Attention bike enthusiasts: Support the National Motorcycle Museum!

Let’s have a shout-out to the National Motorcycle Museum as – with the country finally opening up – they need our support more than ever.

With the pandemic and recent ‘pingdemic’ the museum and foot court have been given just three days of opening: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8.30am to 5.30pm. Let’s hope they go back to a seven-day opening schedule soon.

Thankfully, there is no need to pre-book a day or time for a visit, but it will be contactless payment only. The NMM’s James Hewing said: “All the team here at the museum want to thank everyone who has given to both our Covid-19 appeal raffles held in late 2020 and early 2021. As promised, following the Government’s ‘roadmap’ out of restrictions, the funds raised have been used directly for the purpose of reopening the museum to visitors three days a week. Whilst the funds raised so far allowed us to reopen limited days, we are still short of our original £500k reopening target.

“Therefore, we ask that you support us by entering our exciting Norton summer raffle, or donating directly to our appeal fund. www.thenmm.co.uk

“Our appeals were given extra significance by the fact that, in late 2020, the museum received the devastating news that we had been turned down for a grant from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. At that time we received an e-mail from the Heritage Lottery Fund (which was partly responsible for administering the scheme) that our application ‘did not meet the criteria for the programme, and the board has decided not to award a grant through the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage’.

“We cannot begin to describe what a blow this news was, and adds even more importance to our current raffle which gives the chance to win one of two stunning Norton motorcycles.Very special thanks must go to our friends at Norton Motorcycles for donating the brand new Norton Commando 961 Classic as a first prize.

“Along with everyone that has contributed by purchasing a raffle ticket in the past, or given directly to our appeal fund, Norton Motorcycles has been a huge support to us.”

For more, go to: www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk