Dear Wakefield MAG Member,
Welcome to the Wakefield MAG e-newsletter. If you can't attend our Wednesday meetings regularly, it's the next best thing to keep you up to date with what we are up to.
CONTENTS
1) Bingo Night Report
2) Halloween Incident in Leeds
3) An Evening With Ian Mutch
4) Yorkshire Region AGM
5) 2017 Rally Dates
6) Kidzaware Christmas Toy Collection
7) Biker Quiz Nite
8) Remembrance Sunday
9) Christmas Do
10) Forthcoming Events (for November and beyond)
Check out the event Report: Here
2) Halloween Incident in Leeds
You have probably seen the news reports of anti-social behaviour in Leeds on the 31st October, perpetrated by a large number of off-road bikes and quads: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-37830539. MAG has been quick to issue the following press release on the matter:
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the UK's leading voice for riders' rights, has slammed the 'irresponsible and dangerous behaviour' of 200 antisocial hooligans in Leeds as 'the worst example of behaviour in recent years.'
MAG's Regional Representative, Richard 'Manny' Manton, has distanced the organisation from any association whatsoever with the antics of the louts: 'MAG has been promoting responsible and considerate riding for over 40 years. The overwhelming majority of riders respect and uphold the principles of good road craft and thoughtful use of our highways. From time to time all activities attract a hooligan element that reflect very badly on the individuals themselves.
'These people are not riders in the proper sense, but idiots on two wheels, just as some choose to act irresponsibly on four wheels - or on foot. MAG would like to reiterate that those tearing through the streets on motorcycles with complete disregard for others are not a true representation of the majority of riders in the UK, and deserve to be prosecuted for breaches of the laws currently in place in the interests of public safety.'
The Chair of MAG, Selina Lavender, says the organisation is contacting the police and the local authorities to discuss how best to address these issues in the longer term. 'The laws already exist to prosecute these immature and stupid fools. We're exploring whether there is a way MAG can assist with educating younger people to understand the idiocy of this behaviour and thereby use social pressure as a powerful tool to prevent a recurrence of such an incident in future.'
Various MAG representatives have given statements to the press, including a slot on Radio 4 with MAG's Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Lembit Opik. As you are aware, the West Yorkshire MAG groups have been working tirelessly with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to improve conditions for motorcyclists and put us on an equal footing with other vulnerable road users in the county. Unfortunately, incidents like these do great harm to our efforts, through mere association. There is a very real danger that our innocent law abiding activities (ride-outs and other legitimate gatherings) will be curtailed by knee jerk reactions by the authorities to 'stamp out' such behaviour. It is important therefore that the law abiding motorcycling community (which is by far the overwhelming majority of us) make it very clear that we do not condone these actions. If you happen to come across any information relating to this, or other planned anti-social activities involving bikes, be sure to report it to the police: www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ClickB4UCall
Leeds MAG have arranged for MAG El Presidente Ian Mutch to come and give a talk to Yorkshire MAG members about his involvement in MAG from the early days and his various travels. This will take place at The Royal Hotel, 30 Station Street, Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 8PR on Tuesday 13 December 2016, at 8.00 pm.
Entry is £6 per person and includes a pie and pea supper (veggie option available - please advise when booking). Attendance is strictly limited to 50, so if you would like to attend, please contact your local MAG rep to arrange payment ahead of the event and to book your place:
The Yorkshire Region AGM was held on Saturday 15th October 2016, at the White Horse in Hutton Cranswick. The key points of note from the AGM are:
As some of you will need to book holiday, or whatever it is you need to do to make time for the best bike only rallies in the UK, here are the dates of the main Yorkshire MAG events for 2017:
As per previous years, we will be getting our branch ticket allocation for sale at our meetings around February / March time. Remember, sale or return tickets are now on offer to MAG branches nationally, not just those in Yorkshire. This means that the Yorkshire Pudding Rally will sell out even quicker than in other years. We say it every year, but, if you want tickets to this most excellent rally, get them sooner rather than later as they WILL sell out !!!
We'll let you know when we get our tickets, and in the meantime, make a note of the above dates in your 'motorcycle' diaries.
6) Kidzaware Christmas Toy Collection
We have now firmed up details of our forthcoming charity event for Wakefield based charity Kidzaware. We are collecting toys and presents (age range: A few months to early twenties) which we will deliver to the charity mid-late November. We will also need volunteers to help wrap the presents at the charity once they have been sorted and allocated to the children / young adults, based on their respective disabilities.
Please bring along any toys / presents (unwrapped at this stage) to any Wednesday Wakefield MAG meeting, up to and including the Quiz night on Wednesday 16th November (see below). If you can't make a meeting but would still like to donate some toys / presents, please let us know, and we'll arrange to collect them from you. Let us know also if you would like to volunteer to help wrap them.
The legendary and hugely popular Wakefield MAG Bikers Quiz Nite is this month !!!
The quiz will be held at 8:00pm on Wednesday 16th November 2016 at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield, WF1 4EJ. We wont mess with a winning formula so it's the same tried and tested 60 questions, 30 of which will be motorcycle related and 30 will be general knowledge (but there will be a bike related link / theme somewhere, however tenuous). The quiz is hotly contested throughout Yorkshire and the prestigious roll of honour is:
Who will win in 2016 ? .... Leeds Again Probably !
Open to All. £1 entry fee p.p. Team (Max. 5) or individual entry. Great prizes for the winners (1st, 2nd & 3rd), plus booby prize for the least number of correct answers.
And just for a change ....... All proceeds to the MAG Fighting Fund ;-)
Wakefield MAG will be attending en-masse the City of Wakefield Remembrance Sunday Memorial Service on Sunday 13th November. We have attended this service for more years now than we care to remember, to honour the fallen from our own area, in our own area. We will again be laying a Wakefield MAG wreath at the war memorial, that we have already purchased from the Royal British Legion. Following the Wakefield Service, we will be attending (at the invitation of the RBLR), the parade and service in nearby Mirfield - The role of the motorcyclists, is to lead the procession through Mirfield, with the marching bands, service personnel, cadets, veterans, and everyone else following on behind. The remembrance parade culminates in an afternoon service at Mirfield War Memorial. The Mirfield parade is billed as the largest outside London and usually gets covered in the BBC Look North News that evening.
Meet 10:50 (or earlier) at the Wood Street War Memorial in Wakefield for the City of Wakefield Remembrance Sunday Memorial Service. We will then be riding over to the Old Colonial pub in Mirfield, to meet up at 13:00ish with the Royal British Legion Riders (RBLR). We will be leaving the pub at 13:30 for a ride to the Mirfield parade which starts at 14:00, followed by the service at Mirfield War Memorial. As a thank you for attending, food is laid on afterwards at the Old Colonial by landlord Tim. Hope you can attend both and let's have a big turnout of bikes to honour the fallen from all armed conflicts, and to show our respect.
Our Christmas do will be held on Saturday 3rd December, starting at the Smokehouse Real BBQ, Wood Street, Wakefield (where we went in 2015). We have made a provisional booking for 15, but we can always add more numbers. The meal will be at 13:00, and suitably fed, we will venture on to many of the Merrie Cities fine hostelries for multiple goblets of foaming ale. You can come for the meal, or meet us at one of the many pubs in town, or do both ... the choice is yours. Wakefield MAG Christmas Do's are always highly memorable, and if last years Christmas do is any indication, we are in for a jolly good time .... Check out the previous event report(s) if you don't believe me !!!
If you want a reservation making for the meal, let us know (we are collecting deposits now).
Christmas hats and reindeer antlers strictly optional. Hope to see you there.
Smokehouse Wakefield Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Smokehousewoodstreet/
10) Forthcoming Events (for November and beyond)
Sunday 13th November - Wakefield MAG at the City of Wakefield Memorial Sunday Parade & Service
See Above. Meet at 10:50, Wood Street War Memorial, Wakefield. There is a Rideout afterwards to the Royal British Legion Riders Branch event at Mirfield, following our attendance at the Remembrance Service.
Wednesday 16th November - Wakefield MAG 13th Annual Bikers Quiz Nite
See Above.
Saturday 26th November - West Yorkshire MAG FLAMING ROSE TREFFEN
A celebration of MAG working together for the bikers of West Yorkshire. The Green Dragon, Hardraw, Yorkshire Dales DL8 3LZ (01969 667392). Camping £8 pppn (still available), bunk rooms £18 pppn (places still available), en suite rooms from £30 pppn (sold out)
Saturday 3rd December - Wakefield MAG Christmas Do
See Above.
Tuesday 13th December - Leeds MAG presents 'An Evening With Ian Mutch'
See Above. The Royal Hotel, 30 Station Street, Leeds, LS28 8PR, starting at 8.00 pm. £6 per person (includes pie and pea supper).
Wednesday 14th December - Leeds MAG Toy Run
Assemble from 6pm at the Cardigan Fields Leisure Complex Car Park, Kirkstall Road, LS4 2GD (behind McDonalds). Depart 6.30pm prompt. Arrive at Lineham Farm Childrens Centre, Swan Lane, Eccup, Leeds LS16 8AZ at 7pm. Please bring wrapped toys marked boy or girl to a value of approx £6. The children will be ages 8-11. All trikes and 2 wheelers welcome (& cars if the weather is poor)
See the events page for further details and more !!!
That's all for this month, and I hope to see you all soon.
Ride Safe .. Ride Free
Steve Travis
Chairman (since the early Carboniferous Period)
Wakefield MAG
0772 078 4734
Wakefield MAG meet at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield at 8:30pm every Wednesday. New (and Old) faces are always welcome.