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Rhino 2010 | Lowton 14/02/10 | Chocolate & Cheese | Golden Oldies | The Chip Shop Run

Midweek Runs 14/04/10 | 21/04/10 | 12/05/10 | 19/05/10 | 16/06/10 | 30/06/10

Evening Runs 06/07/10

2009 AGM Minutes

Rhino 2010
Report by Rhys Jones - Social Secretary

The 2010 Rhino Rally was well supported at Beddgelert on the 5th – 7th February, we had around 50 campers waking up in the traditional manner with a headache and ice on the sleeping bag. Another 60 or so stayed in warmer accommodation down in the village. Despite irrational fears of an overenthusiastic local constabulary being on the roads because of the clash with the Dragon Rally, none were seen, in fact I hardly noticed the Dragon rally, let alone a police car! The band on Saturday night was the best we have ever had so they are booked again for next year. We drank all the real beer at the Saracens Head on Friday?? We have been reassured by the management that we will not be able to do so next year. I hope to be able to move the Rally back to its original date next year, but will not be certain of this till I meet the new camp wardens in March. See you all there next year.

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Thank you all for turning up at Lowton on the 14th Feb. The bring and buy was well attended. I got rid of all the faulty and worn out goods I took along and made a whopping £180!!!

Hope you all enjoyed your soup, thanks are due yet again to the kitchen staff who excelled as usual.

See you all next month on the 14th – not the 13th as advertised (where do we find these social secretaries?)  and also not at 1pm as advertised, we have had to move it forward to 2pm because of church activity.

Don’t forget we have a demo and lecture on motorcycle lighting by Les Wassel kindly organised by Stuart Lowthian.

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Midweek Run - April 14th

Dear Friends
Our first run of the year was a huge success thanks to your support, 18 bikes left Whaley Bridge at 9.30 am with another four members who had registered interest with us having to cry off the run either with mechanical problems or sadly illness. Our best wishes to Bob, John, Bill and Ronnie, and hoping to see you all with us next month
The run took us through some of Derbyshire's finest motorcycling roads and into Staffordshire and Cheshire, The run was 135 miles in length from Whaley Bridge to our finish at Macclesfield. It was nice to see some new members of our club riding with us for the first time on our club runs. The day was very cold but stayed fine for us, our coffee and Lunch stops were both very good with a warm welcome given to us at both the Anglers Rest Millers Dale and the Plough Inn Hathersage. A big thank you goes to Steve Kennerley our tail end Charlie, who did a great job for us once more. Pleased to say no one dropped their bike, and everyone went on home happy and tired, and looking forward to our next run on the 12th May.

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Midweek Run - April 21st

The weather was kind to us as 12 'bikes (one complete with pillion - hi Jane) left Devil's Bridge and headed westwards into the southern Lakes, via the 'old' A65 and some country lanes to join the A591. Turning away from the main road just north of Kendal, we followed the 'B' road through Crook village to our coffee stop at the Wild Boar Hotel. Duly refreshed, we then took a single-track lane over the ridge into the Winster valley, meandering through the sunlit landscape to pick up the Bowness to Newby Bridge road for a short distance before hitting more lanes that led us, via Cartmel Fell, to High Newton village. From there, (more) country roads took us to our lunch stop in Cartmel, where the inner person was refuelled. The afternoon leg saw us riding along (even more) lanes to join the Lyth Valley road for a more spirited ride northwards before turning back southwards to pass through the villages of Brigsteer and Levens. A final bout of lane-bashing from Heversham village saw us rejoining the A65 to head back to Devil's Bridge before we all went our separate ways home. All in all, a pleasant start to the year's mid-week runs, made all the better by the congenial company. Here's hoping the fine weather will stay with us for the remainder of this year's rides (ever the optimist, that's me). Mike.

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Midweek Run - May 12th Peter's Last of the Summer Wine Run

    

Peter Sampson, a long time member of the BMW Club, was leading his first time run for our club and he did an excellent job for us today. Peter had not only put the miles of testing his run out for us but also a great deal of thought was put into the Coffee stop and our Lunch stops. The entertaining and scenic route included some stunning Moors and Valleys in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
Our Gallant group of 12 riders set of from Tesco Whaley Bridge at 10.00 am with a weather warning of heavy showers. I'm pleased to tell you we only had a few drops of rain fall on us, not even wetting the roads.
It was nice to see with us for the first time Malcolm Dunn from St Helens and our Web man Peter Williams.
Our first stop was at the Fleece Inn at Holme, highly recommended, a very good coffee and cake set us up for the rest of the run through Holmfirth and our run round Langsett Reservoir, then over Midhope Moors and onto Strines and Derwent Valley. We Lunched at the lovely old Strines Inn and then onto Redmires Reservoirs before dropping under the stunning Stannage Edge and down into Hathersage. Over the high hills to go past the Gliding club on through Eyam and Litton with our final stop at the Anglers Rest Millers Dale- some of our group seem unable to pass this pub.
Yours Truly was the Tail End Charlie, makes a change for me, and it gave Steve our specialist Tail End Charlie a break. A well deserved thanks must go to Peter, not our longest run at all, but a very clever entertaining 85 miles that's booked by all of us for next year, knowing Peter it will be different and probably if at all possible better still.

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Midweek Run - May 19th

Following a perfect Tuesday (sunny, warm, blue skies), Wednesday opened with dull, cloudy skies and a slight drizzle. Oh dear, here we go again! Nevertheless, 17(ish) 'bikes turned up, three sporting pillions (hello ladies). As we gathered for the group photograph, taken by Bill Smithson, Bill dashed over the road and returned with a picture of the latest (literally a few minutes old) one horsepower model to be launched. The official photograph captured, we set off northwards along a mixture of 'A' roads and lanes to take a break for coffee (and other things) in Orton. From there 'A' and 'B' roads took us to the start of 'biking heaven and the A686 Hartside road ("mmmm......") up to our lunch stop at the Hartside Cafe. An hour later, we tumbled outside and saw the latest patrol 'bike (a Kawasaki) to be used by the local Constabulary, on the back of a trailer - naturally, we had to investigate!! Carrying onwards, we joined the road from Alston to Middleton-in-Teasdale for a bit of 'progress'. All at legal speeds, you understand! The 'B' road from Middleton to Brough was our next target - pleasant upland riding in now hazy sunshine. Another comfort break in Brough, and then we followed the A685 and A683 down through Kirkby Stephen and Sedbergh to end up back at Devil's Bridge for a welcome cuppa and chat. My thanks to everyone who turned up, and to Bill for being my back-marker for the drop-off system (and the photos).

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Phil and Joan Cosgrove’s Chocolate & Cheese run could also have been called the Roads Less Travelled Run or Ladies Day Out. 10 bikes with one lady rider, Bernadette and no less than six pillions, Joan, Chris, Caroline, Lyn, Caroline and Audrey, set off from Burton Services M6 northbound.
Leaving M 6 at A65 we followed the Old Scotch Road for the next 15 miles or so to Tebay, passing Killington Lake on our left, then on to the Chocolate Factory at Orton for coffee and??? (Guess).
Our route then took us via Little Asby Moor to Brough then B6276, Grassholme, Lartington and Barnard Castle.
After a fuel stop we continued through the Yorkshire Dales National Park over Stang Top to Askrigg and Hawes for our lunch, also stopping to call at the Creamery for cheese purchases (or just tasting), before taking the A684 and more minor roads through Cowgill, Dent and Barbon to finish at Kirkby Lonsdale.
Full marks to Bob Kendrick for his dogged determination to keep on motorcycling when others would have called it a day. Well done Bob and Lyn, keep smiling.
Thanks Phil and Graham our back marker, for an excellent and well-organised run using traffic free roads and in pleasant company. A grand day out.

Do you think the word ‘Chocolate’ in the run title had anything to do with the make-up of the numbers?

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Yes, yes! yes!! June has at last lived up to expectations! Glorious sunshine saw 11 'bikes join me at Devil's Bridge for a warm and sunny day riding along the northern roads of the Lake District. We started along the A591, cutting through lanes to avoid Windermere, to join the road up the Kirkstone Pass (marred only by two large vehicles trying to pass each other on the way up). Dropping down the Ullswater side, we stopped off at the Patterdale Hotel for a coffee and a break. Continuing onwards we rode alongside the lake, before leaving on the A5091, joining the A66 westwards then heading northwards around the back of the Skiddaw massif (negotiating a small group of ponies on the way!). Lunch was taken at the Castle Inn Hotel near Bassenthwaite (expensive, but filling). Once sated, we headed towards Cockermouth on the A66, picking up lanes to get to Lorton and up over Whinlatter Pass to rejoin the A66 at Braithwaite village. We could now make decent progress eastwards to 'take five' at the Rheged Centre, before making more progress down the A6 towards Kendal. A last bout of lane-bashing took us on to the A591 for the return the Devil's Bridge for a refreshing cup (or two) of tea - much-needed to replace those lost fluids. All in all, a cracking day out, with a mixture of slow and fast riding to make the most of 'Flaming June'. Mike Gibson.

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Midweek Run - June 30th

Steve's North Wales Worlds End Pass run finally took place on the 30th June having been postponed from the 9th June because of heavy rain over North Wales. Seventeen riders had registered for the 9th of June run, but what with holidays and work commitments only nine of our group could take part on the 30th. We were blessed with superb weather this time for our run, pleased to say, with one of the hottest days of the year . Steve took us over 200 miles on some great motorcycling roads that included Four great Welsh roads, the Worlds End Pass, the old Horse Shoe Pass, and the highest Road in Wales Bwlch y Groes [ Hell Fire Pass] at 550 m. There was a diversion on the Old Horse Shoe Pass that took us on a road, track more like, that we think had not seen traffic for years, to say this road was interesting was not half of it, we had everything from grass down the middle of the road to dust storms from the bike in front of you. We lunched at the famous Ponderosa Cafe, and had a coffee stop at a very good garden centre cafe that none of us can remember the name of, not even our Steve. We did ride round both the Bala Lake and Vyrnwy Reservoirs, and some of us partook in the excellent Ice Cream on Sale at the cafe at Vyrnwy Reservoir before making our way home over the Hirnant Pass and back through Bala before heading home towards Chester and our starting point for Steve's run Macclesfield. We all thank Steve Kennerley for an excellent run, lead at a good pace on a great mixture of roads. Frank Hambleton.

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We had a turn out of 14 riders including three young lady pillion passengers for our first midweek evening run on the 6th July for our mystery tour of Derbyshire and Hot Pot supper. Starting out from Tesco car park Whaley Bridge I took our group over Castleton and past Peveril Castle and into Hope Valley and Hathersage, and on into Calver, before heading North up through Stony Middleton, Litton and our destination The Anglers Rest Millers Dales where we all enjoyed their superb Hot Pot with Hot Crusty bread and butter in their dinning room all laid out especially for us. Everybody said how much they had enjoyed the great food and the evening run, so much so that next year we will have to put two or three evening runs in our diary. Once again, many thanks to our sometime leader and expert tail end Charlie, Steve Kennerley, this time helped by his attractive pillion passenger Pam, I would like to thank the group for your support and the new members Dave Karen and Malcolm. Frank Hambleton

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Skegness Chip Shop Run Wednesday 14th July

Hi Friends
We were decimated rider wise by the awful weather forecast given out by the BBC and the rest of the media for today's run. Many of you cried off because of the terrible forecast given for today, (heavy showers all day they said). But the intrepid five decided to go anyway and enjoy the run and great weather we had for both the run and our time in Skegness. The Fish and Chips were superb, the Ice Cream delicious, and the roads great, and the company the very best.. We did suffer one heavy shower at 5.20 pm just before Newark on our way home that lasted about 20 min's but that's all the rain we did see today. We varied the run from last year by going through Sherwood Forest on our outward journey, some terrific roads and great scenery. On our homeward journey we used the faster roads and the new Mansfield Bypass, a wonderful road this, cutting out the town and a good road to relax and cruise on. Once again, a big thanks to our stalwart tail end Charlie , Steve Kennerley for the great job he does for us. And thanking our intrepid members for making the run, and day so enjoyable.
Kind Regards Frank Hambleton.

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2009 Northern Section AGM Minutes

BMW CLUB Northern Section
Minutes to the Annual General Meeting – All Saints Church Hall, Hale Barns
11th October 2009 2.15pm.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Secretary     Lynn Tagg
Treasurer     Bill Smithson
Social Secretary     Rhys Jones
Public Relations Officer     Graham Fell
New Member Liaison Officer     Alan Stretton
Committee Members     Caroline Williams & Hazel Stretton

1. Apologies for Absence: Geoff & Rene Hooley

2. The Minutes of the AGM held on 12th October 2008 at Hale Barns, having been circulated prior to the meeting, are now accepted. Proposed by: Bob Harrison – Seconded: Stuart Lowthian

3. Matters arising from those Minutes:
The proposed £5 joining fee, which was to be discussed at the 2008 National Committee meeting was subsequently voted out at National level.

4. Officers Reports:

Secretarys Report:
Northern Section membership stands at 559 full members and 87 associates.
79 full members and 10 associates did not renew but 106 new members joined in the year.
Since the 1st October 2009 10 new members and 2 associates have joined.
There was very little mail from National level but the Secretary, Dave Cooper, produced an updated version of the Memorandum & Articles of Association. The change to Clause (b) now reads:
“The applicant for full membership is over eighteen years of age and the owner, or past owner, of a BMW motorcycle OR has an interest in BMW motorcycles”.
I attended the National AGM in April and a National Committee Meeting in June. At the NCM a proposal was put forward and passed to change the method of renewal for club membership from Direct Debit Mandate to Standing Orders. An explanation for this was given in the August Journal, page 29.
I’d received several emails & phonecalls over the year with enquiries from members and prospective members and all were dealt with satisfactorily.
The Section website is now maintained by Peter Williams and it was requested that more photos and articles were sent to him to keep the website interesting.
The committee members had worked hard this year. Extra catering was set up on a twelve months trial and after consideration, lack of help and uptake on the facility, it was decided to return to light refreshments at the monthly meetings except for special events.
I have enjoyed acting as Secretary for the past 12 months and if re-elected will be happy to continue. Signed: Lynn Tagg - Secretary
There were no questions to be answered from the members.

Treasurers Report:
The Treasurer, Bill Smithson, presented his Financial Report for the year ending 30th September 2009.
He reported on Advertising Income, Regalia Sales, Bank Interest, Kitchen Refreshments, Diary of Events, Stickers for 2009, Presentations to members which was mostly in the form of grants towards the Christmas meals at the ‘natter night’ venues and free memberships to retiring Committee Members. The report also referred to Social event costs and Hall Hire at both Chipping and Hale Barns.
In conclusion Bill reported that the Section was in a healthy financial position and hoped the members received good value for their money.
A fully itemised set of accounts was available for inspection by two elected Club members present, Leon Wych and Dave Potter. After inspection, and in accordance with Bills usual practice, the accounts and standard Balance Sheet, after approval, would be submitted to the National Treasurer at the close of the AGM.
The accounts were duly checked and it was proposed that they be accepted by Edward Austin and Seconded by Alf Bryden.

Social Secretarys Report:
The Social Secretary, Rhys Jones, gave his report on Weekend events. Rhyd Ddu bunkhouse last November being very successful followed by the Rhino Rally in Beddgelert in February where 75 campers enjoyed near tropical temperatures of 4C at night. Other members took the easy way and stayed in hotel or B & B accommodation. A total of 130 at the event.
13 members braved the bad weather at Rhayader in May but a good time was had by all.
The Northumberland Camping weekend hosted by Bill Smithson was a great success with around 20 members enjoying good weather and brilliant company. B & Bs were available in the village on this occasion but all attendees camped. This event was self financing and cost the section nothing.
The Caernarfon camping weekend in September was poorly attended despite good weather. Perhaps the timing was wrong because the Black Bull rally was on the following weekend but 13 turned up mainly on non BMW motorcycles, had two full breakfasts and an evening meal plus two nights accommodation for £20 per person. This event also cost the section nothing at all.
Ride outs: The mid week runs hosted by Mike Gibson and Paul Nadin have been well supported all year. They are the main events as far as ride outs are concerned and have been an essential part of club life for quite a while now. Many thanks are due to the hard core of members who have the enthusiasm to organise and turn out for these things. Other rideouts had a varying degree of success but were all enjoyed and appreciated by those who turned up. Rhys asked for volunteers to lead rides during the forthcoming year.
Evening Meeting Venues: Rhys thanked the organisers for setting up and attending these events.
Hale Barns and Chipping: Again there were some good meetings with excellent turnouts at both venues with some special events including Lancashire Hawks & Owls, and especially for the ladies, card making and a candle demonstration, but there were also some mediocre ones. It’s difficult to find a venue that’s convenient for everybody given the large geographical area that the section covers. This in turn influences the attendance at each venue.
Unfortunately we have had to abandon the catering arrangements that have been provided by our hard working catering team over the last 12 months. The numbers taking advantage of it were too low to make it worthwhile and it failed in its primary role of increasing attendance at Hale Barns and Chipping. Tea and biscuits will carry on being provided free of charge.
Ideas for the forthcoming year: Rhys appealed for ideas of what to put on at the regular monthly meetings. He also appealed for volunteers to lead ride outs, and if there is any demand for it, someone to organise a hotel weekend as there hasn’t been one for a while.
He concluded by thanking everybody who turned up to support any event and contributing to the success of the Section.

National Committee Representatives Report: There was no report given although Secretary Lynn Tagg reported that she had attended and that the deliberations of the National Committee were published in the monthly Journal.

Public Relations Officers Report:
The PRO, Graham Fell, reported that 2009 has been a very difficult year for everybody financially and so it proved for our advertisers. With the help of the previous excellent efforts by his predecessor Ashley Hunt, he was able to retain most of the advertisers and generate £630 income that helps pay for the Diary of Events.
New ways of attracting advertisers are being looked at and it is hoped to produce a similar result for next year, however it must be stressed that support be given to the advertisers and always mention that we are from the ‘Northern Section’ in order to allow them to see the worth of their investment.

Liaison Officers Report:
The Liaison Officer, Alan Stretton, said how he’d enjoyed his first year and speaking to new members either by phone or at meetings. He said how important it was to make them feel welcome as when joining a new group most people felt isolated.

5. Presentations:
Presentations were made to the following non-committee members for their excellent contribution to the Section during the year. They each received a Certificate and cheque for £25 for a years’ free membership.
Bernardette Fell, Mike Gibson and Paul Nadin.

6. Election of Officers:
The following nominations have been received 28 days prior to this meeting:
Secretary: Lynn Tagg Proposed: Kay Bennett
Seconded: Ashley Hunt
Treasurer: Bill Smithson Proposed: Derek Irving
Seconded: Barry Arthur
Social Secretary: Rhys Jones Proposed: Graham Fell
Seconded: Vera Hunt
Public Relations Officer: Graham Fell Proposed: Bernadette Fell
Seconded: Caroline Williams
Liaison Officer: Alan Stretton Proposed: John Yates
Seconded: Hazel Stretton
Committee Members: Caroline Williams Proposed: W. J. Smithson
Seconded: Graham Fell
Hazel Stretton Proposed: John Yates
Seconded: Alan Stretton
All the Officers were re-elected individually and the voting for all was unanimously in favour.

7. Proposals: Alan Bourne, a recent new member, proposed and offered to organise a Treasure Hunt.

8. Any other competent business:
For the past two years there have been discussions about whether the Church Hall at Hale Barns should remain as a monthly meeting venue due to its unpopularity and poor value for money. The committee had viewed various other options and to assist the membership with an overview with what alternatives were available, a slideshow presentation was given by Rhys Jones and Bill Smithson. There followed a debate on the alternatives which were: The old venue at St. Lukes Lowton, St. Marys Lowton, Samlesbury Memorial Hall, Lower Withington, remain at Hale Barns for 6 months, and/or Chipping for 6 or 12 months.
The total number of voting members present being only 48 out of a possible 570, it was put upon these few to make the final decision.
By a complicated method of elimination the outcome was St. Marys Church Hall at Lowton for January, February, March 2010 followed by 6 months at Chipping, then October, November, December back at St. Marys, Lowton. The Treasurer, Bill Smithson, to make the bookings.

Bernard Tagg had chaired the meeting and thanked everyone for attending. It closed at 3.30pm.

Dated: 15th October 2009 Signed: Lynn Tagg

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