You will recall the Muslim preacher who wanted to disrespect British troops by staging an Islamic march through the town of Wootton Bassett on Britain’s repatriation route, where fallen servicemen are honored. His organization was banned and the march proscribed under the UK’s Public Order Act 1986.

Today the British public has staged an event of their own — about 15,000 bikers and passengers traveled the route:

Bikers join ride in tribute to Wootton Bassett

Thousands of bikers have been riding through Wootton Bassett to honour the people of the Wiltshire town – and the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. Each rider has paid £5 to take part, with the proceeds going to the charity Afghan Heroes.

An estimated 15,000 bikers and pillion passengers congregated at Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire earlier. The first batch of 500 riders left at 1100 GMT to ride to Wootton Basset… The event was expected to last until early evening, with bikers leaving the airfield at 30-minute intervals to make their way to Wootton Bassett.

About 10,000 riders registered to take part. They were accompanied by some 5,000 pillion passengers. Crowds gathered along Wootton Bassett’s High Street to watch the bikers pass the war memorial….

The ride was organised by Elizabeth Stevens, 18… Ms Stevens, a mechanics student at the Central Bedfordshire College, had only planned to ride through the town with a few friends. “Our local bike club was throwing around the idea of a bike run,” she said in January, “so I decided to make a Facebook page, and it’s just taken off”….

Laurence Phillips from Afghan Heroes said the event had gathered pace after being posted on the social networking site Facebook….

When coffins are returned from Afghanistan, the people of Wootton Bassett line the streets to pay tribute to the funeral cortège. You can see one such occasion in this video. You will be moved by this town and its people.