I hope all is well with everyone and you’re all still enjoying this spell of summer weather.
I would like to give a massive thank you to all who attended our rally at Marks Tey last weekend, we certainly had a blast. I would like to thank my committee for all of their input into getting this event off the ground, with a special mention to members of the rally subcommittee, Simon for keeping an eagle eye on the finances, Paul & Gloria Salmon in our events team and Claire Clarke in merchandise for putting together and ensuring you all received your rally packs, t-shirts, had you patches sewn on and for keeping me in check, to Neil Bishop for coming up with this year’s design and to Eddie Francis for suggesting we include a union jack, Andrew Harper our photographer for capturing those moments and memories, without all this valuable input we wouldn’t have had the event we had last week. I would also like to thank Martin James Hunt for taking us all out to Heybridge Basin on the Friday and to our head road captain Dodger for his great ride on Saturday, both rides took in some great and superb country roads with some lovely twists and turns, both rides were ably assisted by Colin Gray and Kevin & Heather Wood who kept us all safe at the back and ensuring everyone got home, thanks again guys. A massive thanks to Adi Clk for his amazing outriding skills, who videoed our Saturday ride out, getting some great shots of us, hopefully you’ve all had a chance to see the videos he posted earlier this week. We had some winners in our bike show too, congratulations to Jo Nelson for winning people’s choice, Paul McDonald for best paint, Allen Pembroke for directors’ choice and Mark Cook for best custom, well done. We also had some random guy come and play a tune on his banjo for us at The Cricketers on Saturday which was nice but unexpected. Thanks once again to all of you who attended and supported the weekend, it really did mean a lot to myself and the committee, as I have said before it was great seeing old friends meeting up and some new friendships begin, because this is what lies at the heart of our Essex Chapter, like minded people meeting up, riding our bikes and having a great time and long may that continue.
Our Christmas party has now been arranged and will be on Friday 5th December from 7pm – 12pm, at Orsett Hall Prince Charles Avenue, RM16 3HS, the cost is £69.50 and includes a 3 course meal and half a bottle of wine, if you would like to book this great event please call 01375891402, press 2 for events and quote Essex Chapter to be added to the table, further booking details are on the website, a big thanks to Gloria for arranging this.
You will also see on our events calendar Dodge has put up a ride for Sunday 17th August to Chelmsford Racecourse, this is in support of the family fun day for EHAAT who are one of our sponsored charities, they have asked us if we would display our bikes and we have said we would, it would be great to see as many of you as possible to support this event.
We have had some queries regarding the registration process, some have asked if it can be made simpler, the answer is we have made it as simple as we possibly can and unfortunately cannot make it any simpler, we have also been asked if it is compulsory and the answer to that is no it is not, again by registering it is hoped that we can reach a wider audience of the member ship, as I said before of our 180 members only 123 are on Facebook, so there are some members who we may not be reaching if they do not look at the website as well, we would ideally like to be able to email out a newsletter to reach everyone, but to do that requires you to register, but you do not have to, I hope that’s clear for everyone, if not please do not hesitate to speak to either myself or any other committee member when you next see us. If you would like to register, then please follow this process:
Go to the website at and click on account, you will see two boxes, one stating Log-in the other Register, using the register box on the right please enter your email address into the box marked email address and please click the checkbox that you want to receive the newsletter as this will help us get the info out there then click register. Once you have done this a link will be sent to your email address to set up a new password, once you have opened the link and set your new password you will be complete, now add your address in the address section this contains your membership number which we need to collate all the information this is the important bit as we can group the members from the guests you still have access to all areas of the website but it will as I said before make it easier to complete purchases etc. If you know anyone who does not use Facebook can you please pass this information to them so they can register too, also if you know anyone who is having difficulties accessing information, please direct them to any one of the committee members who will be more than happy to assist.
Following my previous posts we have a number of female riders in the Chapter, which is great, but we do not have and from what I believe never have had a female road captain, so would any of you fancy being pioneers, creating Essex Chapter history and being the first group of female road captains to join our team, if you would, then please get in touch with Dodger or myself and we’ll be more than happy to give you any further information you need to be part of the team and plan the odd ride.
Regarding the ride out WhatsApp group can I please just politely remind everyone that this group is for information only, please do not post any pictures or comments on it, please just post all your pictures and comments on our Facebook page or your own socials, we need to ensure that the ride out WhatsApp group remains an important tool for ride out information or late cancellations, so when you see it has a message you know it is important and will need to be read, Steve has in his message reminded everyone the rules for the group so please if you unsure reacquaint yourselves with them. If you would like to be part of the Rides WhatsApp Group, please contact Steve Roper via WhatsApp on 07868734695 giving him your name and phone number and he will happily add you.
Another reminder there is now a ride out form on our website, if you would like to plan or book a ride please use this form to do so, the form will go directly to our Events Coordinator who will check it doesn’t clash with any other events, but if you can check this yourselves before submitting that would be really helpful, Paul will then authorise it and pass to Eddie our Webmaster to upload onto the calendar.
As previous you will have seen our Head Road Captain Dodger has been in contact with Firebike and some safer riding course dates have been made available, please be advised though, if you book and fail to turn up you will be charged, so make sure you can attend if you book as places are limited. To book yourself on to the course, contact Andy Stroulger FireBike and P2W Safety Manager on Tel 01376 576204 or Mob 07789 652243.
A Road Captains role within the club is an important and valued one, but you don’t have to be a Road Captain to organise a ride, so come and get involved and let’s start filling that calendar with loads of great rides, we look forward to and welcome hearing from you. If you think you could support the Chapter with either becoming a Road Captain, lead a ride or just want to find out more details please contact: Dodger our Head Road Captain, you can email him at: [hrc@essexchaptergb.com](mailto:hrc@essexchaptergb.com) or contact him on his mobile: 07547 898363, or just chat to any member of the committee or a Road Captain when you see them.
The AGM has been booked and will be held on 26.10.2025 at Hatfield Peverel Village Hall from 12nn-3pm, I know it’s a little way off but if anyone is interested in joining the committee please do feel free to complete a nominations form which can be found on the website and in the files folder on Facebook, all positions will be up for consideration. A bit nearer the time I will request members send me any questions they may have, if I have them in advance it will assist me in being able to give a succinct answer there and then otherwise, I may have to get back to you.
For now and as always, if you have any queries, questions or concerns you wish to raise with either myself or the committee, please do not hesitate to get in touch and we will aim to provide feedback as soon as practicably possible, additionally, this is your club so please feel free to offer any suggestions you may have that may appropriately support the club in being the best it can be.
All the best for now and I hope to see you on the road or at one of our planned events over the coming months and during riding season.
All the best
Gary
Up and Coming Events:
1st and 3rd of the month Wednesday ride outs are now up on the calendar on the website.
Fordham Classic Vehicle Show 10.08.2025 meet time and venue TBA.
16.08.2025 Ride to Hungry Stag Café for breakfast then onto Newmarket Harley Davidson for the 5th Hullabaloo, meet at 8am junction 28 A12 Colchester at the pull in spot opposite garage pumps for an 8.30am depart.
EHAAT Family Fun Day 17.08.2025 at Chelmsford Racecourse, meet at Boreham Services 9am for a 9.30am depart.
When making a payment please add a description/reason. i.e. membership renewal or Cricketers meal so it can be easily seen what the payment is for. Also add your name or ESX Chapter membership number.
