January 16th 2024
Triumph Owners’ Motorcycle Club
North East England Branch Annual General Meeting
Benwell Hill Cricket Club, West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne
In attendance:
Chairman: Mark Lamb
Memberships Secretary: Dave Tate
Events / Ride Coordinator: Ged Tellwright
Acting Treasurer: Graeme Haswell
Brass Monkey lead: Clive Bell
Retired and Workshy founder Mark Loftus
Ride leaders/ tailers Dave Harding, Bernie McLaughlin, Graeme Henderson
Tracy Tordai, George Carnegie, Rob Ayre, Stu McCarthy +1, Steve Ibbetson, Cat Tellwright, David Webb, Linda Webb, Andrew Richards, Colin Banks (94 mile round trip!), Billy Hunter, Brian Thompson, Mal Guest, Vic Stevenson, Jim West
26 in total
Intro and Welcome: Mark Lamb thanked everyone for attending on a grim January evening. All seemed quite impressed with the new venue.
Review of 2023 – Mark presented a month by month summary of some of the highlights of the previous year taken mainly from the Whatsapp group posts. Hopefully this can be transferred to the website www.tomcc-ne.uk for reference.
Despite the dubious weather for most of the year a very large amount of activity had taken place helped enormously by involvement from an increasing number of members. Special thanks to Ged for organising several activities including the Café Amblers, Dapper Social, Curry night and Old Peculier weekend. Mark Loftus for founding the Thursday riders aka Retired and Workshy who have enjoyed many visits to fine scenery and Castles
Then followed committee member statements from:
Memberships Secretary Dave Tate summarised the coming and goings in the last year with a net rise of 20 members to current 181 including associates. Those not renewing tending to have sold their Triumphs or moved away. – full account is contained within the presentation.
Treasurers report delivered by Graeme Haswell who although not the current official Treasurer has been carrying out the role for around 6 years. £3008.26 in the account. Major expenditure of a branded gazebo and contributions to Dapper Social and summer camp for Lou Ross band at both events. Stock of some items of branch merchandise is running low. Dave Tate reported that there have not been many requests for embroidered clothing from Elite Embroidery. The quality of this clothing is very good and reasonably priced.
Elections to positions:
| Position | Proposed | Second | Status |
| Chairman | Mark Lamb | G Haswell, D Tate | Position filled |
| Membership Sec | Dave Tate | D Harding, G Henderson, G Haswell | Position filled |
| Treasurer | Graeme Haswell | M Lamb, Jim West, D Tate | Position filled |
| General Secretary | None | None | Position vacant – email to be sent to all members |
| Lead Ride / Events Coordinator | Ged Tellwright | G Henderson, Vic Stevenson | Position filled |
| Webmaster | Iain Inglis | M Lamb, G Tellwright, G Haswell | Position filled |
| Brass Monkey Lead and branch advisor | Clive Bell | M Lamb, M Loftus, D Harding | Position filled |
| Retired and Workshy lead | Mark Loftus | D Harding, G Henderson, M Lamb | Position filled |
| Ride / Event support | Graeme Henderson, Bernie McLoughlin, Dave Harding, Neil Elders (TBC), Geoff Mayne also volunteered at the meeting | C Bell, D tate, M Lamb | Positions filled (always room for more) |
| Merchandise | Discussion supported this as a position if anyone interested | Suggested that Iain Inglis maybe interested | Position vacant – email to be sent to all members if Iain not interested. D Tate still ok to oversee clothing from Elite Embroidery |
| Occasional organisers | Eg Christmas – Babs? | TBC – email Babs | |
| Ladies – lead contact | Raised as a discussion point – |
The most pressing issues are to have a General Secretary in post who can scan various posts and articles and do monthly write ups of activity and take and publish notes from meetings. Will need to work closely with webmaster and others listed above. Also finalising authorisations for the bank account as there still remain issues.
2024
Ged Tellwright took us through the items on the calendar for 2024 ( posted on website) advise members to print off and stick it up somewhere prominent at home.
Of note – Beer and Curry night Feb 23rd anyone wanting to go must contact Ged asap in order to get table bookings sorted. Similarly for the Old Peculier weekend at Masham in July.
Heads up for volunteers and support from the branch for the Dapper Social / DGR in May for selling raffle tickets, admission, staffing our stall and car parking Master Debonair confirmed support. Ged meeting Triumph next few days to start firming up details. Mark Lamb mentioned that branch gazebo would be going to Owners Club 75th at Shelsley Walsh the same weekend.
The proposed trip to Ireland in June needs details sorting asap. 7th June proposed set off date. Dave and Neil to gather further information and distribute it. Stu McCarthy / partner mentioned that Killarney is particularly expensive
AOB – None
Closing comments:
Thanks to all members who have helped out in 2023. We couldn’t deliver a programme of activities to suit wide ranging taste without your support. It is a team effort. Here’s looking to 2024 for more adventure and good times