One of the star attractions for JIMF 2016 is The White Helmets and we are delighted to announced their attendance at the festival. With a fantastic demonstration coupled with a great cause, the White Helmets will be a pleasure to watch!
The team’s origins lie in precision motorcycling and horseriding demonstrations given by instructors and students from the British Army Signal Training Centre in Yorkshire, beginning in 1927. Riders were normally employed as despatch riders. They have had many names in the past including ‘The Red Devils’, before the Parachute Regiment team of the same name existed, Mad Signals (on account of the poor brakes on the motorcycles) and only adopted the name ‘White Helmets’ in 1963.
Today’s team consists of 25 soldiers, all volunteers from within the Royal Signals. New members begin with two weeks’ induction in October and the whole team spends the winter learning routines and stunts, culminating in an opening display in April where white motorcycle helmets are ceremonially presented to successful new recruits. The remainder of the summer is spent touring, giving public performances at events throughout the United Kingdom and abroad such as the Royal Military Tournament. In the 1980’s, the team participated prominently in a British television advertisement for Texaco petrol stations.
Team members wear a tailored blue uniform and open-face white motorcycle helmets and traditionally use Triumph motorcycles. Indeed, they still ride 750cc Millennium Triumph TR7V Tiger motorcycles adopted since originally supplied by the Meriden Motorcycle co-operative in the mid-1970s.
Please see our Full Timetable for dates and times
Ticket information on The White Helmets is available via JT Rewards
For more information see the White Helmets website