BMAD confirm action actor Mike Mitchell to open 10th anniversary festival. BMAD (Bikers Make A Difference) the organisers of the double award winning Paignton Bike and Music Festival, are delighted to announce that action actor ‘Iron’ Mike Mitchell will open this years 10th anniversary festival on Friday 2nd May 2014. “We’re pleased that Mike, as a newcomer to the bay area has agreed to carry out the opening duties on the Friday evening” said BMAD Chairman Andy Hobbs, winner of the recent Herald Express ‘Peoples Champion’ award. “Mike originally made contact with BMAD regarding advertising his new guest house project, but after a short conversation with regard to what we did and for whom we raised monies for, Mike (himself no stranger to raising money for charity), was soon asking what he could do and how could he help us. It didn’t take long for him to agree to open the festival!” Mitchell is no stranger to motorbikes and used to run a thriving bed and breakfast business close to Silverstone, the home of British motor racing and, when time allowed, he and his wife Denise were regular visitors to the famous Matlock biker gatherings in Derbyshire. Mike currently owns a Triumph Trophy, whilst wife Denise rides and thoroughly enjoys her highly tuned Honda Fireblade 1000RR. Mitchell joined the forces at the age of 16 as a combat frogman, ending his military career in HM Special Forces and upon leaving the services he became involved in the offshore oil industry, making his home in Aberdeen. It was during his time in Scotland that Mike took part in Britains Strongest Man competition, as well as eventing, show jumping and bodybuilding, where he became Scottish Champion, an award which allowed him to compete in the international arena. He achieved an amazing 5 Masters Mr World titles and 2 Mr Universe titles with the World Fitness Federation and in 2010, he was given the highest Honor within the WFF, a place in the Hall of Fame and the prestigious Living Legend Award. His acting career started in 1994 when, due to his sheer size and physical presence, he found himself with a part in Braveheart and Mitchell has gone on to appear in numerous action films including Gladiator, Apocalypse Z, Skyfall and the soon to be released Morning Star. With filming commitments taking him away from home for long periods of time, last year Mike decided to step back a little and he and Denise began to look around for another project. After much travelling around the West Country from North coast to South they decided upon settling in Paignton. “It was quite strange” said Mike, “one day we were in conversation down on the seafront with a cafe owner and we were quite intrigued with the story he was telling us about a group of bikers called BMAD. A few months later here we are in Paignton and I’m really looking forward to opening the festival and helping BMAD raise loads more money!” Always known as the best free show in town, the festival runs from Friday 2nd May until 7pm on Sunday 4th May and will as ever feature a mix of music, arena acts, loads of motorbikes, a custom bike show on the Sunday and an appearance from the Harley Davidson exhibition truck. “We’ve chosen several of our favourite acts from previous years to top the bill in the band tent on each night” said Chairman Hobbs. “Last year Darkside of Pink Floyd played a great set for us and their reward is to headline Friday night, giving them the chance to use their lighting display to full advantage.” “The ZZ Tops are always a big draw, being big festival favourites and, after a year away, they return to headline Saturday night.” “The Blues Brothers Collective, who made their festival debut last year and really brought the house down, will close out the event in fine style.” Acts in the arena will include the festival favourite Steve Colley, returning to demonstrate his amazing trials riding skills, who will ever forget seeing him ride up the side of his support van last year? Whilst freestyle motocross rider Jamie Squib will fly through the air and Lee Musslewhite will astound the audience with his BMX skills. The festival is one of the biggest music events in the South West and has become very well known, hopefully more so, after BMAD picked up bronze awards in the ‘Best Event’ category of both the Devon and Torbay Tourist Awards. The event, over the early May bank holiday (2nd-4th May) marks the start of the BMAD season and is followed shortly afterwards by the first of the regular Wednesday evening bike nights (4th June). In 2013 BMAD raised over £31,000 from the festival and bike nights, making it a record breaking year and hopes are high that we could do even better in 2014. Let’s hope for a hot, dry summer, especially on Wednesday nights! Since its inception in 2002 / 2003, BMAD has become recognised as one of the major forces for local charity work in Torbay and South Devon, having now raised well over £330,000 from in and around the biking community! BMAD background information • BMAD started way back in 2002 with an idea by the founders of ‘Bikers Make A Difference’ Kelvin and Jane Halloran, which was to have a social gathering of bikers on Paignton Seafront in Devon, they wanted to raise money for charity and have a good time as well. • Over the years this is exactly what has happened, Paignton Bike Night finally saw its birth in 2003 and has gone on to become the longest running and largest regular social gathering of bikers in the South West of England. • Each year on Paignton Seafront there is regularly a mile of bikes parked side by side every Wednesday evening from May to Sept. Bikers mix with locals and holiday makers alike, the bikers enjoying chips, coffee or ice cream, the locals walk their dogs and the holiday makers stroll through the bikes enjoying the evening sunshine whilst walking off their evening meals! The atmosphere is wonderful! • Over the summer season, each visiting rider contributes a minimum of £1, which when added together the proceeds from the music and bike festival has raised over £31,000 in 2013 for charity imdb/name/nm2396944/
Posted on: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 07:09:48 +0000
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