January
The idea of starting our October meeting at 12.30pm and serving bacon and egg baps prior to commencement of the meeting ‘proper’ at 2pm proved to be very popular. Thanks go to Christine Hunt who undertook the cooking and Rachel and Bettie for making teas, coffee, serving the food and collecting the money. This was followed by a DVD of the 2008 Lands End Run with a break halfway through for more tea and coffee as well as mince pies and cake. A gastronomic feast and something we intend to put on again (minus mince pies) at our March 2022 meeting. Before that though we have our AGM on 10th January where we’ll be looking for a new Section Secretary as Bettie has stated her intention to stand down after seven years in the role. We sincerely thank her for the enormous contribution she has made to the Section.
February
Our Annual Dinner at the Virginia Ash, Henstridge on 10th December saw 21 of our members and guests in attendance. Unfortunately this was
less than the 30 who originally booked with organiser Roger Gillard as there were a number of unavoidable last minute cancellations. Thanks
go to Roger for undertaking the organisation and making the day a success. In February we have the following, subject of course to any further
restrictions which may be in force by then: a talk by Charlie Pattison on the history and work of the ACU Benevolent Fund on the 14th; and the
Bristol Classic Show where, although we don’t have a Wessex stand some of our members will be supporting local sections that do; and the
Somerset Section’s Shepton Mallet Autojumble. If any or all of these events go ahead then our printed 2022 Calendar of Events will be available
at all these venues.
March
Our first breakfast meet of the year saw 11 members breakfasting at Ansty PYO. Two days later we had our AGM where the only changes to the committee saw Bette Barber retire as Secretary and Martin Goodman follow in the footsteps of his late mother Janet by becoming a Section Secretary. In recognition of her work and dedication Bette was unanimously elected as Hon. Section Life President. After more refreshments our digital projector was once more in use showing a DVD of the 2008 Scarborough Week. We have a breakfast meet at Ansty PYO on 12th March followed on the 14th by a talk by Club President Mike Wills on the Bradbury. This will be preceded by the provision of bacon and egg baps, tea, coffee etc and will therefore start at 12.30 for those wishing to partake. The meeting ‘proper’ will commence at 2pm as per usual.
April
Our AGM on 14th February was well attended and saw one major change when our Secretary Bette Barber stood down. We thank her for all the hard work and effort she’s put in for the Section which was recognised by the members when they unanimously elected her Honorary Section President for Life. Bette has agreed to continue as a committee member doing what she likes best, organising section outings. Martin Goodman has taken over as Secretary, having worked behind the scenes for some time, running the section’s website and Facebook presence. Otherwise the committee remains the same. For those yet to pick up the 2022 events calendar they are available on request. Our next meeting on 11th April is a talk by Jon Rock
entitled ‘Three Hats,’ followed by our first run of the season, the Ken Blake Memorial Run – 10.30 for 11am start at Silton Village Hall.
May
Our March breakfast meet was well attended and we welcomed two members from Bournemouth who joined us at Ansty for the first time. We started our third monthly meeting of the year earlier than usual with a light lunch of bacon and egg baps courtesy of Christine Hunt and Rachel Gray who did sterling work in the kitchen catering for members including President Mike Wills. This was followed by Mike’s excellent talk on the Bradbury motorcycle. Hopefully we’ll see Mike on one of our future runs. A busy month in May starting with a breakfast meet on the 7th, our club meeting on the 9th when members are (hopefully!) going to bring ‘items of interest’ which don’t always have to be motorcycling related, and a picnic run on the 12th 12.00 for 1.30pm start from Ansty PYO SP3 5PX. Hope to see you at one or more of these events.
June
Our April club meeting, a talk by VMCC member John Rock, was well supported and well received in spite of some initial technical difficulties. On the 25th of the month we hosted an extra meeting at which the Vice Chair Steve Allen gave a presentation on the present and future plans for the Club. At this meeting we also welcomed members from other local sections who were able to put their questions and concerns to Steve in a question and answer session after the presentation and a break for tea, coffee, sausage rolls, scones and biscuits. Thanks to Rachel Gray for organising this. Our June meeting on the 13th will be a ploughman’s lunch, hopefully outside if the weather’s good, starting at 12.30. On the 26th we have our annual On the Beaded Edge Run. Congratulations to our Section Life President Bette Barber on reaching a real milestone birthday
July
May has been a busy month, starting with a well attended breakfast meet a week earlier than usual to avoid clashing with another local event. Two days later we were at Silton for our monthly meeting. No speaker as such, just a number of ‘interesting items’ brought in by members and subsequently described in detail by the owners. Some fascinating items and the stories behind them. Three days later saw us at Ansty once again for our annual Picnic Run, lunches being ably organised by section president Bette Barber. The weather looked somewhat inclement which undoubtedly deterred some of our ‘regular’ participants from riding. However, those taking part enjoyed a ride on the almost completely traffic-free roads of Wiltshire. July’s breakfast meet is on the 9th while our annual barbecue at the home of Paul and Denise Lydford in Laneside, Shaftesbury takes place on the 12th from 6.30pm onwards.
August
Our June meeting’s earlier start attracted 19 members who sat down to a lunch ably prepared by Rachel Gray and Christine Hunt. After a chat over lunch we were joined by other members who then watched an interesting DVD on the history of the Vincent and Velocette companies. Our On the Beaded Edge Run, returning after an absence of three years, saw 13 pre-31 machines following an excellent route through the Dorset countryside from Shillingstone railway station before returning there for lunch. Thanks go to Peter Miller for organising the event. On August 7th we have Rachel’s Lunch in the Woodshed Run, a social run from Silton Village Hall, 10.30 for 11am start, followed by a lunch, strangely enough ‘in the woodshed’! Club afternoon again at Silton the following day will be our annual auction of motorcycling related items starting as usual at 2pm. Hope to see you there.
September
July’s breakfast meet at Ansty PYO saw several members arrive on bikes, the good weather ideal for motorcycling. Two days later we were at the home of Paul and Denise Lydford for our annual BBQ where, once again, the sunshine encouraged members to arrive on two wheels. Thanks go to Paul and Denise for their hospitality and hard work ensuring the evening was a success. An event packed programme for September starts with a breakfast meet at Ansty on the 10th followed by our club meeting on the 12th at Silton Village Hall (SP8 5PW) where John Bradshaw returns to give us further insights into living in Rhodesia under Ian Smith’s regime (and beyond). Two runs in September, the Autumn Leaves Run on the 15th starting at 12 noon from Ansty (SP3 5PX) and the ever popular Roger’s Runaround from the Virginia Ash, Henstridge (BA8 0PL) 10.30 for 11am.
October
The first Lunch in the Woodshed run organised by Rachel Gray, assisted in route planning by Roger Gillard, took place on one of the hottest days of the year. As we soon found, really old bikes don’t like really hot weather when three of the entrants failed to make the finish. Due to a number of ‘no shows’ the mountain of food prepared by Rachel and Christine Hunt was more than enough to feed those attending the subsequent lunch. Our auction on the club afternoon saw a new auctioneer, Section President Bette Barber, taking on the role for the first time and revelling in using the Section’s gavel. By cajoling, and sometimes perhaps embarrassing, the participants to part with their money on items they possibly didn’t know they needed, this was our most successful auction to date. On 10th October our club afternoon is a film show, motorcycling related.
November
A busy month in September for the Wessex V&V Section, starting with a breakfast meet at Ansty on the 10th followed by the return of John Bradshaw at our monthly meeting on the 12th. John gave a really entertaining talk and practical demonstration with his guide dog which held the meeting enthralled for the whole afternoon. On the 15th we were disappointed with the turnout for our Autumn Leaves Run, only Alan Skinner from West Wilts Section turning up with an eligible pre-’31 machine. That said, the lunch at the venue was well attended, but we need to consider whether to include this event in next year’s calendar. Roger’s Runaround on the 18th was better attended and enjoyed by the participants. December sees our annual dinner on the 9th, this year organised by Rachel Gray. Rachel is taking bookings and deposits and can be contacted on 01747 840492.
December
