Events

Wheelie Great Scooter Rally and Fun day

The Red Wheelies mobility scooter display team will be the stars of the Wheelie Great Scooter Event, jointly organised by Brighton, Hove and Portslade’s Age Concern and the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, on Saturday September 11^th.  The afternoon also sees the launch of the Partnership’s new booklet on mobility scooter safety.

The event, on Hove Lawns from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., will be opened by the Mayor of Brighton, Councillor Geoff Wells, and will feature a whole range of “wheelie” events and attractions but will primarily focus on a celebration of mobility scooters and those who use them.

Come along and bring your wheels with you! The Red Wheelies will be displaying mobility scooter skills to raise money for their new MS therapy centre, there will also be live music from surf band The Space Agency and Juice 107.2 Breakfast Show host Guy Lloyd will compere the afternoon.

Other planned attractions include a mini go-kart track, the police and fire and rescue services, exhibition tents, the Brighton and Hove funbus. Age Concern also wants to photograph event-goers as they line up with their “wheels” in homage  to Quadrophenia, and, for a small donation, they will be able to have a digital or printed photograph. An exhibition of these is planned at Brighton, Hove and Portslade Age Concern’s AGM and during its Will Writing Week, which starts on October 18th. The local charity wants to raise money for essential care services and launch an appeal for new supporters.  

Jim Baker, Director of Age Concern Brighton Hove & Portslade said: 'We want everyone to have fun while highlighting the importance of how inclusive Brighton and Hove can be transport-wise, despite sometimes congested roads, and that local people, including older people, are willing to get out and about in whatever form that independent travel takes.  

On their booklet launch Neil Hopkins, communications manager of the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, said: “Mobility scooters may seem a very simple and easy to use form of transport but they are often supplied without any advice to the user. They can cause serious damage to the user and others. Our guide is aimed at protecting the safety of those who use them, other road users and pedestrians. We are happy to be working with an organisation like Age Concern on this event.”