The Howlers go to the Right Plaice

24th March West London’s fishy tale.

A bright crisp Spring morning with a fish ‘n’ chip lunch stop enticed 11 members of HOWL on 10 bikes to leave the mainland and venture across the water – to Hayling Island.

As we criss-crossed our way, we picked up several ‘strays’ swelling our numbers to 15 at one stage. It can be a bit confusing if you’re leading a run and look in your mirror to see more bikes in your ‘train’ than there were when you started off – it does look quite impressive though. 

Afterwards we visited the WW2 heritage trail, which details the heroic, clandestine exploits of local volunteers code named COPP – Combined Operations Pilotage Parties.

This top secret unit of less than 200 men won over 90 medals and commendations.

They carried out secret reconnaissance missions on proposed enemy-held invasion beaches and the information gathered safeguarded the lives of thousands of Allied servicemen during the D Day landings in Normandy

Jon Stone