IPSWICH: A wave of nostalgia washed over the Suffolk Showground as “middle-aged bikers” relived their youth.

Bikes from the 1950s and 60s evoked memories of days spent tearing around town for visitors to the Copdock Classic Motorcycle Club’s 19th annual show.

Vice Chairman Paul Finch said: “The so-called middle-aged bikers reminisce about the bikes they used to ride when they were younger, they walk around looking at the classic bikes saying ‘I had one like that years ago’.”

Mr Finch believes there has been a renewed interest in classic bikes in recent years, especially in Suffolk.

He added: “People love fudging around trying to rebuild bikes from scratch and then taking them to various shows around the country.

“We are getting more and more people at the shows, although ours is still the main one.”

There was an auto jumble at the show and bikers are paying ever higher sums for the missing parts they need, which Mr FInch believes is another indicator the hobby is taking off.

The vintage bikes were just one of the attractions at the Suffolk Showground on Sunday.

“We had one of the best stunt riders in the world performing this year, Mattie Griifin.

“He did a trick where he jumped off the bike while it was still in motion and when it stopped it was upright. It takes some believing.

”He did another stunt where he got a group of girls in the ring and then he performed stunts around them.”

The 12 members of the Copdock Classic Motorcycle Club meet monthly in Washbrook to plan the annual show, which has been held at the county showground, in Bucklesham Road, Ipswich, for the past eight years.

As well as being a chance to showcase classically restored bikes and to promote newer models, there is a charitable element to the show.

“Everything we do is for charity,” said Mr Finch. “Since we started we have raised about �150,000 for local good causes. This year we raffled a 1954 BSA Star Twin 500cc bike worth around �4,000.

“We have been travelling around the country selling raffle tickets and we have raised in the region of �6,00 for the EACH Treehouse Appeal.”