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IPA
Motorcycle
Group
update
Roy Edwards
(Group Chairman)
Once again the motorcycle SIG have been busy enjoying themselves in 2017
both here and abroad, spreading the IPA word and enjoying the hospitality and
friendship of our European cousins..
J
anuary saw a gathering of 35 members and partners
at the Sysonby
Knoll hotel in Melton Mowbray for the “Post Christmas Lunch”. Pre
Christmas being a busy time for everybody we decided that we would
have our celebration in the New Year when everybody felt a little less jaded
by the Christmas spirit! The lunch menu was ‘anything but turkey’ and
a good time was had by all with a couple of prize givings and a fun quiz
compiled and administered by Jean Goodwin, I don’t think anyone actually
knew who won but there was a healthy rivalry between teams.
FEBRUARY
involved ten of us going on an organised tour around the JCB
factory in Derbyshire, the tour started with a very nice lunch supplied by
the factory restaurant and then a trip round the museum and then the
production line which was pretty amazing. The company has a fascinating
history started by one man making farm trailers, virtually from scrap.
MAY
saw us gather in the Isle of Man for the group Annual General Meeting,
nineteen members were present and the business of the meeting took
place, the incumbent Chairman stood down and a new one was elected. The
three day trip included two days of runs out round the island which of course
included the majority of the route of the famous Isle of Man TT & GP course.
JUNE
saw us in Lynton, Devon for a long weekend of rain, rain and more
rain. There were two organised runs around the area and on the second one
we were all enjoying a Devonshire cream tea, in the sunshine in Dawlish.
In
JULY
, Dave Seavers organised a group visit for about seven of us to the
RAF Heritage museum at RAF Scampton, a fascinating insight into the lives of
the Dam Busters squadron which was rounded off by an impromptu display
right in front of us by the Red Arrows squadron arriving back at their base.
AUGUST
came along and twenty plus riders from our group gathered in
Hamburg for the first international rally held by the Hamburg IPA motorcycle
group.
Our group then split up with some returning home, whilst others set off
for five days in Berlin which included an organised tour round the BMW
motorcycle factory. We were met by Berlin motorcycle officer Michael
Rohn and his delightful wife Annett. For two days they showed us round
Berlin and took us to places we would never have discovered on our own,
for example the famous “Bridge of spies”, the Olympic stadium from the
Games of 1936 and the House of the Wannsee Conference where the
terrible fate of thousands of people was callously discussed. Finally four
of us spent a couple of days in the Harz Mountains then on to the town of
Rieden where our good friend and group member Stan Croot lives.
SEPTEMBER
saw the final event of the year so far, a Hog Roast held
in conjunction with my local (Leicestershire) NARPO group, we actually
had a dry day with a bit of sunshine thrown in, over one hundred people
attended and it would seem a good time was had by all.
UK
MOTORRAD
Event
JUNE 2019
Section UK (Motorcycle group) is planning to host an International event in 2019; the details of which are
still to be firmed up. We have requested expressions of interest internationally and so far we have received
enquiries from as far afield as Australia.
W
e have formed a working group to drive this event
, which will
take some planning. We have already secured a fantastic venue
at Storthes Hall, Huddersfield University Campus which is situated
on the edge of both the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales and within striking
distance of both the East & West Coast resorts and the Lake District.
The purpose of this notice is to seek volunteers to help out at the event
in 2019, as we will need folk to act as Ride Guides/Marshalls, drivers of
minibuses (for those not riding or going pillion), Photographers, interpreters
and many other activities.
If you (or anyone you know) would like to assist at the event, I would be
grateful if you would kindly let me know what your preference would be, i.e.
motorcycle guide, minibus driver, Interpreter (specify what language(s) etc.
If you are not able to help out; please consider becoming a participant at the
event, as I know it will be a tremendous occasion. R.S.V.P. in first instance to
me please -.John Birkenshaw
jbee1@sky.com29
Article
POLICE WORLD
Vol 63 No. 1, 2018