Bury St Edmunds: Brewer supports rugby club’s memorial cycle ride
Austin Cornish - Credit: Photo: © Keith Mindham Photogr
Greene King brewery has donated a hamper of produce from Bury St Edmunds to be presented to the mayor of its twin town in France by the riders taking part in a memorial cycle ride.
The cycle trip is in memory of 18 members of the town’s rugby club who were tragically killed in a plane crash 40 years ago, on March 3, 1974, at Ermenonville, in France.
The crash happened when the players and club members were travelling back to the UK after a friendly match with a local side in France was cancelled. T
he Turkish airliner flew out from Orly Airport, about 20 miles from the French capital at 11.23am. But shortly after take-off, the plane crashed into the Ermenonville Forest killing all 345 people on board.
The riders have travelled to the crash site and are cycling back to Bury and due to arrive home on Sunday.
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More than 90 cyclists are taking part in the 310-mile trip and they will receive an official welcome along the way from Bury’s twin town Compiegne.
Dom South, marketing director for Greene King Brewing and Brands, said: “We are pleased to be able to support the 40th anniversary Memorial Cycle Ride with both sponsorship and an offer of gifts for the Mayor of nearby French town Compiegne, which is twinned with Bury.
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“This tragedy has never been forgotten in Bury and we wish the riders well on their long journey in memory of fathers, sons and husbands lost in the crash.”
The brewery also sent gifts of Greene King Championship rugby shirts and Greene King IPA beer to be presented to Compiegne Rugby Club, who will be welcoming the riders.
The cycle ride is raising money for two local charities – St Nicholas Hospice Care and The Haberden Trust.
To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/memorialcycleride
