Back in the summer of 2022, two Freemasons, John Moore and Neil Thomas enjoyed a couple of beers one evening, chatting about times gone by. The conversation eventually turned to the charities they planned to support in 2023, and the idea of doing a charity bike ride came up. That’s when John mentioned Woody’s Lodge, a charity dedicated to helping veterans of the Armed Forces, Emergency Services and Reservists reconnect with life, their families and their communities.
John, a former Royal Engineer, had experienced his share of challenges during his service. His time in the military had left him with both bitter and sweet memories, but the camaraderie and the bond he had formed with his comrades was something that had never faded. Years after leaving the military, he found himself drawn to causes like Woody’s Lodge, helping other veterans’ transition back to civilian life.
Neil, on the other hand, was an IT consultant, living a life far removed from combat and military service but had worked around the services all his career. Still, he had always felt a deep sense of gratitude toward those who had served their country. When John mentioned the charity bike ride for veterans, Neil knew he had to get involved.
In 2023, they both took part in the Woody’s Lodge Normandy Battlefield Tour, an unforgettable 160 mile four-day ride that raised an incredible £85,000 in total, with John and Neil raising £2,500 between them.
After their successful 2023 Normandy D-Day ride for Woody’s Lodge, Neil Thomas and John Moore sought a new challenge. When Woody’s Lodge organized a commemorative ride from HR4K Veterans Centre in Hereford to the National Memorial Arboretum, marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the 42nd of the Falklands War, they signed up immediately.
The ride began at HR4K with a stop at Hereford Cathedral, where a moving service at the SAS Memorial honoured the 255 service members and three civilians lost in the Falklands. Lt Gen Sir Tyrone Urch KBE then gave a speech of remembrance and encouragement, sending the riders off with well wishes.
During a stop, the group met Lt Col (Ret.) Jamie Balls MBE, gave an engaging speech on his military career and his current work using equine therapy to help veterans with PTSD and other challenges.
As they neared their final destination, the group made a poignant stop at Lichfield Station, the site of a terrorist attack that claimed the life of Private Robert Davies of the Royal Regiment of Wales. On 1 June 1990. Private Davies was tragically shot by the IRA while waiting for a train, an event that shocked the nation due to its randomness. Two of our riders had personal connections to Robert, having attended school and played rugby with him back in South Wales. The station master shared his own memories of that sorrowful day and directed the group to a nearby street named in Robert Davies honour, where they paid their respects.
As the cyclists approached the National Memorial Arboretum, a sense of accomplishment filled the air. The riders entered the arboretum to a warm welcome from family, friends, supporters and veterans. The journey culminated in a remembrance ceremony, where participants laid wreaths at the Falklands Memorial. A special service honoured Paul Woodland, the inspiration behind Woody’s Lodge, with cyclists and Paul’s family gathering at the Armed Forces Memorial to lay a wreath in his memory.
Paul ‘Woody’ Woodland, a Royal Marine and member of the elite Special Boat Service, tragically lost his life in a 2012 training exercise before returning to Afghanistan. His dream of building a log cabin for his family inspired the creation of Woody’s Lodge, which opened in 2016 after extensive planning and refurbishment at HMS Cambria, providing a safe haven for veterans and their families. Neil Thomas and John Moore held their own service and laid a wreath at the Masonic Memorial Garden on behalf of Warrington Group to remember all those Freemasons who lost their lives during the conflict.
More than £10,000 was raised in sponsorship for the ride with John and Neil raising £2,800 between them. This money will be used wisely to support vital services, including mental health care, housing assistance, and career transition programs for Veterans, making a lasting difference in many lives. To view a short video of the 2024 Woody’s Lodge bike ride, click: – Woody’s Lodge Bike Ride 2024
The brothers in Freemasonry will be back in 2025 where they will undertake a six-day cycling event that will honour the sacrifices made during the Battle of the Somme, Passchendaele and Ypres, with the final respectful close of the event at the Menin Gate Ceremony.
Written and prepared by John Moore and Neil Thomas.