Thousands flock to Cumbria for final ride in memory of Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:54, 21 June 2026 | Updated: 13:57, 21 June 2026 Thousands of bikers have flocked to Cumbria for the final ride in memory of the Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers. Dave Day 2026 - The Last Ride Home saw more than 40,000 motorcyclists make their way to Barrow-on-Furness, the late TV chef's hometown yesterday.   The event celebrated the life of Myers who passed away from cancer in 2024 and helped raise money for Childline and Barrow-based charities. Motorcyclists set off on the 300-mile route from Ace Café in London at 7.00am, which the Hairy Bikers' first visited in 2007. The procession, led by his best friend and fellow Hairy Biker Si King, passed through Oxford, Solihull, Knutsford and Lancaster, before reaching Barrow-on-Furness just after 15.30. An incredible 82,000 motorcyclists took part in the Dave Day across the last two years the event was held. The previous rides raised a staggering £261,000 for charity, but sadly this year's outing will be the last. Event organiser, Jason Woodcock, said issues with arranging and funding the ride meant a cross-country journey to Barrow would not take place next year. Thousands of bikers have taken part in Dave Day 2026 - The Last Ride Home in memory of the late Hairy Biker, Dave Myers, who passed away in 2024 Bikers set off on the 300-mile ride from London to Myers's hometown of Barrow-on-Furness, Cumbria The Hairy Bikers, pictured on a boat with Dave on the left, had an illustrious television cooking career together Myers's wife, Lilliana, said it was emotional knowing that this was the last Dave Day tribute ride. 'We're doing the last ride and then we're doing the last leg of the last ride, we're doing the last mile of the last ride,' she told the BBC. 'There was somebody shouting from the side of the road 'thank you for this' . 'It brings hope to people, it brings joy, brings a smile on their faces. And that's priceless. Several roads around Barrow were closed ahead of the cavalcade's arrival which Lilliana said was about 36 miles long. The final ride was not the only part of Dave Day 2026. Upon arriving in the Hairy Biker's hometown, there was live entertainment, fundraising events and the Dave Myers Memorial Trophy football match. Ahead of the event, Dave Day organisers said that this year's ride 'is the one to be a part of.' 'Dave Day started with a simple idea. Get on your bike, ride to Barrow, and remind the world what Dave Myers meant to the people who loved him.' Si King, pictured during the first Dave Day ride in 2024 that saw more than 40,000 motorcyclists take part The Hairy Bikers, pictured in 2006, the year they began their television career and first appeared on our screens Dave Myers, pictured, hugging his wife Lilliana who he married in 2011 after they met while filming Hairy Bikers in Romania Alongside fellow Hairy Biker Si King, the duo were highly regarded as two of the most loved faces on British television.  They both met while working in the film industry - Dave as a make-up artist and Si as a locations director - and bonded over their love of food and motorbikes.  The cooking stalwarts first appeared on our screens in 2006 and racked up 31 separate projects, and sold 6million copies of their 30 cookery books during their career. Myers married Lilliana Orzac, who he met while filming Hairy Bikers in Romania, in 2011 at the star's hometown in Barrow, Cumbria.  He was a stepfather to her two children, Izabelle and Sergiu, from a previous relationship.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.