Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has visited Renaissance Motorcycle Workshops in Addingham to see how the project is helping people learn valuable engineering skills.
Run by veteran motorcyclist Roger Henderson, Renaissance offers classes in motorcycle maintenance and restoration, catering for complete beginners as well as experienced riders.
Members come from across the UK, and some even further afield, including Australia, to learn and work on bikes ranging from modern models to machines more than a century old.
The workshop is open weekdays for drop-in sessions and runs on a non-profit basis, with members paying only enough to cover costs. People who don’t have a motorcycle of their own can use bikes provided by the workshop.
Renaissance also has a strong social side. Local Scouts have visited to learn their first mechanical skills, and the workshop has become a hub for older members who want to stay active and connected.
The atmosphere encourages teamwork, sharing knowledge, and supporting each other, with many saying the benefits to mental health are just as important as the practical skills they gain.
Roger Henderson began running the classes after the engineering department at Keighley College closed. Determined not to see those skills lost, he set up Renaissance as a community project at Dalton Mills before moving to Addingham two years ago.
Anyone interested in getting involved can contact Roger Henderson on 07759 724123 or rogerj.henderson@btinternet.com, or Simon Howers on 07956 880423 or simon@howers.co.uk, or simply call in for a look around.
Robbie Moore MP said:
"It was absolutely fantastic to pay Renaissance a visit, chat with their members and see the bikes up-close. This is exactly the sort of project we need more of, helping pass knowledge on to others and keeping proper hands-on skills alive. Roger has got people from every background, from Scouts learning the basics right up to lifelong bikers - and it’s clear how much this place means to people. A huge thank you to Roger for the invite and for all Renaissance does.”
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