The Diamond Jubilee History Book
Like WIMA, the Diamond Jubilee History Book was not created in a flash. The book is the result of:
💌 Countless emails, translations and proofreading.
💪 An international team of WIMA sisters working together.
The book contains:
🌍 Information from the historical archive and all WIMA divisions.
🖋️ Memories from the first members, but also reflections from new members.
🏍 Reports from more than 70 international rallies.
🙋♀️ Presentations of all WIMA’s international officers, through the ages.
🎖 Presentation of everyone who has received the Ellen Pfeiffer Award.
🇸🇪 Presentations of all WIMA’s national divisions.
🥳 and much, much more.
History Book Editors
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Caroline Lunnon, Book designer 2025
I was thrilled when Sheonagh told me about her work on the WIMA history book project. The resilience, bravery, and tenacity of WIMA members has been consistently amazing me (to name just a few of the shining qualities), both past and present. However, it saddened me that I often learned about these remarkable women only…
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Sheonagh Ravensdale, Editor
When I joined WIMA back in 1982 I was fascinated to discover that in 1950, the year after I was born, the American motorcyclist, Louise Scherbyn, had set up an international organisation for women motorcyclists, and that in 1980, a GB member, Frances Popley, had researched and edited a history of the first thirty years. …
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Åsa Öhqvist, Co-Editor
I’ve been a member of WIMA since 2004. I actually found the organisation when looking for local women to ride with as I didn’t know anyone in Gothenburg, where I had moved after university. While WIMA didn’t give me local female riding friends, I soon found the international aspect and got hooked. In 2005, I…
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Louise Hillier, Book designer 2024
Motorcycles have always been a huge part of my life – I had my first at 16. Growing up in rural Cornwall, my little Yamaha DT50 was not only my transport but also my ticket to fun, freedom and independence. In 1999 I became art editor/designer for Motorcycle Sport and Leisure. This was an absolutely…
Acknowledgements
Grateful thanks are due to Louise Hillier for the design, and all those WIMA members, both present and past, who contributed reports, memories, clarifications and photos for the whole of this book.
We especially thank the following for their work on the rally section: sub-editors Elke Koepping (research and writing), Caroline Lunnon (translations and writing), Tiffany Coates and Jo Marlin for writing, and Erika Pepe for translations. Photos prior to 1974 are from the WIMA archives and we have no details of who took them.
We would also like to thank the following for proofreading: Margaret Stewart, Moira Stewart, Tiffany Coates, Jo Marlin, Katy Wade, and Carrie Arnold.
Read the History Book here
The WIMA Pearl booklet
The Pearl Anniversary Booklet 1950-1980 by Frances Popley (WIMA GB)
