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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Martin Dickinson - Founder

Served in British Army 1978 - 83. Only member of family to join the forces. Came out on medical discharge. First bike was Yamaha FSIE. Moved onto Yamaha DT250 then had a 22 year break before buying my first Harley. Now rides Heritage Softail, Street Glide and heavily customised Softail Deluxe.

"I have done a lot of Charity work over the years but am now devoting my time to RTTW."

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Brian Andrews - Merchandise - Distribution

Biking came fairly late to me having bought my first bike in 2003, but I've not looked back since. I currently have a Harley-Davidson Heritage and a partly restored classic Kawasaki 500 that I'm converting into a Café Racer of sorts with my Son. I don't have a military background but my father saw action in WW2 in North Africa and Italy. Three of my uncles also served, one in the RAF in the Far East, one in the Australian Army who was a POW and the other was wounded in Belgium whilst serving with the KOSB. Before that, both of my Grandfathers survived WW1 - one was in the Royal Navy and the other in the Royal Garrison Artillery who saw action at Passchendaele. A Great Uncle also served in the 2nd Btn. Black Watch and died and is buried in Baghdad. In more recent times I lost a childhood friend on the Nimrod that crashed in Afghanistan in 2006. Its a family tradition that we attend our home town's Remembrance Day parade and I've only missed once in the last forty odd years and my involvement in RTTW is an extension of my personal acknowledgment of the debt we owe our armed services - past, present and future.

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Andy Barber - Logistics Manager, Drayton Manor

I started riding off-road at around 14 years of age on anything that could be bolted together and have been riding Harley Davidson motorcycles for the past few years.

I am ex-Royal Air Force and spent 7 years as an avionics engineer on Victor K2 Air-to-Air Refuelling and 2 years on C-130 Hercules Transport aircraft.

I saw active service during the Falklands conflict so it is an honour to be part of the RTTW team raising money to maintain the National Memorial Arboretum that has become a focus for remembering forgotten heroes from forgotten conflicts who have made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf as well as offering a massive show of support to our serving men and women.

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Dee Berry - Secretary and Merchandise

I had never been on a bike before 2006 when I met my partner, who bought a Street Bob. After my first spin I was hooked and am now keen to ride pillion at every opportunity. I am a prep school teacher and look forward to lunch time on Friday when weekend riding begins. I do not have a military background but am honoured to be involved in raising funds for the RTTW Organisation.

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Ivan Curtis - Merchandise

My first bike was a Honda SS50, I then moved on to a Yamaha RD200. After a 25 year break, to have a family, I decided to buy my dream bike – a Harley Davidson. I bought a Street Bob and within twelve months had changed to a Road King. My father was in the Army Royal Pioneer Corps for 25 years, based mainly in Bicester. I worked for the MOD for nine years, straight from school. After my first visit to the Wall I was keen to help raise funds and am pleased to be part of the RTTW team.

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David Farrand - Ride Coordinator

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 18 wheelers. I now cover, on average, 1800 miles a week in my truck and do ride outs and rallies on my Harley at weekends. As a then HOG Head Road Captain I volunteered to help out with RTTW in 2008. 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 (I hope it works on the day!). 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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David Fish - Health & Safety Advisor

My biking days started in 1976, and I have never looked back, since then I think I have only had about four years when two wheels with an engine have been missed out of my life. I have never counted how many bikes or models I have had, I know it was not as many as some, but what I had gave me much pleasure. Starting with a Yamaha RD250B, going through the British bike phase and then back to bigger Japanese bikes and now to Harley Davidson (almost bought one in 1981, but that's a long story) and do I love my Dyna, just ask my wife Sally, just not enough time to ride it as much we would like to. I only have a very short military history and that was again in 1976 through to 77, when I joined the 1st Wessex Infantry Territorial Regiment based in Winchester and the Isle of Wight, spent most the time marching or running around Salisbury Plain, but it gave me a small insight in to what a solders life would be. I have so much respect to all our Guys and Girls who have given years of their life serving our country and to those who gave the ultimate their lives. Mine and Sally's hearts go out to all the families who have lost a loved one in any of our Services or any of the volunteering service, who help with back up or providing aid.

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Nick Hillerby - Logistics, Arboretum

Motorbikes have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, I grew up going everywhere on the back of my dad's old Nortons and Triumphs.At 16 I got my own wheels in the form of a Puch 50 moped, at 17 I progressed through a couple of Russian 2-strokes before discovering 4-strokes in a BSA A7SS 500. After a couple of big Hondas (CB750, GL1000) and a Yamaha XS1100 I went back to a classic Triumph T120 650 which I ran for 7 years before running a VF750 followed by a new generation Triumph Trident 750. In 2002 I took a test ride on a Harley Road King which became my first ever "new" bike and one I still have after 8 years and many miles. Late last year the Road King was joined by 98 Buell M2 Cyclone for when I feel like a change of pace.In 1981 I took the Queen's shilling and joined the Royal Corps of Transport, now known as the Royal logistics Corps in which I served for 6 years. Although Northern Ireland was an ongoing conflict and the Falklands war kicked off I was never directly involved with either and spent my time in the forces based in England until returning to civilian life.

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Kerim Hilmi - Merchandise, Media & Press

I was brought up in Italy and got my first 50cc moped at 14 which was the legal age then. At the age of 16 I moved on to a 125cc Vespa.I then took a break from bikes when I came over to the UK to finish my studies. I got back into bikes when living and working in London and I bought another Vespa 125cc for getting around town. My graduation to "big" bikes was in 2004 when I bought a Harley Davidson Heritage Softail which I still ride today.

I don't have a forces background but family members have served The Parachute Regiment and the Household Cavalry.