Organiser of 34th Easter Egg Run from Bottesford to Grantham steps down

The organiser of an annual Easter Egg Run, which saw more than 500 motorcyclists gather eggs for a good cause at the weekend, is stepping down.

The 34th Easter Egg Run involved 555 motorcyclists travelling from Bottesford to Grantham and Melton on Sunday (April 6).

The event, one of two yearly rides, has been organised by John Bartlett for 34 years, but this was his last at the helm.

More than 2,500 Easter eggs were collected and delivered to local schools and care homes.

The riders departed from the Rutland Arms in Bottesford at 11am, making their way to Meres Leisure Centre in Grantham, where they were greeted with refreshments and a civic welcome.

The second leg of the run took bikers to Tesco in Melton Mowbray and Birch Wood School.

The run has been an annual tradition that also raises funds for the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Air Ambulance.

John, 79, said the 'absolutely brilliant' day, with 'glorious' weather, led to the second-highest turnout he had seen.

“It’s time to hand it over,” he explained, acknowledging the increasing logistics involved.

“It’s very sad, but I’m also relieved in a way; it’s quite a lot to do on your own and organise. When I was telling the Triumph Owners about it, they couldn’t believe how much was involved.”

He has passed the baton to the Nottingham branch of the Triumph Owners Motorcycle Club, which has long supported the event under its banner.

The ride started over three decades ago with just 12 bikes taking part and has since grown, attracting riders from all over the county.

“This year’s turnout was great, with riders from across the region, including Nottingham, Derby, and Leicester,” John said.

He spoke fondly of good memories of the event, including the large numbers of donations made.

“It’s a fantastic sight when you see them all laid out,” he said.

“It’s wonderful… it’s a good feeling, and I think all the riders feel that.”

This year’s event marked the second-largest turnout, with 650 bikes being the record.

Some sections of the convoy took more than 12 minutes to pass.

John looks forward to continuing the tradition in the future, though from a less involved role.

However, he is also looking forward to seeing the ride from a new perspective further back in future events.

“It’s a lovely sight to see, but unfortunately, I’m usually at the front, so I don’t see them all at the back.”

The Triumph Owners Motorcycle Club will continue to host the event, with the next toy run set for November 23, 2025.

Alex Goulder, 78, secretary of the club, said future events would change little, citing 'if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.'

He thanked John for his 'wonderful' 34 years of service.

“What he’s done is really fabulous,” he added.

"He’s done this himself, and I’m honoured to have taken the reins. I hope to steer this beast as well as John did."