A 70-year-old birthday boy was given a day to remember thanks to a convoy of 16 scooters.

The Burton Brewers and White Lions scooter clubs provided John Wright, of New Street, Donisthorpe, with a birthday to remember by arriving at his home in convoy.

Mr Wright’s sister-in-law, Diane Siddalls, was behind the surprise which saw 16 scooters pull up on his doorstep to greet a shocked Mr Wright, who was a member of the Burton Brewer Scooter Club in the 1960s.

Mrs Siddalls said: “I decided to contact the Burton Brewers by Facebook to see if they could provide a Lambretta to show up at his house for his 70th birthday.

“Ivan Jones of the Burton Brewers went one better and between the Burton Brewers and the White Lions scooter clubs provided a convoy of 16 scooters.

John Wright was turning 70
John Wright was turning 70

“They arrived on July 9 - the day of his 70th birthday - at his home in Donisthrope. This was a complete surprise to John and he was truly amazed. He was absolutely gobsmacked.”

A scooter also took John and his wife Jenny, also a former scooter club member, for a spin as pillion.

There was a convoy of 16 scooters
There was a convoy of 16 scooters

Mrs Siddalls added: “The members spent a couple of hours with them. The members are truly amazing and a friendly group of people, giving up their free time on a Sunday afternoon. “They wouldn’t take any money from us. They are a lovely bunch of people and deserve some tribute.

“The family wish to thank them very much for making his 70th birthday a very special day.”

The convoy turned up in Donisthorpe
The convoy turned up in Donisthorpe

The Burton Brewers Scooter Club

The Burton Brewers Scooter Club was formed around 1953. The founder members of the club including Fred Cotton Bernard Cotton, Bill Lakin, Jonny Morson, Mick Dawn and Jack Ricketts, were into cycles at the time.

However with the need to see more of post-war Britain and the problems with cycling injuries, they decided to form a scooter club. The first meetings were at the Gladstone Pub, then later moving to The Royal Hotel in High Street.

Most of the club's activities included, and still do, time trials, dances and trips to the seaside. Also many went over to the Isle of Man. The scooter club members had various machines including Lambretta, Vespa, NSU, Moto Rumi, BSA and Triumph.

John and his wife Jenny were taken for a ride
John and his wife Jenny were taken for a ride

White Lions scooter club

The club was formed in 2003. It is a fast-growing family scooter club, which attends rallies, ride-outs and has its own events.

At present it has more than 40 members. Most have Vespas or Lambrettas but having a scooter is not a requirement of joining. Members meet formally twice a month at the Railway Inn, Swadlincote.