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http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/over-500-bikers-unite-ian-11543189 An idea for those around the world who wanted to be there, but for whatever reason, Couldn't. I barely knew the man personally, but knew about him. The atmosphere alone had me choking back tears, especially when the clapping and revving started. It's a day I won't forget in a hurry.

How pathetically elitist! Yes, you really should be in the Liberal anything-but Democrats. Everyone makes mistakes (yes, even people who think they "understand the consequences"), but a lot of those mistakes cancel. The main thing is that the people have the opportunity to correct those mistakes, and your elites make damn sure that they don't get that opportunity when it doesn't suit them - actually most of the time! There are likely far more people who were influenced by project fear than believed that legal immigrants would be sent home. And, even if there are significant numbers of people who believed that, are you telling me that they'd not prefer a points based system with strict caps to what we've had in recent decades? On the other hand do you think the large number of people influenced by your elite's baseless scare stories wouldn't change their vote a few months or years down the line when it's clear to all just how risible that narrative is? The NHS will benefit for being out, and in more ways than a proportion of our EU budget contributions. The argument now is the scale of that sum, not that the veracity of the principal. The fact that the population doesn't really know what the EU does stems from it's own stealth strategies, and its anti-democratic nature. The people have made the right choice, as will become very clear to all. Your elites have been pursuing their own agenda, and not that of the people. I'm sorry you can't see that.

I was saddened to read so many complaints from young people this week, crying and screaming about how old people had ruined the lives by voting to come out of the EU, some said old folk should not be allowed to have a vote as they would soon be dead. One letter I read said So all the old people gave us a future we didn't want. You've all had your careers, why screw it up for us, I doubt if any of the blubbering morons appreciate anything yesterdays generation did for them or realise that without it they would not be experiencing the freedom and lifestyle they now enjoy and take for granted. I doubt if they are interested in what the brave ladies of Sheffield did but I for one thank them from the bottom of my heart . Sheffield's brave Women Of Steel, who kept the munitions factories going to help win two world wars, are to be finally honoured with medals as well as a statue they deserved a lifetime ago - The Women of Steel project will produce a permanent memorial in recognition of the women of Sheffield now in their late 80s, 90s and even 100s who served their city and country by working in the steel industry and factories during World War I and World War II. Many of these amazing ladies, who did their country a great service while their men were at war have are now dead .the work they did went virtually unrecognised for years. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-36559363

Today,one and a half years since my near fatal car crash,and never having been on my new bike,which I bought from Ian Bell [just weeks before my crash],I had my first ride-out.Little did I dream that my first ride-out would be packed in between 500 other bikers,male and female,and following Ian's funeral cortege. I will never forget this day,till the day I die. Ian Bell was the most amiable,jovial,genuine fella that ever walked this planet.....a reet canny bloke who was well-respected,and is going to be missed for a long time by everybody who knew him. I am proud of all the people around the North-East,including Bedlington of course,who stood for more than an hour,[some would have been there a few hours],in pouring rain,to pay tribute to Ian,and show condolence and respect to his Family. Sitting waiting,in turn,to pull out on the road,to join the cortege,was one of the saddest,yet uplifting,days I have ever had. The noise of engines was deafening,and so loud that I couldn't hear my own little beast,which I daren't rev too hard as it is not run in,but I gave it some for Ian! For those who couldn't attend,the sound of applause,followed by the revving of engines,came down the street from Ian's shop,as his coffin came to rest for a minute,like an audio version of a Mexican wave at a football match....it was so emotional,that tears ran as hard as the rain....no kid,and no pussyfooting...fact! The turn-out reminded me of the days in the 1960's,when Bedlington street was lined with people who came for the annual Miners' Picnic,without the bands and the shows. I feel humbled,and privileged , to have been there today to see Ian,while still trying to take it in that we won't see him again. My heart goes out to Ian's Family. Rest in peace.Ian bell.

The markets didn't crash - despite the Brussels Broadcasting Corporation doing its very best to engender financial panic - and the people who sold the UK short got their fingers burned.

I think current research says that the age you fully grow up at is 43. Obviously some do a lot earlier, and some never do! Another very good reason to make it mandatory that you can't go straight from university into national politics without a fair period of working in the real world. The need for older and wiser leaders is a historical lesson we've unlearned.

Nor can I; in no way was I suggesting it should be them!

I posted a reply to the above but it doesn't seem to be here: decisions of this magnitude should not be given to the population. A great proportion of them had no idea what they were actually voting for. They believed that a leave vote would mean all the immigrants - here legally, working and paying taxes - would go home, and no more would come; they believed, while it was untrue all along, that the NHS would benefit from the money we currently 'give' to the EU; they believed a lot of things that they actually knew nothing about. How many of the population actually know what the EU does? Decisions such as this should be put in the hands of people who understand the consequences.

Well, no, isn't Brexit currently being proven to have been founded on broken promises? To be absolutely honest, I find the entire thing utterly embarrassing, and to take a leaf out of your own book and speak more than frankly, so should you. Do you actually think this shambling bunch of so called politicians are capable of running the country? Nobody knows who is doing what, when and where! It's a complete farce! The Prime Minister has taken his ball home and will no longer play; the opposition has crumbled to dust; the financial markets are in turmoil. We are a laughing stock, and rightly so.

Said goodbye today to a Gentleman, Legend and above all a Friend of more than fifty years,.....here are some of my more recent memories Ian.

Yeah, I think that, by the age of 43, you should at least have learned that, despite what the Daily Mail says, Muslims are not going to take over the country. I'm all for politicians having prior life experience, but how does that encourage the young to get involved?

The markets didn't crash? Really? My friends in the business say otherwise, or is this another area where you are expert, and nobody else knows anything? Shares in the financial, property and industrial spheres have shed bag loads over the last few days - try asking people with money invested there - and the pound is falling faster than ever. Good for me, of course, as I currently get 74p for a dollar, where it was 66p this time last week. Get real, this is a genuine, economic mess that is only going to get worse.

My elite? Again, how arrogant, and ignorant, and if that is as you seem to believe permitted, when will you realise how horribly wrong you are? You won't, of course, because you'd never have the guts to admit it! Leaving the EU is a huge economic mistake. Anyone with half a brain knows that. As for branding me liberal whatever, my politics are decisively left wing, but with a touch of education and intelligence.

"That may be so Merc, but still didn't stop people telling me the story." This is entirely my point: you believed the story! In these days of instant communication and extended reach, one story becomes a Facebook fact before you know it, yet each one of us has the ability to find out what is, and what is not, fact in a matter of seconds. How many of those stories above, for example, are actually as stated? I'd venture that, if you look into each one, there is an element of exaggeration involved, as the actual story may not be sensational enough to grab the reader. I mean, I actually had someone tell me, in all honesty, that they were voting Leave because the EU implemented stupid rules such as the one banning straight (or curly, whichever version you believe) bananas; another cited the well known 'fact' that the EU directive on cabbages amounts to 27000 words, and so on. Both are complete bollocks, and take mere seconds to find. I'll give you a good tip here: walk into the Red Lion now and you'll see a line of flags, Cross of St George, strung up across the bar. They clearly haven't been told it might offend someone, and I'd guess the rest of the Wetherspoon pubs in England are also flying them.

My honest opinion is that we need to get rid of the whole lot and introduce a new style of government. We've got umpteen ways these days of casting an instant vote on anything of importance, so why leave things up to these idiots, why not let the people vote on practically every issue by simply pressing whatever button is nearest them: phone, tv or computer? In other words, have NO political Parties at all.

Seems like you need to join the Liberal we're-anything-but Democrats Merc - they'll be campaigning for us to join the Fourth Reich quite soon.

Sky and the BBC did a hatched job on Nigel's speech and only showed the part when he was booed. but gave a full boring version of the Queen of Scotland prattling on and on about what she is going to do

Do you notice who is sitting behind Nigel in seat 165, taking it all in, moe? It's Marco Affronte of Five Star and they are waiting until October to give Juncker THEIR version of Nigel's speech on behalf of Italy.

Is that 2 Goals for 1, Eggy?

That ones old hat now; this one allows us to embark on a new era of intergalactic free movement. Imagine: our currency might once again be worth something!