I was just headlining this report and found myself entering January 2006 on the heading and had the thought “ where has this year gone” or is it my age that makes time fly? The next report will have seen the branch Christmas dinner been and gone and the next report after that, may have been written by someone else, because by that time we will have had the branch A.G.M. (Jan 18th 2006) where all posts on the committee are up for grabs. I think that maybe a bit of new blood may be welcome writing the reports.

Not too much to report on the riding front because of the atrocious weather we have been having around these parts, with hard frosts covering the ground all day. To allay all fears that the “old sod has lost his nerve” I took the Thunderbird out for a spin the other day, after my recent meeting with the tarmac, and got myself back into the groove again. All traces of aches and pains, (those caused by the contact, that is) now seem to have disappeared and so you can put the electric buggy away folks – I definitely won’t need it!

The last meeting in November was very well attended, as we had a very special visitor present, which was Norman Hyde who came up to give us a talk on his days at Meriden. Norman kept every one well entertained with stories of the characters and goings on at the factory, with some very enlightening tales of engines at full revs on the brake test machine – very scary indeed. It’s very surprising how quick 90 minutes go when you’ve got a good storyteller in front of you. So many, many thanks to you from all the members present Norman. Also we give many thanks to Mick Goddard, for his organising of the visit and his introduction on the night.

It was also nice to see faces in the room that we don’t see on normal club nights, let’s see more of you in the near future. It was nice also seeing Fred and Sylvia along, with also a special mention for editor Dave Measures, a real motorcyclist, who rode his bike up from Bridgford Notts when the weather wasn’t too promising, on a night when only one other local lad (Bill) turned out on a bike. Well done to you Dave!

Well it leaves me to say, wrap up well and enjoy any nice day that comes along, in what they say will be a very cold winter.

GLOVEBOX.