THREE pensioners had the ride of their lives when 25 Harley-Davidson motorcyclists roared up at their care home.

The men – from Townsend House in Headington, Oxford – rode the iconic motorcycles on Sunday when the Oxford chapter of the Harley-Davidson club paid them a visit.

For former gardening volunteer Russell Blackmore, a 73-year-old with learning difficulties, it fulfilled a long-held ambition from his bucket list.

Mr Blackmore, who was originally from Bicester, said he had always wanted to ride a Harley-Davidson but had never had the opportunity.

Upon hearing this, care home manager Maggie Coleman contacted the city’s Harley dealership.

Oxford club chapter president Malcolm Taylor was happy to oblige, and 25 bikers visited the home to offer rides to Mr Blackmore and the other residents.

The 53-year-old Abingdon resident said: “We were first contacted by the home who asked if we could take an old resident for a spin.

“He was planning to come over to the shop but was too ill to travel.

“So we decided to bring the bikes to him instead.”

Mr Blackmore said: “I did like it. I was a young lad and wanted to do it before.

“I enjoyed just sitting on it.”

Fellow resident Robert Cambrey-Denton also got a chance to relive his youth by taking a spin on a trike.

The 88-year-old said: “It was wonderful.

“I can’t describe it.

“It took me back to when I was a kid.

“I remember my father bought a ‘noisy Norton’ as they called it.

“At the first opportunity, I whipped off the sidecar.

“Being a motorcyclist was my life.”

Mr Taylor added: “It was great talking to some of the old boys and they shared their stories about owning Triumphs.”

Daniel Lyons, 79, also got on the back of one of the bikes.

He said: “It was really lovely.

“The noise the bikes make is the exciting bit.”

On the same day as going to Townsend House, more than 100 Harley riders also went to the Oxford Children’s Hospital in Headington to give toys to ill kids.

Mr Taylor added: “When people think about Harley-Davidson they immediately think we’re part of the Hell’s Angels, far from it.

“We often do a lot for charity and want to do things to help the community.

“Anything that we can do to help the community or raise money for charity we will do.”

Mrs Coleman added: “All of the residents seem to really love the day.

“Some of the residents have dementia so they don’t remember the bikers coming, but when we show them the pictures they remember what a great time they had.”