirkland CBE MA - Patron

Lamont Kirkland entered Sandhurst with an Army Scholarship and spent 15 years in the Royal Engineers before transferring to the Infantry. With 9 Parachute Squadron RE he completed tours in the Falkland Islands, Belize and Sierra Leone. With the Green Howards he served in Northern Ireland and commanded the battalion in Bosnia. In staff tours he was Chief of Staff 24 Airmobile Brigade, Operations Team Leader during the Kosovo crisis and as a brigadier, was Director Land Warfare. His international assignments include NATO posts in Brussels, Virginia USA and attending Defence College in Australia. He assumed command of 4th Division in 2008.

Major General Kirkland holds a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Studies. He was awarded the OBE for service in Bosnia and the CBE for his work on NATO Transformation. He is married to Helen, has two teenage children and rides a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

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Air Commodore Simon Richardson MA BSc RAF - Patron

Simon Richardson joined the RAF as a Communication and Electronics Engineer in August 1983. He has commanded Field Communications Squadron on Tactical Communications Wing; the Royal Air Force's Communications Training School; and as a Group Captain in 2008 he was selected to be the Deputy Commander of the Army's 11th Signal Brigade (a unique appointment for a Royal Air Force Officer), concluding this tour with a deployment to Afghanistan.

Simon was promoted to Air Commodore in 2012 and, until recently, served as Air Officer Communications at the Royal Air Force Headquarters at High Wycombe.

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Lieutenant General Paul Jaques CB CBE - In-Service Patron

Paul has been a Patron of RTTW since 2017. A motorcyclist for over 40 years, Paul still rides the BMW he bought in 1990 to tour Europe with his wife. He joined the Army and REME in 1983 and served until 2019. He commanded at every level up to Brigade, deploying on operations each time. He ended his career as Army Quartermaster General and a member of the Army Board. He currently has the honorary appointment of Master General REME, works in the Cabinet Office and if not on two wheels is in a river fly fishing.

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Padre Huw Evans

As a Waller it is a huge honour to be invited back by the Trustees to participate again in this amazing event as official Chaplain (that's what Martin calls me). RTTW really is a unique event and just to be part of it is humbling.

I am a serving Army chaplain with a varied experience of military life, serving with the infantry, artillery, engineers, in the training environment and I have done time at MCTC (as the Chaplain I hasten to add). This has taken me around the UK and across the World including deployed on Ops (TELIC, HERRICK, TRENTON).

I have been riding motorbikes for 22 years, currently riding a Triumph Explorer sporting an R77W number plate.

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Martin Dickinson, Trustee/Director - Founder

Having spent my whole working life in the Emergency Services, Military and Prison Service I felt I wanted to give more.

In 2008 I founded Ride to the Wall as I felt there was a need to remember specifically those lost since 1945 and, at the same time, allow youngsters a greater understanding. It has now become a life-long commitment.

Initially the event was for the motorcycling community, but very quickly expanded and today, after 14 years, RTTW welcomes anyone who wishes to remember our fallen.

I am extremely proud of what Ride to the Wall has achieved through its charitable contributions to the National Memorial Arboretum, but more so how it has given the opportunity for people to remember and never forget in a unique, compassionate and emotional occasion.

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Rebecca Dickinson - Trustee, Treasurer, On-the-day Registration

Although I don't have a military background my Dad served in the British Army. I got involved in Ride To The Wall through my Dad, Martin. He is also responsible for me having a keen interest in motorcycles and scooters.

I am proud to be part of the team that allows us all to remember the names on the Walls of the Armed Forces Memorial.

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David Farrand - Trustee, Route and Marshal Co-ordinator

I started riding bikes back in 1970, doing bike rallies over the weekends. In 1984 I was working as a dispatch rider. I did this for 7 years and loved every minute. I moved from bikes to vans to an 18 wheeler. I am now retired from HGV / driving and spend my days working in my garage and getting out on my bikes.

In 2008 as a HOG Head Road Captain, I volunteered to help out with RTTW. In 2009 & 2010 I was responsible for the Marshalls looking after the 2 main roundabouts on the A38. Following feedback over the years, I was asked to look at a new way to Ride To The Wall for 2011. I suggested, and set up, the new 7 starting points around the country (we're now up to 11!). I have no connection to the armed forces, but as a biker I am very happy and proud to help the NMA and RTTW.

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John Foster - Family Liaison Officer

My background comes from the Fire Service, I joined at 18 years of age, did my time & enjoyed the whole experience, think the expression like the Military, friends for life & one big family.

My biking comes from the biggest life change that any parent could possibly imagine, my son Robbie Foster was KIA in Afghan 2007 along side two mates John Thrumble & Aaron Mcclure, they are members of 1 Royal Anglian known as the Vikings our boys were KIA in a Blue on Blue.

To keep myself busy I decided to do a DASS course, passed my test on a Monday & bought a 1300ST Pan on the Tuesday knees knocking i joined the best family on two wheels. I now ride a GS Adventure, I do a lot in Europe so it's the right bike for me.

Now being part of the mighty RTTW committee as the families officer I will endeavour to bring the families of our fallen into the order of events on such an emotionally charged day, I hope I can do them justice ... Proud, pride & Respect ...

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Nick Hillerby, NMA Co-ordinator

Motorbikes have always been a part of my life, from growing up on the back of my dads old Norton's and Triumphs, to riding my own, a variety of different makes both large and small over the years before settling on Harleys as the ride of choice.

After leaving school, I started driving for a couple of years before joining the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) for a while. On leaving the forces it was back to driving again, just for a change lol.

In 2007 I was one of a group of riders that Martin led to the NMA for the first Remembrance Sunday service at the newly opened Armed Forces Memorial, the ride that planted the idea for the first RTTW event in 2008, the rest, as they say, is history.

In 2018, after 10 years as part of the organizing team, I took the difficult decision to step back from my part as the NMA logistics coordinator and handed my small but dedicated and hard-working team over to Terry Murphy to continue the good work of getting the growing number of riders into the NMA safely on the day.

2019 saw a big change in my life when I moved back to New Zealand, the land of my birth, to enjoy an early retirement. Although I now live about as far away from the NMA as you can get, RTTW still has a hold on me and I continue to support the team and Terry with some of the online, behind the scenes admin. RTTW keeps going from strength to strength, and I still feel immensely privileged to be a small part of such a special event.

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Steve Maguire, Trustee, Health Safety and Compliance

I have a keen interest in most things motorcycling and I have serving family members. I'm proud to be able to support RTTW and have seen the event grow since 2012, my role is ensuring that the interests of the charity, Data Protection and the safety and welfare of all attending are upheld. I'm happy to attend to all the things that send the rest of the team to sleep!

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Terry Murphy - Trustee, NMA Co-ordinator

I've been riding for almost 30 years now having only stopped once for 18 months when my first son was born, which happened to unfortunately coincide with a head on collision with a driver on the wrong side of the road. I walked away so all was good.

I have ridden Vespas, Hondas, Kawasakis, Suzukis and finally, when I hit 40, I got the one machine I had always dreamed of, my first Harley Davidson. It's just a black all over FXDF Fatbob and without question the best two wheels I've ever owned.

My military background is purely family orientated. My paternal Grandad was with the Royal Cheshire's and my maternal Grandad with the REME. My own dad was a 23 year served REME RSM. All of whom have left me immensely proud of them and their legacy.

I was introduced to RTTW through my local chapter (Nene Valley) and, obviously, Martin our Chapter Director. I wanted to be involved from the very beginning due to my family background, and am immensely proud today to have invited to be a more integral part of something so inspiring, emotional and respectful.

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Pat Percival - Secretary, Merchandising, Online Registrations

My interest in motorbikes and RTTW began when I met Martin in 2012. Since then I have attended RTTW every year and was initially part of the registration team before taking on my current roles.

My connection to the military is tenuous, to say the least, my father and grandfathers served in the British Army and that's about it, however it never ceases to amaze me to see the passion and comradeship that Wallers have.

I am proud to be a part of this great charity and helping to raise funds for the RTTW organisation.

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Alan Ross - DMP Logistics Co-ordinator

My guess is that I'm one of the furthest away, living and working in Tyne & Wear, where I was a founder member of the local Blood Bike group and still ride regularly for them. I also do route planning, parking & marshalling for a motorcycle escort group in the North East. I first experienced RTTW in 2010 without even knowing what the NMA was, having attended for all the wrong reasons (just for the bikes). In no time at all I was overwhelmed by the emotion of the Arboretum and the service of remembrance, and spent the next six years as a Marshal on Route#2. For the last few years I've also been at the back of the Drayton ride-in with a 4x4.

Without doubt, RTTW is the biggest event in my calendar every year, and it's an honour to play a small part in making everyone's visit a memorable experience.