EIGHT?cycling friends have made the trek from Petersfield to the battlefield of The Somme to mark the hundredth anniversary of the conflict.
They were tired after their journey to northern France and emotional as they laid a wreath at the imposing Thiepval Monument at a memorial service.
But the 300-mile round trip, which included a ferry ride from Newhaven to Dieppe, was a memorable one for the group, all of whom have worked at some time at Waitrose in Petersfield from where they set off.
They raised £5,000 for the Fishing for Forces charity which takes wounded Servicemen and women on relaxing and therapeutic day out fishing on the river, to provide rest, peace and quiet for them.
One of the group, Clive Parsons, is in the Army so it was particularly poignant for him.
Mike Swan (29), of Petersfield, who used to be a section manager at Waitrose, said:?“When you get to the monument it is very emotional as it is so huge. It was a very moving service.”
The monument carries the names of more than 72,000 missing British Empire Servicemen.
Mike said the group, comprising Dominic Smith, Clive Parsons and his son, Luke, Roger Wright, Mark Carter, Jim Fuller and Chris Lee, tried to complete a charity challenge each year.