ESX History
As we approach our 34th Year
A Brief History of the ESSEX CHAPTER
General:
The Chapter was formed by Vic and Glenys Anthony, and the first AGM was held in December 1991.
The Chapter was nearly called The Three Rivers Chapter due to two of the initial meeting places were near the rivers Crouch and Blackwater respectively – the dealership was Heritage HD, Leigh On Sea – as near as dammit to the river Thames.
The first monthly meets were at The Anchor at Fambridge and The Roundbush, Mundon
The monthly meet at The Lodge started July 1995 – and is still going.
The first Annual subscriptions were £5.
First Christmas party was December 14th 1991 at The Anchor, Burnham – 50 attended.
Monthly Magazine has been called:
Essex Newsletter
Hawg Torque
Essex Chapter News
Essex News
Essex Chapter Chronicle
The Essex Standard
CHAPTER DIRECTORS
Director – Vic Anthony – Nov 1991 to March 1995
Assistant Director – John Jeseph
Director – Charlie Davies – April 1995 to Nov 1997
Assistant Directors – Paul Hutchins then Steve Simpson
Steve Simpson – Jan 1998 to Feb 1999
Assistant Director – Tim Purvis
Director – Steve Simpson – Dec 1997 – March 1999
Assistant Director – Tim Purvis
Director – Bernie Applebee – March 1999 to Feb 2001
Assistant Director – Paul Ryan
Director – Tony Crathern – March 2001 to Feb 2003
Assistant Directors 3 – Paul Ryan – Roy Morgan – Paul Barron then Richard Auton
Director – Richard Auton – March 2003 to March 2006
Assistant Directors 2 – Paul Ryan – Doug Naylor
Director – Vincent Penkul – April 2006 to October 2009
Assistant Directors 3 – Paul Ryan – Marlon Greaves – Malcolm Brown
Director – Phil Riley – November 2009 to Nov 2013 [HOG then Essex Chapter UK]
Assistant Directors – pre 2011 – Colin Gray – Chris Hall – Graham Barrell 2011 on, Gary Driver – Mark Ball – Colin Grey
Director – Gary Driver – Nov 2013 – October 2017
Assistant Directors – Martin Hunt
Director – Phil Head – October 2017 – October 2023
Assistant Directors – Karl Austin – Lee Turner
Director – Glyn Bacon – October 2023 – January 2025
Assistant Directors – Gary Morgan
Director – Gary Morgan January 2025 – present day
CHAPTER RALLIES
How they have changed over the years !!!!!
1992
Roundbush PH – Mundon – 30/31st May Sat and Sun
Tickets £5 each for members – includes a fish and chip supper!
Bands – The Works and Morrison
Sponsored by Heritage HD Leigh on sea
10 tents !!
1993
Roundbush Pub – Mundon – 29-30th May – Sat and Sun
Tickets – £9.50
Bands – The Works plus Novak and Goode
1994
The Huntsman and Hounds PH – Althorne – 11/12 June – Sat and Sun
Tickets – £7.50
Bands – Novak and Goods plus two others (unknown)
Rideout with 100 bikes
1995
The Huntsman and Hounds PH – Althorne – 3/4th June – Sat and Sun
Tickets £8.00
Over 100 tents
Bands – Novak and Goode and MGM
1996
The Huntsman and Hounds PH – Althorne – First three day rally 14th to 16th June – Thur, Fri, Sat
Over 100 tents
Bands Novak and Goode – Splinter – Less than Blessed – MGM
1997
The Huntsman and Hounds PH – Althorne – 13 to 15th June
Disco and three bands – no other details
1998
St Osyths Bay Caravan Park – 5 to 7th June
No other details – not a popular rally as we were mixed in with other holiday makers – kids were stealing bits from the bikes etc.
1999
St.Osyths Bay Caravan Park – 4 to 6th June 3rd £28.50 rally tickets
As 1998 – not a good rally
2000
The Huntsman and Hounds PH [return] – Althorne – 23rd to 25th June £15.00 rally tickets
Bands – Legend and Hedgehog plus two others
250+ attended – Rally held in complete disregard to HAS – broken leg’s on husky dog race
2001
The Huntsman and Hounds PH – Althorne – 22nd to 24th June
Bands – Vudolittle (Marlon Greaves played drums) – Legend – Hedgehog
Winner of “Best in Class” riding through a hedge due to failed bakes
2002
The Huntsman and Hounds Pub – Althorne – 21st to 23rd June, £20.00 rally tickets
Bands – Break for Cover – Scam 69 – Squabbler – Legend – Hedgehog
2003
The Huntsman and Hounds Pub – Althorne – 20th to 22nd June
Police car arriving with full “blues and two’s” at 1.00 AM [Essex Chapter Met police officers]
No details
2004
The Huntsman and Hounds Pub – Althorne – 2nd to 4th July
Advance sales 200+ tickets – 320 attended
Bands – Vudolittle – Break for Cover – Hedgehog plus DJ Ken
Rideout over 100 bikes
DJ Ken falling asleep in the middle of the field after taking some strange substances
2005
The Huntsman and Hounds PH – Althorne – 1st to 3rd July
9 trade stands
Bands – The Proof – Scam 69 – Houndogs – Hedgehog
2006
Cherry Wood – Purfleet – 21st to 23rd July
Bands – Cruisin Mooses – Houndogs – Rolling Clones – Hedgehog
DJ Ken
Air brushing out the electrity pylons on flyers ? Peripheral Entertainment with Fire Eaters etc. Electricity black-out resulting in Rolling Clones playing an acoustic set, French chef being knocked unconscious by 2 visiting H.A’s not waking up until noon next day
DJ Ken [Rockula]
2007
Rochford 100 Rugby Club – 17th to 19th August
Bands – Storm – The Hamsters – Cruisin Mooses – Scary Mary
DJ Ken
Entertainment from the female Fire Eaters etc +10 trader stalls including Zeus Custom who sold a 25k bike Scarry Mary playing like “Primal Scream” [volume 11] requiring us to use a sound engineer for rallies in the future.
2008 – 2010
Rochford 100 Rugby Club – 14th to 16th August
Bands – Jurassica – B17’s – Fabulous Feedback Band – The Bohemians
Thursday set up day alongside junior rugby team’s practise match
- 2017
Sudbury FC – 12-14th August, £30.00 rally tickets
Bands – Steve Harley Cockney Rebel [twice] Hedgehog, B17’s [Phil Head drummer] E11evens, Pawnshop Rxxx, The Stents, Johnny Gunner, DJ Chunky Monkey
Chunky Monkey DJ. Essex winning all the games against Surrey and the rest of the Chapters, Essex losing all the games the next year especially against Surrey.
Start of the 3.00am club
Gas explosion closing main road, body in the river and one of the exhibitors birds of prey flying off, never to be seen again – start of the 3.00 am club.
Bands -, torrential rain flooded the campsite with everyone sheltering in the main hall of the FC
2021
White Pheasant, Lenwade – not widely appreciated by attendees
2022
The Bell Wenden
2023
Southend Rocks Rally Cupids Country Club, Southend
Note: all photographs of attendees/offenders on the Chapter Website Gallery
Bike Patches Etc
It’s thought that jacket patches were first originated during WW2 with the US Army Air Corps bomber crews who decorated their flying jackets with patches of successful missons as well as cartoon characters and pin-up models, later decorating the noses of their planes, this was later frowned upon by Sir Arthur [Bomber] Harris and American Air Corps generals as any shot down air crews were subject to terrible retributions from civilians.
On returning from war the practice was continued by former armed forces personnel who trying to return to a normal life, found a social outlet in forming motorcycle clubs with their former military buddies, especially with the massive amount of amy surplus motorcycles available, in particular Indian and Harley-Davidson WLA and WLC models.
The biker culture started gaining massive support, a result of the rebellious attitude against authority. Not helped by the press who ignited the general public’s attitude towards the biking community. Press articles didn’t help matters either. Picture Post’s famous photograph highlighting this, the 1947 Hollister Rally where the Picture Post cover photograph of a paralytic Harley biker surrounded by empty bottles of beer further fuelled this belief – later this was found to be staged, the event was never as bad as it was portrayed to be, but by that time the damage was done. Films and further articles since then just made the situation worse.
Clothing started reflecting the rebellous attitude with back patches on denim-cuts, and vests, and leather-cuts. Later the “colours” showing their affiliation to a brand or club, with various outlaw gangs showing 2 piece and 3 piece patches, later front patches were added to reflect the riders personality covering such diverse subjects as attitude, job. religeous practises. The Outlaw gangs were started to be more active pushing for control of territories and illegal practises, by having 1%, 2%, 3% patches.
Generally speaking, Essex Chapter HOG back patch consists of the main HOG patch being the affiliation to the brand, and the top rocker being the location in BLACK AND GOLD LETTERING. Originall every UK Chapter was designated to an official HD Dealership, {Essex Chapter / Stadium] who either gave free HOG membership with bike ownership, or owners could buy the membership direct {In those days our membership numbered over 600] There are still a numbers of original HOG members who can show patches, including Life Members, but officially as we are an independent Chapter not subscribing to HOG [a number of people won’t join HOG to this day due to the way our Chapter was treated] we are unable to purchase new patches/rockers direct, as officially there is no Dealership in Essex, Ironicaly at the HD Museum in Millwaukee, our Essex Chapter rocker is still on show.
After leaving [thrown out] HOG, and with the Dealership closing, we as a group of motorcyclists could have been subject to pressure from other bike clubs into joining a m/c support club. The Chapter Director, after an EOGM where the members voted unanamously on going independent, assurance was required from the 2 rival m/c clubs that …….. a] we could continue riding as a large group of Harley owners without seeking the relevent permissions and……… b] remaining independent, financially and politically, as we represented absolutely no threat to either of them.
Top Back Rocker
Club location
Middle Back Rocker
Club name, insignia
Bottom Back Rocker
This is generally something we don’t use, normally reserved for positions within a club, prior to being a fully patched member, indicating that they aren’t 100% fully accepted.
Front Rockers
Normally left to the individual for club position, past positions, interests, all nearly allways
BLACK AND GOLD, and maybe WHITE and Gold ……..ONLY. NEVER RED and WHITE
All Essex Chapter merchandising shows gold lettering on black background. DILLIGAF, Support Your Local……….., Loud Pipes Save Lives etc etc. Are fairly regular additions. Nowadays there are a number of private companies who can supply individual merchandise on-line. The majority of members have gold on black background, but some have white on black. Generally there are no restrictions on pins and badges etc.
Try to be Un-offensive
NOTE: This is only meant as a guide, there are no hard and fast rules, you can put anything you wish as it’s your bike, your clothing, your badges, but care still needs to be taken. This also can be said, regarding bike custom paint, generally no offensive.wording.
Chapter Flag
The original “Eagle and 3 Saxon Seaxes” insignia flag, was designed by Charlie Davies, the Chapter Director in 1995, with the initials “HOG” in gold at top centre, when Charlie emigrated to France, he gave his permission to continue its use, where this was in continual use right up to 2011, when after our independence, it was slightly changed from “HOG” to 3 gold stars. This was used up to 2017 when under the Directorship of Phil Head was changed to the present edition.
We, as a group of responsible Harley riders, who within the biking community have been generally accepted as being a more family orientated club rather than a m/c club, Harley Owners Group had to a certain extent “protected” us, in the past. Even though we are now independent the attitude towards us from the biking community has still remained the same up to the present day.
Personally, I have always found that whatever your personnal beliefs, that in the past, the best policy to other members of the biking community has been to be.
POLITE and RESPECTFUL