Dr Jarrod Gilbert Sociologist
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The Epitaph Riders are no more

1/11/2015

58 Comments

 
At one time the Epitaph Riders were perhaps the staunchest and most respected outlaw club in New Zealand, but they are no more. Last week their colours were burned and the club closed down. Here is the story of their early history. I wrote it for PATCHED as part of their remarkable war with the Devils Henchmen. RIFP.
___________________

The Epitaph Riders was formed in 1969 by a bunch of friends in a large house on Geraldine Street in Christchurch. Although there was a nominal president, Ross Jennings, initially there were few, if any, rules and no club structure. Like other outlaw motorcycle clubs in the South Island around this time (such as the Antarctic Angels of Invercargill and the Highwaymen of Timaru), and before they had significant contact with the more mature scene in the North Island, the Epitaph Riders took their cues largely from popular media. A member of the Riders recalled:

         That book Hell’s Angels that Hunter Thompson I think wrote – that was out and we just – it all just sort of happened             and we were all running around with this stuff [patches] on our back and um that’s how it started . . . We didn’t [know         what we were doing] we were just a bunch of young guys, mate, that just hung around. We’re all fuckin’ 17, 18, the              oldest would have been 21 probably. And it’s just the way it happened. We all used to meet on Friday nights and just          go drink piss – it just started from there . . . Drink piss and fuck women. There was nothing else in life – riding bikes.

By 1973, however, the Epitaph Riders had matured significantly. The group was now comprised of young men from working-class backgrounds aged in their late teens to mid-twenties, and boasted some 22 patched members, including an executive consisting of a president, two vice presidents and a sergeant at arms. By this time, rules were also in place to ensure the club was a significant part of its members’ lives.
            The increasing commitment to the club is reflected in a decision made in August 1973 making it compulsory for members to attend weekly meetings and a Sunday run as well as any parties the group decided to have. A rented flat was used as a clubhouse and weekly fees of two dollars were collected along with an additional one-dollar levy for beer on the Sunday rides. Fees were used for club expenses including subsidising major runs, helping members in trouble, and paying fines incurred during group activities. The communal behaviours of the group are, in substantial measure, a reflection of the wider social environment of the time. The club’s colours were also held in significant esteem. While colours were only compulsorily worn on runs, it was against club rules to deny being a member of the club. In the mid-1970s, one member even rode to teachers’ training college on his bike wearing his patch. It would be impossible to conceive of this occurring now without a public uproar, reflecting a dramatic change in attitudes toward such groups.
            Although the Epitaph Riders’ motorcycles were kept meticulously clean, members had adopted the ‘ridgies’ style, that was by this time standard within the gang scene. ‘Ridgies’ (derived from ‘originals’) is the set of original clothing a member was wearing when he was initiated into the gang and given his colours. These clothes were regarded as sacred and never washed so they soon became dirty and tatty. The custom may have come about initially as an inevitable outcome of members working on their machines and travelling and sleeping rough while on runs. It soon, however, became the desired look – a form of gang uniform. Yet ridgies were also more than a uniform. Grease from vehicle breakdowns, dirt from motorcycle trips around New Zealand, blood from fights and fluids from sexual encounters all mixed together to become part of a subcultural, or countercultural, style imbibed with symbolic meaning. As one Mongrel Mob member put it: ‘To wash them would be to wipe away the memory of our conquests and history.’ When ridgies fell apart, they were either patched up or a similar item of clothing was sewn underneath.
            As they were for all gangs, the clothes undoubtedly represented a visible expression of the Epitaph Riders’ antisocial stance, and many of the members had convictions for petty offences. In what is now a common – and important – refrain, the police were perceived as an enemy and many of the club’s members believed they were unfairly targeted and victimised. Fighting was a significant activity that demonstrated machismo as well as instilling group loyalty that the club actively fostered. With an ‘all for one, and one for all’ philosophy, if any member got into a fight, regardless of fault, other members were required to back him up. This fighting ethos was central to enhancing the group’s reputation and ensuring that people thought twice about confronting its members. In Christchurch, the Riders engaged in many conflicts with other fledgling gangs, and particularly budding outlaw clubs. Like other Biker Federation clubs, the Epitaph Riders had determined that they would be the only outlaw club in their city. In the early 1970s, at least three other groups – the Apostles, the Heaven’s Outcasts, and the Highwaymen – were beaten or intimidated by the Riders and had their colours taken. Vanquished, these groups disappeared and the Riders maintained a firm grip on Christchurch. By 1973, the Epitaph Riders were a well-established outlaw motorcycle club, and with their frequent travels around the country it is widely acknowledged by those in the scene at the time that they held a reputation as among the country’s staunchest, and consequently one of the most respected, groups within the biker – and indeed the entire gang – community. In biker parlance, they were class.

[References for the above can be found in PATCHED - likewise the story of their dramatic war with the Devils Henchmen].
58 Comments
Phyl
1/11/2015 06:52:06 pm

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bruce hobbs
1/11/2015 10:15:10 pm

sweet as I was riding then too . few times went on runs ...... good times ..

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Ian Dalziel
2/11/2015 06:12:21 am

The intro needs a wee fix:
"At one time the Epitaph Riders were perhaps the stanchest..."

'staunchest' surely...

send in the epitaph writers or will it just be 'epithets' from here on in...
:- )

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Jarrod
2/11/2015 09:24:39 am

Ha! Thanks for that. Fixed!

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grant philpot
20/10/2016 02:20:15 pm

i agree ,pullcrap commentation epitaph are not staunch they are what is known to be how it is a tough life , hard life shichs now dont even get near what things did used to be and im proud to know that
some one who once knew epitaph a long time ago

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Chch born
2/11/2015 07:25:25 am

Have been told my father who passed away was a member. Is there any members reading this that may know...

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John
2/11/2015 03:03:06 pm

What was his name,it won't be hard to find out

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John warwood
21/9/2022 07:18:09 pm

My brother

missbehaviour
3/11/2015 01:15:55 am

tell me his name and i will ask my partner who waz a long time member and friend formost of the last 40 yrs

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Linda voc
1/2/2016 01:08:50 pm

Who was u dad I tell you

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Pete
2/11/2015 11:13:48 am

I was looking forward to an article re why they closed. But to my disappointment here was only something from your book.

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Jarrod
2/11/2015 01:18:32 pm

I'm sure you'll find the story on here sooner rather than later. But that's the story for now. Thanks for your interest. Best regards, Jarrod.

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Pete
15/6/2019 08:48:56 pm

Yep Jarrod, you were correct. And a sad story it is, but very familiar.

Gutter link
2/11/2015 04:27:01 pm

Hi there were can I purchase a copy? keen to read it

Cheers
G
RMF

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Jarrod
2/11/2015 06:09:05 pm

Books store either have it on the shelf or will order it in for you. Online, this is a pretty good option
http://www.amazon.com/Patched-The-History-Gangs-Zealand/dp/1869407296
Thanks for your interest and I hope you enjoy it.
Best regards, Jarrod

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Brian Longley
2/11/2015 05:41:57 pm

Good bunch of blokes back in the early 80's. A few of the boys use to work for me. I was always made welcome at the club house in Lincoln Road. Long live the good memories. Cheers

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grant philpot
20/10/2016 02:22:40 pm

all hail lincoln green

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Linda
2/11/2015 09:29:28 pm

I was the girlfriend, and then wife of an Epitaph Rider in the seventies. They were exciting times. The mass arrest for unlawful assembly at Kerrs Road. The Sunday runs were the highlight of the week. Drinking at the Ferrymead tavern.

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grant philpot
20/10/2016 02:26:06 pm

THEY NEVER FORGOT KERRS ROAD I FEEL I ONLY HEARD ABOUT IT BUT THEY ARE WHY BANDIDOS FOUGHT THE PIGS IN OZZIE

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Maxine
23/7/2017 10:11:34 pm

Hi Linda
Did you live in Hoon Hay, I use to babysit for someone that was a Epitaph Raider, her name was Linda, can't remember her husband's name?

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charlies ghost
2/11/2015 10:29:13 pm

fortifications going up at the clubhouse ??

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K
3/11/2015 12:11:49 pm

I was out with them one Friday night in 1977 or 1978 and called in to the Loin Tavern in Addington after a few drinks in the ground floor bar at Noah's. When Bubbles started a full on brawl in the public bar with some guy over a hat. lol Totalled the public and lounge bars moved into the car park then onto the road, everyone was going for it. Mike Mc had a full leg in plaster but it didn't stop him, and I got to mind is bike lol. Yes I agree Linda it was a very exciting time.

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Big G link
3/11/2015 01:51:59 pm

another great read, well done. As a Jap bike rider in the day "we" all knew we could be in the shit if "we" had a slow bike or were just out numbered.

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Dan T
29/12/2015 11:18:21 am

Patched over to the Head Hunters?

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Alan
1/6/2016 07:06:24 pm

So, there was no White Power influence. Teachers in training and future TV producers? Different times. 'Satan's Slaves' did not have bikes in sight, but would buy takeaways near The Press in the Square. I once raced a Kawasaki on my Solex along Colombo.

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GRANT PHILPOT
20/10/2016 02:28:24 pm

WHAT THERE WAS IS JUST ROCK MACHINE TRYING TO BUILD IN A HOLE OF THEIR OWN AND WONT SURVIVE

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DM
6/5/2017 06:42:25 pm

Another correction required. Highwaymen should read Hiwaymen.

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Hudson Easton link
11/5/2017 12:57:05 am

Very joyful post. I just stumble upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. Thanks for such post and please keep it up.

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Troy Cruz link
7/7/2017 02:15:22 am

I just like the valuable information you provide to your articles. I will bookmark your blog and take a look at again right here frequently.

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linda cox link
15/12/2017 02:19:17 am

the riders were names the bears before they re named them selves,, john ward was a founder ,, of then lol shit thats a few years ago to,, rip to charlie , mike , bear,,, and many more ,,,

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Speed link
13/4/2020 09:28:44 pm

John warwood, I think you find, not john ward, don't know if I've spelt it correctly ,know quite a few from my days in the 70,s and 80,s in Christchurch

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BLU
7/2/2018 04:53:57 pm

IT WAS THE GOOD OLD DAYS

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john kish link
29/3/2018 06:49:31 pm

yeah, remember.they good old days

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Brett
7/7/2018 08:39:42 pm

back in the late 70s a phalanx of eps on the way to the british in lyttelton escoted me on my crashed and bent ajs from the city to almost home. anybody out there remember that? i'd still like to say thanks

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michael francis edens
9/10/2018 10:25:44 pm

the heavens outcasts never had a patch taken the patch in the book patched is neil b's who became a ep . i was in the heavens outcasts

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Daisy
14/10/2018 08:54:12 am

I remember getting a letter from one of my mates who had moved to CHCH for a year from Canada, and he said he had met some epis and been on a run with them and had a great time. Could someone tell me what the RIFP on the patch means?

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Zane
10/7/2021 07:37:15 am

REST IN FUCKEN PEACE R.I.F.P

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Roni Rider(2003-05-06
16/3/2019 06:35:10 am

I was a prospect when the members at the time trumped up bullshit lies and made “in my eyes the last true old school member “ not to mention LIFE member hang in his colours ... y cause this member did not want p in the club in its purest form .. And I wonder y ?? 2nd longest standing club in New Zealand to full to meth nice job -G,B,L,A .,si u had no choice,, The club was my life I put the club b4 everything when I became a member A good man once told me if uve got enuff money in ur pocket for a pie and a drink ur winning... I will always remember that ,,Much love for u D.A. When he left the club died my heart was broken and I felt as tho we the “club” Had signed our own closure..yer I helped riddle it with p I thort I was doing Wht was needed aye “body” brothers till death . Yer rite brothers till meth .. I’ve got so much I want to tell as so much lies have been told and believed yet where the fuck is our Club ?? ERMC RIFP

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Speed link
13/4/2020 09:36:57 pm

P,s fucked many a club mate ,wasn't around when I was around the scene, bush mull, no hydro,no P, bit of daytura, few trips etc etc, few pill, many a good ride to governors bay pub , British hotel etc

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Kelvin. Sampson
2/5/2021 09:48:00 am

Good to hear you are still around speed I remember those days maybe we will catch up sometime

Bruce
31/3/2019 04:55:50 pm

In the 1970's i rode to ChCh a lot from Blenheim on a jap bike you'll be pleased to know HaHa. About a dozen of us stayed some where in ChCh with a mate. As we were getting on our bikes the next morning a car pulls up and two guys get out. One was saying something too us. i couldn't quiet hear. So innocent jap riding 17yr old walks toward them. Whoo!!!!! shot gun gets pulled up from beside his leg, gets cocked and pointed at me. Question time, who are you what are you doing blah,blah,blah. They left happy. It was weird because it never fazzed me.

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Jason
15/6/2019 08:07:37 pm

Hi, I worked with Alan Fagan, Ron Grossi and Glen Roebottom, years ago, awesome guys and a privilege to know. Cheers

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scott
26/6/2019 12:44:14 pm

i new them from 75 till the end.Who started them up from LYTTELTON were they'd drink at the Brit there Bonnies to Harleys. Sum of them ended up been barman there. It was a tight knit with them & the Seaman Union over there but thats a story of its own

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Gretchen Boyd
23/6/2020 11:51:31 pm

Trying to track down Gary, the tattoist. Would be around 70.

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Jane Harper
15/2/2021 06:54:11 pm

I would like to know what happened to Dave Clark.

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Tony c
16/2/2022 09:22:31 pm

He's in Aussie for 20 years now

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SLUG
2/5/2021 03:12:21 pm

It would be interesting to know what happened to all the guys.

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Zane sutton
10/7/2021 09:14:01 am

SO MANY PEOPLE AND SO MANY OPINIONS, THIS IS MINE,ERMC 1969 - 1993-6 STAUNCH AS FUCK,ONWARDS MAINLY FRIED,SHIT TALKERS,NO "ACTUAL FORM" ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF FORM BUT AS A WHOLE,DROP NUTS.ROAD KNIGHTS WAR TOOK ITS TOLL,MOST STAUNCH OLD SCHOOL MEMBERS/ASSOCIATES AND SUPPORTERS HAD DISTANCED THEMSELVES FROM THE CLUB COMPLETELY UNLESS THEY WERE STILL IN THE CLUB,HOWEVER DIDNT LAST LONG BECAUSE OF NEW LAWS,HARSHER JAIL TIME,LARGER NUMBERS OF YOUNGER,MORE VIOLENT,RIVAL GANGS THAT DIDNT HAVE ANY VALUES OR REAL LEADERSHIP,THEY ATTACKED FAMILY HOUSES WITH CHILDREN INSIDE,RAMMED WOMEN OFF THE RD AND TERRORIZED THEM.THEN CAME THE SPEED AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY,GREED,PUSSY,LIES,DECEIT,AND OF COURSE JAIL JAIL JAIL,FUCKEN CORRUPT PIGSHIT DET ROB NICHOLS,I HOPE U R SUFFERING FOR WAT U DONE TO US YOU NASTY,VINDICTIVE, MANIPULATIVE BULLY,YOU ORCHESTRATED A LIE THAT RUINED SO MANY LIVES,THE IMPACT STILL CONTINUES TODAY.I WAS 15YO,FULLY ADMIT I WAS A SHIT,TROUBLE MAKER,BUT A VIOLENT GANG RAPIST,DETAINER,I WAS NOT,I DONT EVEN BLAME THE POOR GIRL WHO U INTIMIDATED AND BULLIED INTO RECANTING YOUR VERSION OF EVENTS UNTIL SHE BELIEVED IT HERSELF,I JUST WISH THAT KIRSTY PATTERSON IS NIW A STRONG WOMEN WHO CAN COME FORTH AND SAY THE TRUTH,Ì KNOW I DIDNT HAVE ANY SEXUAL CONTACT WITH HER BUT WAS STILL CONVICTED AND GIVEN 11YRS,AT 15YO,NO DNA,NÒTHING,ROB NICHOLS MADE KIRSTY SAY WE 4 CHCH BOYS ALL HAD SEX WITH HER,BUT THATS NOT THE TRUTH,I KNOW BCOS I 100% DID NOT HAVE ANY SEXUAL CONTACT WITH HER OR ANYONE THAT WEEKEND.NOR DID I PARTICIPATE,HELP,INCITE,ENCOURAGE ANY1 ELSE TOO.I CAN EMPATHIZE WITH ALL ,THAT SHIT WAS CONFUSING,FAST,BOOZE FUELED,DRUGS.BUT TO STILL NOW,TODAY,BELIEVE THAT WAT HAPPENED THAT WEEKEND WAS RIGHT? NO WAY,SO MUCH PAIN,HURT,LOSE,REGRET,WASTED POTENTIAL.THERE WAS 1 PERSON WHO 1 KNOW WAS IN THE SLEEPOUT WITH U KIRSTY,I DONT KNOW IF HE WAS FORCING HIMSELF ON U BUT WEN ME AN MY BRO OPENED DOOR LOOKING 4 YOUS YA BOTH YELLED GET OUT,LEAVE US.which we did but not b4 my bro threw a bot through the side window,showering me,u and the guy u had gone to the SLEEPOUT with with glass,later ur story wud say during the 1st gang rape by 4 chch boys a window was broken.now this is why I wonder if u lied about the whole thing or in fact the guy u went to sleepout with did rape u but the police wanted to add the others in aswell,I'm never ever gonna stop maintaining the truth about what happened from my recollections,ì know I never violated that poor girl and should never have been convicted and sent away for 11yrs,plus all the problems since,its never ever to late to say the truth,that I can not be sure 100% that I was raped by 4 boys/young men.maybe it was just 2,or the same guy I went to sleepout with did it 3times,like I said I know I never did,wud never let happen if I seen it,so please clear things up for once and for all .there are people who deal with these things,wrongful convictions ,innocence project. Anyway sorry that took things right off track.GARY T is a peice of shit for destroying the history or the EPITAPH RIDERS,he should have spoken to people b4 burning every pic,patch memory that existed regarding ERMC ,selfish Judas,bludger,women beating coward, I hope I see u again just to spit on u in disgust.EX MEMBERS AND SOME OF THE LAST MEMBERS SHOULD OF BASHED GT AN SWATTED HIM OUT THE GATE YEARS AGO,FEAR, GT WAS GOOD AT INSTALLING FEAR AND DONT FOR 1 SEC GET ME WRONG HE WAS VERY CAPABLE OF PSYCHOTIC VIOLENT EPISODES.ANYWAY SAD END FOR THE STAUNCHEST CLUB IN THE SOUTH ISLAND FROM 69 TILL THE LATE 90S .fought DHMC ,HIWAY 61 ,RKMC , THEN THE HARRIS FAMILY GOT KICKED OUT,STARTED HRA,THEN RBB SHOT AT THERE GIRLS HOUSE,WITH KIDS THERE,EXACTLY KIKE THEY ALL DONE THEMSELVES TO MY SISTERS,NEICES,NEPHEW. BUT HANG ON,WE NEVER RANG THE LAW,LIKE YOU DID! SEEN THE STATEMENT.DARYL HARRIS SAYS HE SEEN MCKENZIES SHOOT AT THE HOUSE.1 WORD =SNITCH.

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Devo
22/9/2021 11:09:52 pm

Shocked did GT become 88

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Devo
22/9/2021 11:31:15 pm

Grew up with your dad Jeff GT was best man 84 sorry that become bullshit thanks for your post understand now sad loss for a great club

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Deno
18/3/2022 01:06:17 am

Well said bro !! Definitely the gt bit ....dam strait ,,RIFP ,hope your well bro long time ,centre south

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Fatty
21/9/2021 02:40:31 pm

Well said Zane there were a couple of members like Gaty T only there to make money from the club not front up when trouble needed sorted but great club to be part of sad it not still going but we have memorys comrade good and bad wouldn't change a thing with that part of my life

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Deno
18/3/2022 01:08:03 am

I was there the night you got ya colours both times ,hope your well fatty

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Toni
21/12/2021 10:02:38 pm

What happened to Ross Jennings

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Kevin Chalmers
9/8/2022 10:36:00 pm

Hi I am looking to see if anyone remembers or knew Anton Eagan, I was advised he was a member of the club, we were in St Joseph’s orphanage together and we were great friends, lost contact with him when I left in 1967, found his grave in Christchurch died young

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Laura
22/8/2022 02:48:38 am

Anyone know Benny?

Rider Lincoln road

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Danny McGill
26/9/2022 07:41:08 pm

Let's be "Frank " cry me a fkn river Zane blah blah blah...own it you filthy fat sex pest we all know the truth you filthy JBF boi fkn boi

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Pushead link
5/3/2023 01:32:22 am

I was around 11 when they were in kers rd.after seeing them all going out on rides all i wanted to be was a bikie. It did come at the age of 34 ,i was lucky enough to get my colours with the best club in nz .TFFT. thanks for the inspiration John ward .

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