PEOPLE

Jim Freeman – Chairman

Like most of my motorcycling cohort I started riding as soon as I could, at 16. The only bike that I was allowed was a C50. The leg shields made for effective crash bars and the Yokohama tyres often gave up the co-efficient of friction struggle.

It was all downhill after that. I was the proud owner of a Trident T150V when I finally pleased the parents by passing my car test. Which may just have had something to do with the day it snowed, with me riding the Trident, in front of my father, driving his baby Fiat, both of us heading into work. I dropped the Trident, pirouetting on one leg, before falling flat on my arse, catching a glimpse of his expression on the way. Horrified doesn’t really cover it. 45 years on, I still have my favourite bikes, and the one out of shot here is scruffy, well used, been all over the place, just like its owner. If only they could talk…

Anna Zee - Political and Technical Services Director

The first time I rode a motorcycle, other than as a pillion, was on a DMW 350 on the back roads of Brands Hatch. The second time (same bike) I ran into a small tree in Epping Forest and stubbed my toe. This didn’t stop me buying a Honda CB125S a few years later and that was it – hooked! My mother wasn’t keen (and my sister still doesn’t get it) but ownership of a couple of ‘70s Ducatis taught me a lot about motorcycle maintenance. I tried to pass some of this experience on, running classes for the Women’s Motorcycle Workshop when that existed. I met several of my best friends in that workshop. Since then I have owned and ridden a number of Suzuki twostrokes, an FJ1200 and a GS500E. The last is my favourite for riding in the Dolomites. I have been a life member of the BMF since the mid ‘70s and a volunteer worker for over 20 years. As well as being a director of the BMF I am currently President of FEMA and Acting Chair of the newly formed National Motorcyclists Council.

Peter Laidlaw – Membership Director

Things were more relaxed when I started riding. I remember my brother picking me up on his Norton Commando – I had no helmet. Because it was a cold night he said, “just put this scarf around your head, it will be all right”. Times change and, as far as helmets are concerned, for the better. I learned to ride on a Honda 90 (which I still have) but now I have bigger modern bikes and enjoy long trips around our great country. I became a BMF member in 1980, and my work started when I was recruited as a NW region rep. I’m now Membership Director as well as NW Region Chairman. Part of the volunteering work is to set up and man promotional stands at shows all around the UK, which projects the image and work of the BMF. Things have changed recently but I believe that personal contact is important and will be in the thick of it when we are allowed.

Howard Anderson – Finance Director

I have been riding motorcycles for over 50 years now. Over the years I have owned and worked on many of them but my passion is for air-cooled two-strokes and older machinery, though I’m currently rebuilding a Honda 400/4 engine. I’m Chairman of Rathfriland MCC which does mostly charity work and President of the Tandragee 100 Supporters Club which raises funds for National road racing. I am also an FIM qualified Technical Steward with the MCUI covering the local road races and short circuits as well as trials. I prepare my son Shaun’s GSX-R 1000 for the local road and TT races. The rest of my time is spent with the BMF as Chairman of Region 10 N.I. and of course Finance Director.

Tom Duncan – Admin Director, Chair for Scotland

I’ve been riding for longer than I care to remember and still enjoy the thrill and the joy of it. I joined the BMF after the then Scottish Chair, Colin Pate gave a call to arms. Not being shy to challenge or debate issues, one thing led to another and I joined the BMF Council, then eventually the Management Team. Due to pressures of work my contribution to the BMF is not what it could or should be, but I do what I can when I can. The past 12 months or so have been challenging for all of us and I sincerely hope that we will soon be able to put the virus behind us and get back to business!

The BMF can, with your help, do more. We are a volunteer organisation and we rely on you to help to get our message out to other riders and to those in authority. Please consider helping where you can either in your local area or nationally.

Sheonagh Ravensdale – Communications Director

I started out on a Honda C90 when I needed cheap transport, before progressing through several bikes and settling for a Bandit GSF 600S which I kept for 22 years. Overseas travel by motorcycle became a passion and in 1987 I rode round India on a Rajdoot 350, while the Bandit took me all over Europe, including Gibraltar and up to the Arctic Circle for WIMA International Rallies. My partner and I also travelled through Central America and much of Asia on our trusty Brazilian-made Honda Falcon NX400s. That took 16 months.

As I progressed through the ranks of WIMA from lowly address list officer to International President, the BMF was always part of our scene. I joined the Management Team as Communications Director in November 2020. We ran a weekend of zoom meetings in January with all the regions and now here is your new-look Rider Magazine, which we very much hope you like. More to come in due course. Do contact us with your ideas, articles and photos!

Helen Hancock – BMF Administrator

I have been riding since hitting my fabulous forties as a desire to learn to ride from a childhood spark, that was lit by my brothers, finally became a reality. I took a restricted test and spent three happy years on my 125, I then fell in love with my VN800 and 11 years later she’s still my pride and joy. I enjoy adding to my skills and have attended a couple of BikerDown courses, which I would thoroughly recommend. I have taken my Enhanced rider award and was to take my BMF Blue Riband training in 2020...this has now obviously had to be moved forward a year!

I absolutely love my role with BMF – if you call, message, email or connect via social media it’ll be me that responds. No two days are the same and I get to talk motorbikes all day every day… what’s not to like?

Andrew Burns – Accounts Manager

I am an accountant with over 40 years’ experience working in varied industries, working as BMF Accounts Manager for over 15 years. For the last few, I have worked part-time. Usually in my spare time I enjoy playing walking, playing football, days out with my wife, Val and taking holidays, mainly in the Lake District.

Tracey Lines – Membership Secretary

I’m Tracey and I’m your membership secretary. I love working for the BMF and know that what we do is important – I used to ride a scooter in my teens, but I still like bikes!

The best bit of my job is definitely talking to the members, old and new. When I’m not at work I love to be outdoors and I’m a season ticket holder for the Leicester Tigers.

Peter Henshaw – Editor

Started riding at 16 and after the moped phase I progressed to a CZ (because it was cheap) and a Triumph Tiger 90 (because it was British). After diversions into academia and car journalism I landed the editorship of Motorcycle Sport & Leisure back in its Cornwall days. Happy days, riding everything from scooters to Ducati 748s and Goldwings up and down the A30 – a hard life, especially in the summer.

When MSL moved upcountry I went freelance and since then have written for a whole raft of bike magazines, plus a few on classic tractors and written over 60 books (not all about bikes). Currently divide my time between editing Vintage & Classic Motorcycle (the VMCC’s magazine), Motorcycle Rider and other projects. Currently in the garage: Zero DS, Honda NC750 and Enfield Robin Diesel.

Louise Hillier - Designer

My first motorcycle was a Yamaha DT50, the key to a new found freedom at 16, followed by a GP100. After a spell working in London I moved back to Cornwall (having passed my bike test) and was employed as a designer for Motorcycle Sport & Leisure – that was like being in a motorcycle sweetie shop.

I started to write articles which led to the ‘Challenge Lou’ series before I left the magazine to go travelling round the world with my partner, two Honda Dominators and a tent, which was amazing.

Since then I have taken part in several off-road events on my lowered KTM 250 and ridden a sidecar outfit 7500 miles through Europe with my little dog (Sprocket). I still have a Triumph Bonnie with a Watsonian Monza sidecar waiting for its next outing.