Welcome to another TUG. You may have noticed issues with our website recently for which I apologise. The old website was working fine but was hosted by the developer so we were unable to make certain changes or update the software that runs it without employing the services of the web developer. After much discussion in committee meetings, we decided to move to a new host. I was prepared and ready to put together a new website, if necessary, when the switch occurred. Unbelievably my internet failed on the very afternoon the transfer occurred! Maybe due to the timing of the failure we suffered a critical error with the setup of the website but I couldn’t even start to sort it out until my phone line was repaired and even then, the web hosts support team couldn’t agree on the issue or how to best fix it. After about six hours of chat with the support team I finally got to the bottom of it and started building the new website and then my internet failed again! During this saga I was also editing TUG so if you get to read this by group night it will be a miracle! Open Reach are returning tomorrow (Monday) so fingers crossed. In the meantime, if you would like to access our other social media such as Facebook or you need the membership form you can find all the links on Linktree.
Use this QR code to find EAMG on Linktree where you can access all of our social media channels and the membership form.
I have been asked a few times if there is another video in the works and the answer is yes. There are few in progress, the first of which is well advanced. I just need a couple more pieces of video to complete so if you see me on a ride with my camera shortly you could be staring in it. Don’t worry, I will ask you first. Graham Simpkins, Editor webmaster@eamg.org.uk
COVER PHOTO Members bikes outside Little Channels. www.eamg.org.uk
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CHAIRMAN’S PIECE Hello everyone. Welcome again to the start of another year, don't they seem to fly by faster and faster. In the past year (2023) we have seen our membership increase by just over 10%. A very good result and due in no uncertain terms to the huge efforts from all those who volunteer to keep the group going with their effort drive and input. We will be looking at progressing with our marketing communications, these will be more carefully targeted which we anticipate will contribute to a further increase in membership too. The training team are now very well established, working incredibly well as a unit and are probably the leading training team in a very wide area. We do get superb feedback from the regional advanced riding examiners who say that our candidates taking advanced tests are well above average of what is normally presented to them in riding skills. So much so that the pass rate from Eamg is around 80% for RoSPA Gold. Due to these excellent results local examiners and some riding schools are more than happy to recommend us to anyone who asks them about advanced training. This has been achieved through longer term planning that started 18 months or so ago and bloody hard work! The training team liaise closely with the Eamg committee to look at how we move forward together and what assistance is needed to keep the wheels turning (excuse my awful pun). It is a joint effort and one that must have new blood from time to time, so if anyone wants to join our committee or training team to keep this great group going then please do not hesitate in asking how you could help us. It would be lovely if we could organise some short stay away trips in the UK. Wales is always a firm favourite, but needs a minimum of 2 nights away, and the weather is a bit unpredictable for some. I am sure many of our members know of good places to stay that might accommodate a group, maybe in Norfolk Lincs. Leics. etc or The West country? I would love to generate these trips as I find they make us bond much more, and from then on people link up to carry on going on rides, trips etc creating long lasting friendships. I urge you to let me know any of your recommendations. We seem to have settled in nicely at Little Channels with the attendance being a stable number that pretty much fills the room with the year ending with a lovely Xmas dinner, I must say Channels excelled themselves that night and I am very much looking forward to this year’s Xmas dinner. We are in the process of updating our website and I am keen to drive more traffic through our forum, perhaps we can have a members recommended routes section here which could be of interest, also we are getting a few motorcycle related businesses make contact with us and we could potentially mention them on the forum, if they are going to be kind to us like Sporstbike Shop are with our group discount. This is your group at the end of the day, so we do need your input help and ideas. These are always welcome so please do not hold back. I thank you all for your continued support, but please do show your appreciation for all our wonderful volunteers who keep the wheels turning. Ride safe and keep well. Michel Couque, Eamg Chairman www.eamg.org.uk
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Please do not forget to book your tickets for the BBQ 28th August at simply £2 per head. Book your places by emailing Clive Taylor at treasurer@eamg.org.uk when you have made payment online.
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Know The Training Team A RoSPA gold test pass is the minimum requirement for anyone wishing to become an EAMG Observer but we also have a system in place to ensure we maintain the highest standards within the team. It starts with our Senior Observer Assessors (SOA’s) who undergo periodic training and assessments with recognised independent training bodies such as Rapid Training to ensure that their riding and observing abilities are to a high standard. The SOA’s in turn assess other members of the team as well as each other to ensure high and consistent standards are being maintained. Training Team members also regularly participate in Peer-to-Peer training days where they assess each other’s riding and observing to ensure we continue to provide our members with the highest quality training we can. The number of EAMG members achieving RoSPA gold test passes is testament to the hard work put in by our dedicated training team.
Senior Observer Assessors Graham Cooper
Mick Hewitt
John Tipper
John Tullett
Andy Parnham
Phil Reader
Paul Reynolds
Senior Observers Clint Bardwell
Paul Carden
Observers Michel Couque
Colin Digby
Colin Foley
Danny Rutter
Terry Sullivan
Phil Wilkinson
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Recent EAMG Rides and Outings
Associate and full members ride to the Roots & Shoots Garden Centre Café, Stowmarket.
Visit to P&A Wood Rolls-Royce and Bentley garage to view their beautiful heritage collection. All photos courtesy of Tony Seaman.
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A Look Back at December Group Night We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas quiz night hosted once again by Chris Johnson who’s lovely family joined him as always to assist with marking and scoring.
Your TUG editor was delighted to be on the wining table for the first (and maybe the last) time!
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EAMG Christmas Dinner
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EAMG Christmas Dinner continued.
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Graham Simpkins.
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2024 EAMG EVENT DIARY Month
Date
February
Tuesday, 6 Sunday, 11th Sunday, 25th Tuesday, 5th
March
th
See Forum / Facebook for details Sunday, 10th Sunday, 17th Sunday, 24th
April
Saturday, 30th Sunday, 31st Tuesday, 2nd
See Forum / Facebook for details Sunday, 7th Sunday, 14th Sunday, 14th May
Sunday, 21st Sunday, 5th Tuesday, 7th
See Forum / Facebook for details
June
Sunday, 12th Sunday, 19th Sunday, 26th Sunday, 2nd Tuesday,4th
See Forum / Facebook for details Sunday, 9th Sunday, 23rd Sunday, 30th July
Sunday, 30th Tuesday, 2nd
See Forum / Facebook for details
August
Sunday, 7th Sunday, 14th Sunday, 14th Sunday, 21st Sunday, 4th Tuesday, 6th
See Forum / Facebook for details Sunday, 11th Sunday, 18th
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Event Group Night - AGM Group Training (GT) Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Observer Peer to Peer Ride (2401) Chairman’s Easter Ride Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Associate/Full Member Training (AMT/FMT 2401) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Colin's Full Member Ride Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Colin's Full Member Ride Observer Peer to Peer Ride (2402) Slow Riding Day, North Weald Airfield Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Associate/Full Member Training (AMT/FMT 2402) Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Colin's Full Member Ride Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Observer Peer to Peer Ride (2403) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Colin's Full Member Ride
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2024 EAMG EVENT DIARY Month
Date Sunday, 25
September
th
Sunday, 1 Sunday, 1st Sunday, Tuesday, 3rd
Sunday, 6th Sunday, 13th Sunday, 20th Sunday, 20th Tuesday, 5th Sunday, 10th Sunday, 17th Sunday, 24th Sunday, 1st Tuesday, 3rd Sunday, 8th Sunday, 15th
Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night Group Training (GT) – Remembrance Sunday Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Colin's Full Member Ride Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Group Night - Xmas Quiz Group Training (GT) Colin's Full Member Ride
Sunday, 8th Sunday, 15th Sunday 22nd Sunday, 29th Tuesday, 1st
See Forum / Facebook for details
November
December
Associate/Full Member Training (AMT/FMT 2403) Slow Riding Day, North Weald Airfield Audrey & John’s Cotswolds Ride Copdock Show TBA Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride Observer Peer to Peer Ride (2404) Colin's Full Member Ride Group Night Bob Cowl / Dave Hawke Mid-Week Social Ride for all. March to October only. Group Training (GT) Associate/Full Member Training (AMT/FMT 2404) Mick & Alan’s Associate/Member Ride
st
See Forum / Facebook for details
October
Event
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