Mods and rockers unite for Poppy Appeal

Oxleathers Motorcycle Club and Stafford Scooter Club left the animosity of the past behind them as they rode together into Stafford's Market Square.

For around four hours they collected donations and sold poppies, eventually raising £580 for the Poppy Appeal.

One of the organisers Kev Conway, aged 54, from Stafford Scooter Club, said: "It's the first time we've got together. There was a bit of banter but absolutely no animosity.

"There was a lot of comments on Facebook saying that is was nice to see something different in Stafford, but also that they were happy to see a lot of the faces of the 70s and 80s together.

"My son is in the army, so the Poppy Appeal has a personal meaning to me. Bryan has a few veterans in the ranks at the Oxleathers too.

"I think it's because of the time of year - people always give to the Poppy Appeal."

Bryan Heywood, 53, from the Oxleathers club, said: "It's the way to go really – all the old school stuff is over and we're all friends.

"We were expecting some banter. There are pictures of me sitting on a scooter, Kev sitting on a bike. It's all in good fun for a good cause.

"We just feel that there are people who have given so much and the Poppy Appeal goes through all the wars we have been in from World War One, right through to today."

Both groups hit it off so well that they are already planning their next joint event.

They will work together on a rally next year, although the exact details have yet to be worked out.

Mr Heywood said: "We're talking about a rally next year between us, which should be entertaining.

"We'll have a lot of banter and hopefully raise a lot more money for charity."

In the meantime, Stafford Scooter Club will hold its 36th annual reunion evening at Stafford Rangers FC in Astonfields Road on November 7.

Tickets cost £10 and are available on the door. All proceeds will go to Stafford-based Katharine House Hospice.