A fabulous weekend of riding based in the home of Yorkshire brewing, Masham, the home of T&R Theakston and the Black Sheep Breweries. Masham is the very essence of a Yorkshire Dales market town, from the rich and gentle landscape that surrounds it to the busy market square lined with independent businesses.
After a leisurely amble (this is the Café Amblers after all!) down to Masham on the Friday The Saturday run out takes us through the magnificent Yorkshire Dales where there are some of the best roads in the country! A full days riding taking in the best that the Dales has to offer.
Key Information Travel: This is a Friday – Sunday event so we will be looking to travel down as a group during the day Friday, those wishing can obviously just join us afterwork in Masham Friday evening. Accommodation: We will be eating at and leaving from the Kings Head Hotel, which is in the square in the centre of Masham, so most tend to stay here however there is other accommodation in the town if you want to go your own way that’s fine, but please let me know. Booking: All bookings to be done individually. Please confirm to me if you are coming and where you will be staying so I can confirm numbers: Gedtell2@aol.com
Final call for the ‘Beer and Curry Night’ and a chance to blow away this rain drenched January with a well deserved night out! I will be sending payment details out to those that are coming so send me a note if you are wanting to be added to the list so I can include you. Confirmed attendees so far are: Ged Tellwright Cat Tellwright James Lynch Vic Stevenson Carol Stevenson David Webb Linda Webb Philip Hunt Trevor Craggs Andrew Richards Vanessa Richards Mark Loftus Debbie Loftus Iain Inglis Gillian Inglis Mark Lamb Ali Lamb Graeme Henderson Dave Harding Tracy Tordai
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 –
Email
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
Quick reminder to those that are wanting to come to this fab event but haven’t let me know yet! Drop me an email to Gedtell2@aol.com confirming so as not to be disappointed! Full information under ‘Latest News’ on the branch web page www.tomcc-ne.uk
With the Christmas festivities now a receding memory what better way to banish the mid winter blues than to come along to our annual branch beer and curry social on Friday 23rd February! Catch up with old friends and new and sample some great beers and food at the same time! We need to know numbers so if it sounds good, read on!
Following the success of previous years and by popular request the format and venues remain the same! so…
The drinks venue is ‘The County’ in Gosforth, a cracking pub that has 14 real ales on hand pull and offers 10% beer discount to CAMRA members! We have booked the back room from 6.15pm – 8.30pm. We can then stagger, next door to the Ahad Tandoori, where food awaits us! Again the format will be the same so a fixed price banquet including mixed starter and 4 main dishes to share. £26ppn
Key Points: Event; This is a social event, all members and their partners welcome, I am told the County has very fine Prosecco as well as soft drinks, so not limited to just Beer monsters! Venue: The County, Gosforth High Street, NE3 1HB and Ahad Tandoori, NE3 1HB Location; The back room at the County can be found by entering the pub from the beer garden side entrance and it is through the main doors and on the right. Date: Friday 23rd February 2024 Time: Drinks from 6.15pm, Curry 8.30pm, last orders in the County at 10.30pm Getting there: Buses 30/31 drop off outside the pub and run from the centre of town. Grainger Street stop is best for those that might be visiting the Toon by train. (opposite the station) Newcastle/Gosforth Accommodation: For those out of town like Cat and myself, why not make a break of it and stay at The Great North Hotel on Gosforth High Street www.greatnorthhotel.co.uk The pub and hotel can be easily reached by bus or Taxi from Newcastle central station so would be great to see anyone not in the immediate area fancying a night out in the Toon! All welcome and the more the merrier!
Contact: Please confirm back to me at gedtell2@aol.com if you are planning on joining us for the drinks and importantly to book a place at the restaurant. There is no limit to numbers at the pub but we are limited to 30 people at the Curry house.
Just a quick reminder that our annual Beer and Curry night is now confirmed for next year on Friday 23rd February. A great way to banish the post Christmas blues and set yourselves up for the coming biking season. As previous years the back room at the County Hotel in Gosforth has been booked and Ahads Tandoori next door will be ready and waiting to serve us.
Outline: County Hotel From 6pm Ahad’s Tandoori, tables booked – 8.30pm County for last orders 10.30pm
Hot off the press! I have just received confirmation today from Triumph Newcastle that they will again be supporting next years Dapper Social Event, so that coupled with our very own Branch also onboard, and Tyne Bank Brewery confirming they are happy to host again means that all systems are go for next year! So hold the dates, Friday May 17th & Sunday May 19th, remember you don’t have to ride to enjoy this, the Friday ‘Dapper Do’ is a party in a brewery after all! and all help gratefully accepted for the Sunday. Full details to follow and as a wee reminder of what its all about follow this link to see the short wrap up video of last years event.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGfyacIjWI8
In attendance: M Lamb, D Tate, C Bell, G Haswell, G Henderson, M Loftus
Apologies: Ged, Neil, Iain, Keith, Dave Harding
Agenda …
Membership Continues to grow steadily
Committee and Organisation
– capacity and fitness for purpose – looking back at 2023 and forward to 2024 calendar.
2023 was busiest yet with new activities added. 2024 to be more so with addition of summer tour in June
With the annual general meeting coming up, Roles and responsibilities were discussed – below is a reminder of the structure of our branch:
Mandatory positions:
Chairman, Ensure compliance with club rules, lead direction of branch through liaison with TOMCC and committee. Organise AGM and regular meetings
Memberships, keep track of incoming and outgoing members. Provide welcome and support re timing of meetings, signposting to website and other coms. Involved in marketing of branch
Treasurer. Working with committee to ensure compliance with financial regs, monitoring account incomings , outgoings and balances. Ensure account is secure yet accessible for ease of transactions.
Essential supporting positions:
General Secretary: Support to mandatory roles, part of executive committee. Account signatory. Liaison with Triumph. Take and publish notes of meetings and articles for Nacelle, website and social media involving working closely with Webmaster.
Webmaster – member of executive committee. Responsible for managing website content and the posting of approved articles on various platforms – work closely with General Secretary and other committee members.
Events co-ordination – in agreement with Committee, putting the calendar together and ensuring each event has resource to enable it to happen effectively without too much onus on an individual. Ref to Geds proposal.
Ride coordination linked to events – making sure that each ride is effectively planned, communicated, led and tailed with safety a prime consideration
Other – eg Tours and major events – whole committee participation. Marketing ? Badges,flags, cups etc do we want a dedicated position?
Everyone involved in organising any gatherings is responsible for health and safety issues. The club must be contacted with regard to insurance for any rallies / one off events ( via chairman)
AGM – Venue, Date, Time / Tuesday January 16th 7pm, Jubilee – AV to be tested prior to meeting – M Lamb
Nominations for any of the above positions before Christmas to Memberships Secretary, Dave Tate. This includes confirmation from existing members of committee that they are willing to continue.
A vacancy now exists for the position of General Secretary. This role could potentially be amalgamated with the webmaster role into a new position of Branch communications. Interest in either is welcomed.
Progress was made to enable authorities and signatories on the branch bank account. Mandate to be circulated by original account members, ML,GH,CB and DT to return to Lloyds in order to secure transactions. This will be in place until position of Treasurer for 2024 is confirmed at AGM
Discussion also took place in relation to main events:
Proposed event calendar for 2024 requires some tweaks to meeting dates before publishing
DGR / DAPPER SOCIAL – this will remain on the calendar as an event that we will support via willing volunteers from membership and a charitable donation. It was confirmed that insurance for the DGR is an individuals responsibility and that for the Dapper Social / after ride gathering was responsibility of the organisers apart from anything required for our branch display /gazebo.
TOMCC 75th Anniversary SHELSLEY WALSH- same date as DGR 18th / 19th May. All branches of TOMCC encouraged to attend. Mark Lamb and James Lynch going – 0ther members asked to confirm – free camping on site tickets £35 pp to be confirmed asap
MASHAM July 13th /14th any one else wishing to go should confirm with Ged Tellwright
SUMMER TOUR – Southern IRELAND D Tate to get proposal from self guided tour contact in Ireland – mid June 2024 and circulate options
SUMMER CAMP – August bank hol weekend – Clennell Hall – room booking deposits needed now – contact Dee at Clennell Hall direct 07434867939
Any changes to event details or timing must be communicated to Events co-ordinator, ride co-ordinator, webmaster who should also then inform other committee members.
Concerns were raised about the Jubilee as our meeting venue: Availability of the room and loose surface of the car park being among the issues. Members requested to suggest alternatives which have good access, room for up to 30 people to meet, fringes of conurbation within 5 miles of Newcastle. Benwell Hill Cricket Ground, The station at Killingworth, other clubs venues such as rugby or football grounds. Should serve food and drinks and have access to AV equipment as well as reasonably secure parking for motorcycles. All suggestions will be checked out by committee – please let Chairman, Mark Lamb know your thoughts – markdlamb81@gmail.com
Back by popular demand the Dapper Social Weekender and the OId Peculier Run will both be on again next year. So make a date in your diaries so you don’t miss these two fabulous events!
Dapper Social Weekender (In association with the DGR) will this year be on Friday May 17th and Sunday May 19th At the Tyne Bank Brewery.
The Old Peculier Run (To Masham, North Yorkshire) will be on Friday July 12th – Sunday July 14th
