2nd December 2020

Many of us will remember Dave Rolfe with great affection. He was a great mover and shaker in East Kent Advanced Motorcyclists, and one of the original members of Kent Event Marshals. Knowing that he had been unwell over the last year did not prepare us to hear of his recent demise, and we will miss his quirky sense of humour and his well organised events.

EKAM arranged to honour Dave’s memory by riding escort to his funeral trip from Chittenden Funeral Care in Folkestone to his final resting place at Barham Crematorium, and KEMs were welcomed to the ride by Chris Owen, organising for EKAM.

Clive Pomroy and Roger Pinnock pre rode the route, and several members of KEMs joined the procession, both in EKAM Observer Uniform (Pete Ferguson) and in KEMs colours (Simon Goodwin, Charles Tassell, Roger Pinnock and Clive Pomroy). We assembled in Joyes Road at 14.15hrs for a 14.50 start, and reported to Chris Owen. Simon and Roger were allocated control of the A259/A260 roundabout, and enlisted Clive to assist. In fact the roundabout had backed up as a result of the hold on Joyes Road/Canterbury Road right turn, and there was little to do other than hold while the convoy of approximately 50 motorcyclists escorted the hearse through the roundabout.

Charles Tassell held the A20/A260 roundabout, and then we all rode at a little below the posted limits to Barham Crematorium, where we filed past the hearse containing Dave’s coffin to salute his memory, and then exited the Crematorium and made our several ways home. It was of interest to see a bugler in Hussar’s uniform and a uniformed Army Officer at the Crematorium, presumably representing Dave’s regiment.