Exeter Blessing of the Bikes

Most people know me for my Adventuremice watercolour artwork, but occasionally I use a different style to draw pictures of Devon folk scenes. Recently Father Matthew Cashmore from the church down the road saw one of my Bovey Tracey tea towels and thought the linework would be perfect for a poster advertising Exeter’s First ‘Blessing of the Bikes’. I was slightly skeptical, but I’m always up for a challenge, and over coffee at Cafe 3 Sixty, he gave me a run-down on different motorbike cultures and aesthetics. And a few other helpful high-Anglican details, such as explaining what an ‘aspergillum’ is (a wand for sprinkling water) and a ‘situla’ (the brass bucket you dip the wand into), and how a bishop correctly wears the fancy chasuble, stole and mitre (robe, scarf and hat).

Fuelled by caffeine and Matthew’s excellent reference material, I was rather happy with how the poster came out! The bishop looks particularly jolly.

(If you like, you can buy an A4 or A3-size print over in my online shop!)

The poster was finished, and I didn’t need to go along to the event. But years ago, my sister’s partner, Mike, took us along for breakfast to the Ace Cafe, in Wembley in north London, on the first real sunny day of the year. And I had so much fun watching and talking with all these gents, who’d put on all their best gear, proudly showing off their bikes that they’d shined to a perfect polish. So I thought I’d go into the city for a look.

And I’m glad I did! Christian biker culture is something I know absolutely nothing about, so I had a lot of fun meeting people, having a look at their bikes and jacket patches, and hearing about some of the far-flung places they’d visited.

A few close-ups:

I also loved seeing this couple pull up with what seemed like a tiny sidecar…

…But she unfolded herself with surprising grace and ease, like she’d done this hundreds of times before.

I had the most fun talking with and taking photos of the older generation of bikers, but there were quite a few young guys, too, who were very open to letting me round them up for photos. (Thanks, guys!)

And it wasn’t only blokes! Quite a few women rode up, too.

The whole time, this big screen was displaying photos and my poster, which was very heartening to see so large!

I ended up taking hundreds of photos, including lots more of people on their bikes, and it was awfully hard to decide which ones to feature here.

Father Matthew & Co were having a lot of fun taking video from a drone:

After everyone had assembled, Matthew led some of the bikers into the cathedral to lay their helmets along the altar:

Then the cathedral choristers led us in a beautiful and very moving Choral Evensong, with the highlights being a Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, composed by the cathedral’s own Director of Music and conductor, Timothy Noon. The first opened with soaring notes by one of the younger singers, which raised real goosebumps.

After the service, we all went outside and Bishop Mike was met with a MIGHTY WIND (surely the Holy Spirit) before he started to go around blessing the bikes.

(I ought to add, despite the wand, the blessing wasn’t really some sort of magical incantation. It was more of a symbolic gesture of recognition and care for the biking community.)

The wind gusted so hard that I thought some of the clergy were going to blow away like Mary Poppins! (Here’s Canon Deborah Parsons, left, who interviewed me a couple years ago for one of the cathedral’s ‘In Conversation’ evenings.)

A big cheer to Matthew for all the work and enthusiasm he put into planning the day and rallying the big team of stewards and clergy. Well done! You can visit the event’s website - it might happen again! - at HolyMotorbikes.com.