The "Ton-Up Vicar"

In my blog post about the 'Rockers' group of motorcyclists in the U.K. there was a general public opinion that these bikers were nothing but hooligans. However, a church based youth organization called the '59 Club' and organized by a priest named Bill Shergold, was heavily involved with having a positive influence on the group. Bill Shergold was known as the "Biker Priest", and more interestingly, also known as the "Ton-Up Vicar".  In case you don't know, 'ton-up' is the U.K. term for riding over speeds of 100 mph, so having a priest who not only rode a motorcycle but also qualified for this designation gives you an idea of how this guy connected with these young people. Pretty soon, the 59 Club, so named because the youth group originally started in 1959, was the biggest bike club in the world, is still in existence today, and is purportedly still the biggest motorcycle club in the world, with chapters in Europe, Australia and Japan.

Bill Shergold...the "Ton-Up Vicar"

Rockers get together

Just like in America, bad bikers made for great movie themes

The "Biker Priest" is the gentleman, second from the right, smoking the pipe

There were 'blessing of the bike' ceremonies

Some good press after much bad