The Revving Reverend

Or- 'More Lager Vicar'

Excuse me reverend, but could you unzip your leathers and part your beard, so that I can see your dog collar?

I first found out about the 'reverend Andy Sayers in April 2002 when I read an article in the Bolton Evening News about how a local group of Christian Bikers from the Seventh Seal Christian Bikers Fellowship had been having difficulties getting a location to hold their  rally in May, Horwich RMI had initially approved them using their sports ground, then had a change of heart. Eventually the Manor Golf Club in Kearley provided a site for them to meet on. The story seemed worth following up as I also provide pictures to Christian Herald and it seemed of interest to them.

After a few calls I tracked 46 year old Andy down to his 'vicarage' in a council house in Tonge Moor where he lives with his German wife Dorothee, his three children and an immense trike parked in the garden. He explained that he had been a member of Bolton Pentecostal Church, having become a Christian at the age of 26,  but had left to set up the Seventh Seal Christian Bikers, an independent church. During the winter months they meet at a bowling club, but during the summer reach out with the Gospel to motorcyclists attending rallies. Andy has been ordained as a 'reverend' by a group known as 'On Call Clergy' who provide basic theological training to people willing to perform baptisms, funerals and weddings at short notice. During our conversation he mentioned that he would be conducted a bikers wedding at the 'Nightmare Rally' in May.

And the bride wore black!

I've been photographing weddings since 1986- but I've never done one like this before.

Dianne Ball aged 20 from Preston met Tony Rose age 50 from Prestwich, Manchester at a bike rally in Yorkshire in March. Tony proposed to Dianne on her birthday on the 30th March, and by the 4th May they were married.

The groom arrived riding pillion with his best man, the bride wore a see through lace dress and arrived on a trike with her biker father. Nobody wore a suit, and throughout the ceremony everyone swigged pints of beer as they gathered around Tony's bike which acted as a makeshift altar.

The story was picked up and used by the Bolton Evening News, Lancashire Evening Post, Preston Citizen, www.ananova.com,, the Bury Times, Prestwich and Whitefield Guide, Radcliffe Times and Christian Herald some papers giving it a double page colour spread.