Febuary 2024 - Club Night

The meeting kicked off at 20:00 after approx. an hour of the usual Club member banter and for the first time Myself, Caroline and Kim took the full responsibility for running the meeting.

We had 20 members and 2 guests for the February meeting, which was a good turnout considering snow was forecast. There were 4 apologies for absence: Peter Roberts (sunning himself in Lanzarote), Peter Bugg who was on Shift, Kevin Lee and Peter Warren. Peter Warren is recovering from a medical procedure and we wish him a speedy recovery and looking forward to seeing him again very soon.

We had one further presentation to make as the recipient was unable to attend the Christmas Dinner. The award went to George Clark for his Exceptional Commitment to the Club. George has played a pivotal role in supporting Colin and the late Gordon Levett in the running of the club. And in typically modest style he accepted it as a dedication to Gordon.

 

As we did last year, we are looking to do the same this year, with an annual Coach trip. We have set our sights on the Sammy Millar Museum in Hampshire (https://sammymiller.co.uk/). There was significant interest from the members when asked, so we will cost up the price of the trip and communicate out. Dates that are being considered are the 6^th and 13^th July.

Additionally, Julian is looking at the cost of hiring a Minibus for a trip to the next Kempton Park Autojumble – 9^th March. If anyone is interesting in sharing the cost, let Myself, Caroline, Kim or Julian know so he can check on how big a Seater he can get/needs.

No Green Lane’ing is planned as the treks are completely sodden after all the rain and there were some mumblings about the 4x4 brigade causing the lanes to be so rutted to almost making them unusable for bikes.

The first 2024 Pre-65 event is on 31^st March- in Maylandsea, so if anyone fancies a free lunch and getting dirty, please speak to Julian and he can provide any detail required. Julian also advised that there is a Classic Trial event on the 18^th Feb – if anyone is interested.

Lastly, as the weather and light is still not good enough Pre meeting rides will probably start in April. However, as there is the occasional day in the Week or Weekend when the weather is holding off, if anyone would like to lead a ride out let me know or use the WhatsApp group to advise the Members.

January 2024 - Club Night

Happy New Year Everyone

For those of you that attended the Christmas Dinner as you read the below you may notice an obvious omission. This will be explained/resolved at the Feb Club Night.

With our January Club night being the Christmas Dinner and Awards ceremony, it seemed to extend the Christmas festivities for everyone involved. The venue was our usual haunt, The Cricketers Pub in Fordham Heath and people started to gather at around 18:30 in preparation for the evening. Myself and Caroline handed out the name tags, which also had people’s menu choice on the reverse, just in case they had forgotten. Starters, Main and Dessert were served by the Staff with great efficiency as usual. On the night we had a total 45 people, which were a mix of Members, members wife’s and partners. A good turnout considering the floods that were occurring around Essex.

After Tea/Coffee and mince pies we kicked off the awards ceremony. This year we had 5 awards to hand out plus a couple of Specials. 

 

 

The First was The Reeve Family Cup, awarded for most occurrences of using a vintage machine. The award went to Paul Davis who has nothing but vintage machines, so it was a good probability he would win.

Paul being presented with the commentative photo and Cup. I just about got my hand with the Cup in the picture.

 

The Second award was The Ralph Davis Cup.  Awarded to a member for their increased involvement in club activities and for this year for suggesting and volunteering to run an annual ride out in memory of Gordon Levett.

The Piston Broke Ralph Davis award was presented by Caroline to the winner -Shaun Parker.

 

The next award was the Alan Jones Cup, which is for exploits and antics on 2 wheels and in this case, 1 involving a Tractor. The cup went to Dr Vic Sayers, who this year either turned up on a bike or occasionally in plaster and a neck brace – hence the mention of a Tractor. We also got Vic a toy Green Tractor to add to the prize giving.

Caroline, Vic and Nick

 

The last award is The John Lay Cup. We decide to present the Cup to someone who has tirelessly been running the club for many years and finally found someone to take over. His parish notes and injected humour has been enjoyed by club members for many a club night. Now it is time for him to enjoy being in the club and watch others run it, hopefully as well as he did. The Cup went to Colin Smith.

Caroline, Colin and Nick

 

As this was a special night for Colin, the club members had a whip round over the last few months and have awarded him with a permanent gift of an engraved Salver.  This was to show our appreciation of the efforts and commitment they have given over the years and in keeping the club running. We also presented Colin’s wife Jane with a bouquet of flowers for her efforts in supporting Colin and sending out the members birthday cards.

 

And if you are wondering what happened to Kim, she was the one taking the wonderful Photos and hence not in them.  All pictures taken on the night can be viewed and downloaded from our this website link: 2023 Christmas Dinner

Roll on the warmer weather and longer days so we can all get back on the bikes. Hopefully at the Feb club night we can start to plan a week/weekend ride out somewhere, Rain, Snow, weather permitting of course.

See you all on 7^th Feb at the Cricketers

Thanks

Nick, Caroline & Kim

December 2023 - Club Night

What a fun time we had at the December Club meeting. There was some confusion as to whether the meeting would go ahead as a few of us remembered that last year our venue couldn’t accommodate due to the Christmas party bookings. As a result I sent out a broadcast on our Email group, WhatsApp chat and Facebook page that the Club night was to be cancelled. As it was such a late announcement, a few us went along to inform anyone that arrived that it was cancelled. To our amusement there were already a few members having a drink and the Pub very kindly set an area aside for us to have the meeting. Over the next 30-40 mins, the message got out and slowly members arrived for some Christmas cheer. A few rogue elements decided to go out for the evening anyway – thinking Club night was cancelled - and sent a picture from one of our old haunts, which was nice. In the end there were 19 members – in situ – 5 at alternate location and 2 guests. Not a bad turnout for a “cancelled” meeting. The evening was eventually a very Merry affair. May be it was due to the time of year/beer but everyone seemed relaxed and in good spirits.  Our Annual Christmas dinner and Awards Ceremony will be held on the 3^rd Jan and attendance numbers are on a par of last year, which will make it a big social event again.

Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year to Everyone 

 

November 2023 - Club Night

The inclement weather reduced our Club Night attendance - but a good time was had by the with 21 Members and 3 guests who made it. Only Dale C was brave enough to arrive on 2 wheels!!

We have had an unusual request come in from Major Luis – C/O (Commanding Officer) of Colchester Salvation Army.

Major L would like us to help deliver over 400 presents to Paxman Academy School, Shrub End, Colchester using our motorbikes - weather permitting on Friday December 15^th, departing Colchester S/A at 10am. Major L is Portuguese and set up a similar mission in Portugal which has built up to 6000 deliveries annually!!!

If we use our bikes it will be just panniers, top boxes or back packs. If you are able to help please conatct Colin.

Parish Notices followed the usual format with the exception of one major announcement. Instead of the normal ‘2 minutes silence’ that follows the request for new leaders to take over from George and I. It was with great pleasure to announce that as from January 1^st 2024 Nick, Caroline and Kim have agreed to be our new leadership team. They are already doing sterling work behind the scenes including arrangements for our Annual Meal on January 3^rd 2024. Regarding Club affairs they will have a blank sheet of paper and will run the show as they think best. It will be up to us as Members to show support if we wish to carry on with good numbers etc. 

As stated many times before the strength of our group is down to the foundations put down by the late John Lay and carried on by Gordon, George and I.

PS Please remember if you have any ride out ideas please speak to Paul who is looking after this aide of things until Steve T takes over.