Branch ReportsHere are the club branch reports for the Wiltshire Owners club just as you find them in the club magazine called The Gun. To get your copy and read all the other club reports join the owners club and it will be sent by mail to your door. |
||
|
|
||
2008Thursday 11th December 2008 The Wilts branch held it's Christmas dinner at The Woodlands Edge Inn, Peatmore, Swindon. A good turnout and excellent food resulted in a fab time being had by all with a generous supply of raffle prizes ensuring no one went home empty handed! REPORT OF EVENTS DURING SEPT AND OCT 2008 As usual the Wiltshire branch continued with it's lively meetings at The White Hart, Stratton in September. The rideout on Saturday 13th September featured a BBQ at Robin and Ann's home in Marlborough. The weather was good and there were plenty of bacon rolls which were mainly cooked by our enthusiastic BBQer Graham, ably assisted by Robin. Anne provided some excellent rib hanging puddings. A good time was greatly had by all!! Sunday 28th September the branch showed a very good presence at Shalbourne Manor Classic car and bike show with a good display of Royal Enfields of course. Again the weather was excellent and a great time was had by all. Our October meeting was followed by a rideout on Sun 12th Oct to Mike Silwoski's October Fest rally at the Norman Knight pub and campsite in Whichford. The Norman Knight has some great real ales and super food cooked by the french chef! The lovely autumn weather conditions made for a great biking weekend. Future events Thursday 8th Jan 2009 Club night at The White Hart, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, 8pm Sunday 11th Jan 2009 Visit to The National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham (details TBC) 20072006 | ||
|
|
||
|
Our Branch Run to the Bristol Classic Bike Show in February was well supported. Members find it a wonderful opportunity to stock up with much needed kit for the forthcoming season as well as being inspired by the brilliant displays of Classic Machinery. Our congratulations to the South Wales Branch for a fantastic stand once again. The March run consisted of a visit to the Cotswold Motor Museum in Stow on the Wold. The run was again very well supported,breakfast was at Christine and Gordon Gambrell’s house with wonderful bacon butties and unlimited supplies of tea. Many thanks to Christine and Gordon for an excellent repast. The Museum was well worth the visit and well recommended. Saturday 24th March found members joining the Honda Owners Club for an Easter Egg Run to the Bourton Hill Children’s Home. It was a cold day which was warmed by the warmth of our reception at the Home. On Friday 30th March we again met with the local Honda Owners Club for a great Skittles Match at the Bruce’s Arms near Easton Royal where we scored a narrow victory over the opposition. The April run to consisted of 13 members who enjoyed a sunny run down to Mudeford on the South Coast. |
Apparently it is not permissible under Club rules as dictated by Gordon Gambrell to ride for much more than an hour without a tea break. With this in mind we stopped at Waitrose in Sailsbury for breakfast where we were joined by Webmaster Carl.
The return journey was through the New Forest with Neil very much on his old stamping ground leading us through the maze of small roads. It was a glorious Spring ride with plenty of New Forest ponies and wonderful scenery. We would like to welcome as many members as possible to our rally at Calne on 13th July. The Wiltshire Branch meets at the White Hart, Stratton St Maragaret, Swindon on the 2nd Thursday of the month. New members and visitors are assured of a warm welcome. |
|
|
TOP
|
||
|
February/March 2007 The reason being that the author of the “Mighty Interceptor” Andrew Stait gave a talk on the writing and background of his book. The talk was followed by a lively question and answer session. Followed by a book signing. In all some 31 members were present at this enjoyable evening. Sunday 11th November was the branch “run out” to Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum at Calne. There were eight bikes 6 Royal Enfields, 1 BMW and 1 Suzuki on the run. It was a glorious Autumn day. Later in the afternoon we were about looking for camping sites for the Moonrakers Rally. The following Sunday found the group on a bonus run enjoying another good day at Newbury Classic Car and Bike Show. Whilst there we spotted this Royal Enfield “Flying Flea” ridden and owned by Rowland Malcolm of Newbury. 
|
The branch Christmas meal was held at the Woodlands Edge pub in Swindon on 15th December. The occasion was very well attended by about some 30 members and partners who enjoyed a very good meal. There was also a raffle which was very well supported by the members. On Sunday 17th December we went for our usual branch run. We left the White Hart at Wroughton on what promised to be another great Wiltshire REOC run. From Wroughton we travelled across Wiltshire by way of Avebury, Devizes and Westbury where we stopped for lunch. Tony partook of an enormous lunch to seemingly compensate for his absence at the Christmas meal. From Westbury the run went on to Roaring Rob’s parents at Trowbridge for a glorious feast of homemade cakes tea and coffee. Many thanks again to Yvonne and John. We now have a new venue for our meetings. The Wiltshire Branch meets at the White Hart, Stratton St Maragaret, Swindon on the 2nd Thursday of the month. New members and visitors are assured of a warm welcome. |
|
|
TOP
|
||
|
December/January 2006/7 We went to see where they made the Interceptor. Of which some 3,000 were manufactured, most were sent to the USA. Some very loyal Wessex REOC members once again joined us. The ride to Bradford on Avon was uneventful (no breakdowns) and the scenery enjoyable. All were looking forward to arriving at this amazing place full of history. We arrived at Bradford on Avon and after taking a scenic route (Alan’s short cut) to the village of Upper Westwood where we turned down into the small spiralling road to the entrance. An entrance is exactly what it was! A large garage door. A little disheartened we rode right up to it or down to it I should say as it went underground beneath the homes we had just ridden past. The cold was the first thing we felt coming from the miles of tunnels and seeping through the large garage door. A whiff of nostalgia in the air. The owners of the house directly above the tunnel, Bob and Jo, very kindly met us. Bob had the plans of the whole area and could show us how far the tunnels went and shared a bit of history with us. Very fascinating. |
After a bit of chitchat and photo session he invited us up to his home where his Jo made tea and coffee for us and the most delicious homemade chocolate brownies and shortbread, much to the delight of the sweet toothed Enfield owners. We sat and chatted some more and enjoyed the company before setting off down the road and down is exactly what it was, to a pub for lunch, which sat alongside a beautiful viaduct. What a great day we had. Many thanks to Bob and Jo for their hospitality. The October run was also blessed with wonderful weather. Some 16 members on 13 bikes (including 11 Royal Enfields) set off for Cheddar Gorge. It was a beautiful run down, We had an excellent lunch in one of the cafes before roaring up through the Gorge, what a wonderful sound! On the way home we stopped for tea and biscuits at Rob, John and Yvonne’s. Many thanks for their hospitality which was enjoyed by all. The Wiltshire Branch meets at the White Hart, Wroughton on the 2nd Thursday of the month. New members and visitors are assured of a warm welcome. |
|
|
TOP
|
||
|
October/November 2006 Saturdays run saw the Wiltshire countryside at its best. Our route took us through Devizes past Stonehenge and on into Salisbury for some members of the run and other members took the option of visiting the Army Air Museum at Middle Wallop which proved very popular. The barbecue by the banks of the Kennet proved a success as did Ash’s enormous brazier (not brassier). Most of the generously donated raffle prizes seemed to be surgically extracted by our own REOC Dentist (Steve Lunn) Its a pity he didn’t have a lottery ticket that evening. Thanks for all the effort from Branch members and their hard work in putting on the rally. But mostly thanks to all the REOC members who came from far and wide to attend the Rally. It was great to see so many friends both old and new and we hope to welcome you all back again next year. |
The following Saturday (21st July) found Branch members manning the REOC stand at the Calne Bike Show. There were nine Royal Enfields on display including a GT, Machismo, three Model Gs and a collection of Bullets. Calne Bike show is run by the Rotary Club and this year attracted an estimated four thousand bikes. Thursday 10th August we had our usual club night which was really well attended. This was followed on Saturday 12th August by a run organised at Bill Little’s The Wiltshire branch meets at the White Hart, Wroughton on the 2nd Thursday of the month.
New members and visitors are assured of a warm welcome. |
|
|
TOP
|
||
|
August/September 2006 The following Sunday we were blessed with a wonderful Spring day for our visit to The
Sammy Miller Museum in New Milton.
Altogether thirteen bikes (mostly Royal Enfields) with sixteen members took part. The journey through
the New Forest summed up what classic biking is all about. Riding through the small roads with the sun
shining the trees just out in leaf and the carpet of wild flowers, one could wax lyrical for hours.
However enough of all that. The picture is of a full sized wooden model 1926 Royal Enfield Sammy put on a display with an ex works Bultaco.
|
The museum has a fantastic collection of bikes on display and most are in working order.
The Branch also visited a Matchless/AJS evening at the Dumpost pub in Bromham.
About forty bikes took part. The Wiltshire branch meets at the White Hart, Wroughton on the 2nd Thursday of the month.
New members and visitors are assured of a warm welcome. |
|
|
TOP
|
||
|
June/July 2006
Our March ride out was to the Mini Eden in Newbury. There were 4 Enfields, various othe bikes, a trike and a car in our group. What a great turnout on a very cold, blustery Sunday, it even snowed a little in the way. We had to strip off when we got there, as it was 80 degrees in the green houses. Can you imagine us hunky, ha ha, Enfield leather clad bikers stripping off in the green house, what a scary thought. Well that wasn't us; we put our stuff in our support vehicle. We also joined in the colouring, set out for the children and had a competition of our own soon to be seen on our website. |
We had a garage day at Trevor's house where members serviced and tinkered and tinkered again with their Bullets, 6 in all. Our expert mechanic Neil was on hand to assist with the tinkering. Trevor kindly had a BBQ burning keeping our bodies well fuelled. Only 3 burgers, 2 bacon butties and 2 coffees kept me going till teatime. I was also presented with a birthday cake as it was that time of year again, and serenaded by the Wiltshire burley bikers. Tony also had a special birthday but we are not allowed to disclose how old. Happy 60th Tony oops sorry. Thanks to Trevor and Lesley for their hospitality. Easter Sunday saw us on a very scenic ride out to Avebury, Bishops Canning, Pewsey, Easton Royal and our arrival Crofton Beam Engines which were having a steam day. We sat by the canal putting the world to rights, no we weren't we were talking about our bikes. Another great day. Thanks to Carl we have our own website
http://members.lycos.co.uk/reocwiltshire
|
|
|
TOP
|
||
|
April/May 2006 During the February meeting it was decided to hold a skittles match against the local Honda Owners Club at the March meeting. Other plans for this year include runs to Newbury Mini Eden Project, Cheddar Caves, Sammy Miller's, the Calne and Uffington shows and runs round the Cotswolds. The Branch is also running a Camping Weekend in July. |
On the way home Roaring Rob's Clubman had the misfortune to break a clutch. The cable was quickly fixed by the ever-resourceful Neil who on this occassion was travelling by car. The whole group then stayed with Rob and returned home via Trowbridge. The Wiltshire Branch meets at the White Hart, Wroughton on the 2nd Thursday of each month, followed by a run on the Sunday. New members are always welcome. The Branch attended the Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show at the Bath and West Showground on the 12th of Februaruy. It was nice to bump into several REOC members who we had not seen since summer. There were some very good examples of Enfields both old and new and there were also many other wonderful examples of machines from marques of an earlier age. |
|
|
TOP
|
||
|
Feb/Mar 2006 Tony remarked he knew how Konrad Lorenz felt with his theory of imprinting on ducklings and how it did'nt seem to apply to Royal Enfield Club members. The poor 125 struggled a bit to keep up during the hilly run especially up the steep hill towards Uffington castle and White Horse but worth it for the magnificent views. The day was cold enough to ice up the carbs on a W650 and this had the effect of requiring frequents calls for nature. The use of Gorden's handlebar muffs met with a firm and indignant rebuttal however. The run took in the historic towns of Wantage, Lambourne and then to Chilton Foliat and back to a splendid lunch by a log fire in the Red Lion at Baydon. |
The Branch Christmas Dinner on 8th December was a great success with some 26 members sitting down to a traditional meal of roast turkey and mince pies. The meal was followed by the presentations to our branch chairman Alan Snook of a copy of "The Legend" and a lovely bouquet to Carol for all the hard work they have put in during the past year. The Branch home in the White Hart has recently undergone a change of management and we convey our thanks for a wonderful evening. Wiltshire members were pleased to be invited to a Barbeque organised by Dave Angel of the Banbury Branch. The day again proved to be a cold one and members enjoyed the hot drinks and mince pies at the Gambrell's en route. Many thanks, to Dave, Christine and Gordon. There were no fewer than 8 Royal Enfields on the run. The Wiltshire Branch meets at the White Hart, Wroughton on the 2nd Thursday of the month. You can rely on a friendly welcome so don't be shy about coming along. Contact Alan Snook Tel: 01793 870126. |
|
| TOP | ||
The run took us through pleasant countryside to the seaside where we encountered swarms of Vespas and Lambrettas.