Its spring already and the Northeast Essex branch has been very active with five of us on the run out to the Victoria, Earl Soham,where we were dismayed to find the landlord was moving to another pub. Fortunately it’s not much further down the road so we may get there next year! Hope he has a log fire.

The February club night had ten in attendance, with the usual discussions as to how the rebuilding etc was going, and who would be getting the bikes out.

The run to Coventry and the Transport museum finally took place, albeit by car. I didn’t make it, as it coincided with half term and a trip up north. Eight members made the trip, and it sounded quite impressive. There were a large number of early vehicles; some of them prior to 1900.The list of vehicle manufacturers included many names recognised from the past as well as many that were not. With a separate hall for bikes, which were mostly run of the mill from the fifties and sixties, there was a lot of reminiscing about their youthful adventures on similar machines. An unintentional free car park made the day for some and tales from a retired Essex policeman, made the journey home go by quite quickly. Evidently the various uses of a transit van were discussed at length!

The February lunch at the Pinkau Arms was enjoyed by a dozen of us and its now under new management. An excellent meal, very nicely presented.

I managed to get three other club members to a car club meeting where we had a presentation on the restoration of a De Havilland Rapide.If you think restoring a bike is difficult, this would change your mind. Despite our chairman’s local knowledge of the back roads, we did manage to get there on time!

I missed the March club night, as did John, but Colin was up to the task.

Yesterday, five of us made a ride to Bungay for lunch, calling in to meet some friends from the Hadleigh Classic Bike club to discuss the forthcoming 30th anniversary show.

A trip to Essex Air Ambulance on the 23rd march and as there are only 20 places, please contact John if you want to go. I can’t make it, another Family party. Chris Mac is organising a trip to the Triumph on 30th of March and once again let him know if you are going.

The Lunch meet is at New Times, Tiptree on 29th, usual time, and I hope to see you all there.