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) 6th Wakefield MAG Biker Quiz Nite
2) November Rideout Report
3) SOS Appeal
4) Christmas Pub Crawl
5) Wakefield AGM
6) Post Christmas Auction
7) Wakefield MAG is going to the dogs
8) Forum
9) 2010 Rideouts & Events
10) Wakefield MAG One Night Rally
11) Branch Products
12) MAG Film
13) Christmas Meetings
14) Forthcoming Events (for December and beyond)
1) 6th Wakefield MAG Biker Quiz Nite
We held our 6th Wakefield MAG Biker Quiz Nite on Wednesday 18th November, in the Grey Horse. We had a record attendance this year with 13 teams taking part, totalling over 80 people. The back room of the Grey Horse was absolutely packed out, and we had to borrow numerous tables and chairs from the lounge bar. Great to welcome along teams from the VJMC, VSOC (Yorkies), York Bike Night, Leeds MAG, Huddersfield MAG, York MAG, Barnsley MAG, 5 Towns MCC, Colne Valley MAG & others (thousand apologies if you haven't got a mention), in addition to several Wakefield MAG teams.
We had a revised format to the quiz this year with 60 questions in total being asked, 30 pure bike / biking knowledge questions and 30 general knowledge (but with a bike related link, however tenuous).
First set of 5 were TV/Film related general knowledge, then 5 bike related, 5 music, 5 motorcycle sport, 5 history, 5 bike knowledge, 5 current affairs, 5 bike knowledge, 5 geography, 5 bike knowledge, 5 general sport, rounding off with a final 5 bike knowledge. Some of the bike knowledge questions really tested the grey matter, but if it's too easy, it's not worth winning is it ?
A 20 minute fag / drink / food break was taken after all the questions had been asked, time to swap the papers with your neighbouring team ready for marking, with Lisa, our ever keen fund raiser selling tickets for our weekly raffle. Some players were cheating slightly with crafty 'phone-a-friend' lifelines, but we won't go into that (will we Barnsley Bob !!!).
Time then to go through the answers and mark the papers, and what a feisty crowd it was in the Grey Horse that night, with folks clamouring for that extra ½ point (amazing how beer prizes brings out the competitive nature in people isn't it ?!?!?!).
And the results of the Quiz were ............ cue drum roll ..........
Previous years, the quiz has either made a loss (having failed to cover the cost of the prizes), or just about broke even. This year, the quiz, together with the raffle, raised £125, which after deducting the cost of the prizes, made MAG a hundred quid. What a fantastic result. Equally amazing (although it is more of a miracle to be honest) .... Wakefield MAG won our own quiz .... the first time in 6 years. Although with just a ½ point in it, there is no resting on our laurels, and we have Leeds MAG (who have won it 4 times previously), very much snapping at our heels.
It was a brilliant night and the split bike & general knowledge theme went down very well, so I think we'll be repeating that format next year. Educational and fun (why couldn't school have been like this ?!?!!?).
A huge thanks again to everyone who turned up and contributed to a most memorable quiz .... which WE WON !!!!!!!!!!
We had a last minute change of plan for our final branch run on Sunday 8th November. Late at the Wednesday meeting, it was suggested by RAF veteran Chas, that as it was Remembrance Sunday, should we go to the ceremony, two-minute silence and wreath laying at the war memorial on Wood Street first, to pay our respects, prior to the rideout. It was a overwhelming unanimous decision. The web site was quickly updated and a note sent round the email distribution list to inform participants of the change of plan.
Sunday 8th was a pretty damp and dismal day (well, it was November in Yorkshire, so it shouldn't really have been much of a surprise !!!). We had a large turnout at Stork Lodge, despite the crappy weather. John and a handful of others weren't aware of the plan change and had arranged to meet up with friends en-route to Matlock Bath, at Glossop, so left at 10:00. The rest of us had a short ride across Wakefield, to the car park on Northgate, and a walk up to the Wood Street war memorial. There was a large crowd already gathered, which was particularly pleasing to see. At 10:45, the parade, which had set off from the cathedral, marched up Rishworth Street, led by the 9th Parachute Squadron of the Royal Engineers, in their No.1 uniform and campaign medals, followed by our local TA regiment, army, navy & sea cadets, police, fire service, a big group of veterans, scouts and numerous others.
The service started after the 11:00 town hall bells, with the two-minute silence and wreath laying, led by the Very Reverend Jonathan Greener, Dean of Wakefield. The service was over by 11:30, and with the weather still poor, we decided to not go to Matlock Bath, but instead, head to somewhere a bit closer, with Holmfirth being chosen as a favourite. But first, we were to head to the cafe at Kirklees Light Railway at Clayton West, for a much needed hot cuppa.
The group got split up coming out of Wakefield so we had a bit of a search for stragglers, before getting a phone call that they were already at Clayton West wondering where we were - DOH !!!
A much needed hot cuppa was had at the Kirklees Light Railway, by which time we only had a few hours of daylight left, so decided to cut the rideout short, and head home. We later got a report from John and the others who had headed off to Matlock Bath earlier that morning, that given the damp and dismal weather, we had made the right choice.
So, a bit of a short final rideout for 2009, but all agreed that attending the Remembrance Sunday service to pay our respects had been a great thing to do - a top idea from Chas !!!
It was agreed at the following Wednesday branch meeting, that we should make this an annual event and even get a Wakefield MAG wreath to lay at the memorial next year (so, keep Sunday 14th November 2010 clear in your diary !!!).
Wakefield MAG supported this years Support our Soldiers (SOS) 2009 Christmas Parcel Appeal by collecting items to send to our service personnel serving overseas this Christmas. Our Social committee had the idea after seeing a flyer for the appeal, from the Idle Trike & Bike Club in Bradford. The idea was that you fill empty shoe boxes with numerous goodies (Seasonal Stuff, Savoury Items, Sweet Items, Toiletries, Clothing etc), and these are posted out to our troops for Christmas Presents, via the Support Our Soldiers Charity (Registered Charity Number 1120684).
The appeal went out for items at our branch meeting on 4th November, and via our mailing list and web site. The following week, we were swamped with goodies. We had collected 15 full shoe boxes just from Wakefield MAG members alone, together with a further 17 from family and friends. .Sue, Lorna, Mo & Pingy took all 32 boxes over to the Idle Trike & Bike Club in Bradford, where they got a very warm welcome, together with food and hot drinks. There was a great atmosphere and they were very grateful for the support. Our boxes were added to around 200 others, which were then taken to the Support our Soldiers (SOS) charity HQ, in nearby Bingley.
A huge thank you to all those MAG and non-MAG members who so generously donated to the appeal. It is hugely appreciated. Some of the boxes are en-route to Afghanistan, and some will go to injured service personnel who are recuperating in hospital in Birmingham.
Each Wakefield MAG box contained a Christmas card signed by all of us, together with one of our branch stickers, so keep watching the TV news, as you may just see a Wakefield MAG sticker on a Challenger 2 battle tank (how cool would that be !!).
Our Christmas Do this year will be one of our now legendary pub crawls, starting out from the Jockey on Northgate, Wakefield, at 19:30 on Saturday 5th December. The route is being kept a closely guarded secret by our Social Committee, but will involve a number of pubs in-between the Jockey and our HQ, the Grey Horse, which is our final destination.
Fancy Dress, Reindeer Antlers and Santa Hats are all strictly optional.
Really hope you can make it and i'll see you there.
Our 8th branch AGM will be held in the Grey Horse, on Wednesday 13th January, starting at 8:30pm. All members are invited to attend this special meeting, so please try to attend if you can. At this meeting there will be a review of the year, elections for the branch committee and the prize giving for our branch heroes. As this meeting is effectively a MAG political meeting, it carries with it a whopping 75 branch points for everyone who attends (a normal branch meeting only carries 5 points). As all the points are tallied at year end and go towards the branch heroes presentation, points really do mean prizes !!!! What better boost to your branch heroes tally for the new year !!!
The Annual Wakefield MAG mailshot will shortly be posted to all eligible Members, i.e. current or recently expired MAG members with a WF postcode, to formally place notice for the meeting. The meeting is also advertised in the events section on the MAG (UK) website, and the previous AGM minutes are posted on this website (under the AGM's menu item, spookily enough !!).
A vacancy will exist on the branch committee for a Products Officer, as Mick Culpan is standing down at the AGM. Mick's employer is relocating and he will be working away from home in Coventry for the foreseeable future, so doesn't feel he'll be in a position to fulfil his duties. A huge thanks to Mick from all of Wakefield MAG, for the sterling service he has given over the past two years. If anyone is interested in standing for the Products Officer role at the AGM, please let me know.
Our 6th Post Christmas Auction will be held on Wednesday 27th January 2010, at 20:00, at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, and if previous years events are anything to go by, an event not to be missed. The idea is that you bring along all your unwanted Christmas presents, together with other stuff you no longer want, or have the room for, donate them to the branch, and we auction them off to the highest bidder.
Our last auction was our most successful yet, and raised nearly £450, which, bearing in mind the bidding on a lot of items started at 50p, was a staggering and truly impressive result !!!! Even more impressive was that this amount was more than £100 better than our previous best of £330, not a bad result considering the world was in a global recession !!! Of course, for 2010, we want to beat that !!!!
The auctions are always hugely entertaining and there are always some real quality items donated, and hence, some real bargains to be had.
Proceeds from the auction will be split with a 1/3 donation to a charitable cause(s) and 2/3 going to the MAG fighting fund. I hope to see you there (and don’t forget to bring your unwanted Christmas pressies !!!).
7) Wakefield MAG is going to the dogs
Wakefield MAG is going to the dogs !!!!
Some of you have suspected it for a while, and it's true, we are going to the dogs ......... at Kinsley Greyhound Stadium, on Friday 19th February.
The dog racing will cost £12, but that includes a meal, a pint and two complimentary betting slips, so it's a bit of a bargain all told, and promises to be a great night out. We will need a deposit (non-refundable) of £5 early in the new year, together with numbers (to confirm our places), so, if you would like to go, let us know asap.
Wakefield MAG now has it's very own forum, accessible from this web site (just click on the Forum menu button), or direct at: http://wakefieldmag.netboards.org
The forum can be used to have a chat, post comments, suggestions, ask questions or anything else that takes your fancy. So, be sure to sign-up to the forum and have your say !!!
If you can't attend our meetings regularly, use the forum, facebook group page (Wakefield MAG) or branch email (wfd_district_mag@hotmail.com) - it has never been easier to keep in touch and actively participate
We are currently planning our 2010 rideouts and are looking for destination suggestions. Already on the list for next year is a visit to the Craven Collection of Classic Motorcycles (www.cravencollection.co.uk), at Stockton on Forest, York, and a revisit to Lord Stones Cafe, at Carleton-in-Cleveland. A pilgrimage to the East Coast (Scarborough, or Whitby, or both !!!) is also a favourite for the summer, and July's rideout will be taken up by our popular annual Treasure Hunt . But that still leaves five rideouts to organise. If you have a good rideout destination in mind, do let us know !!!!!
Our events page on the web site has been comprehensively updated for 2010, with most of our planned events listed (even if some of the dates are still TBC). Be sure to check it out, as there is lot's to keep us all busy next year.
10) Wakefield MAG One Night Rally
We are at the very (very !!!) early stages of planning a Wakefield MAG One Night Rally/Event for next year. The event is likely to be at a rugby club type of venue, in or around the beautiful cathedral City of Wakefield, with all the usual attractions - live band(s), rock disco, raffle, food, lashings of beer, quality camping with proper toilets and showers (we spoil you !!!). The date is likely to be in July (Saturday 10th July 2010 is looking like a favourite at this stage).
More details as and when they get firmed up. However, what we need at this stage is a name for the aforementioned event ........ send in your suggestions (via email, forum, facebook, or in person at the meetings) ...... the best name suggested wins ....... absolutely nowt ....... other than the accolade of knowing you have named Wakefield MAG's inaugural One Night Rally/Event
We have a small number of Wakefield MAG branded Products in stock for immediate supply, including beanie hats, baseball caps, patches, stickers, bandanas, most clothing items and bike flags/pennants, so if you want something, please let me know. With Christmas just around the corner, remember that Wakefield MAG products make mighty fine Christmas presents !!! Aunty Ethel will just love that Wakefield MAG bandana, and it will go down a storm at the Darby and Joan Club !!!
MAG has commissioned a short (5 1/2 minute) promotional film, featuring MAG El Presidente, sea faring type and motorcycle adventurer, the one and only, Ian Mutch. The film is designed to be used as a campaigning tool, to show to MP's, Councillors, Govt officers and other officials, what MAG is all about, and to promote our on-going work for, and on behalf of, all users of powered two wheelers. The film is also a jolly good recruiting tool. A copy of the film is posted on UTube, and you can see it Here, or direct from the home page on the MAG (UK) web site.
Be sure to give it a watch, it's really rather good !!!!
Meetings as normal for Christmas week (Wednesday 23rd December) and the week after (Wednesday 30th December). Come down to the Grey Horse for a change from repeats on TV and turkey sandwiches !!!!
14) Forthcoming Events (for December and beyond)
Saturday 5th December - Wakefield MAG Christmas Pub Crawl
As detailed above. Meet 07:30pm at the Jockey, Northgate, Wakefield. Fancy Dress, Reindeer Antlers and Santa Hats strictly optional.
Wednesday 16th December - Leeds MAG Christmas Toy Run
Leeds MAG will be holding their annual Christmas Toy Run to Lineham Farm Children's Centre on Wednesday 16th December, starting out from the Dragon Hotel (150, Whitehall Road, Leeds) at 18:30, thereby giving plenty of time to go on the run and still be back in time for our weekly meeting at 20:30. Lineham Farm is a charity which provides outdoor activities and events for underprivileged children from Leeds and beyond. It’s a worthwhile cause which Leeds MAG have supported for a number of years. The centre at Lineham Farm has also been used by MAG on a number of occasions as a venue for Reps and MAG activist training weekends.
Friday 18th December - York MAG's Christmas Party
Live music from Go Commando, Raffle and Rock Disco, at the Independent, Lowther Street, York, YO31 7ND. Party starts at 19:30 and admission is £5. A good few of us from Wakefield are planning to attend so hope you can make it.
Wednesday 13th January 2010 - Wakefield MAG AGM
As detailed above.
Wednesday 27th January 2009 - Wakefield MAG 6th Post Christmas Auction
As detailed above.
Sunday 7th February - Fred Hill Memorial Run
The run assembles at Squires at 11:00, and leaves at 11:30 for a marshalled ride to the Sun Inn at Norwood near Otley. Wakefield MAG will meet at our usual point (Stork Lodge Tea Rooms, Thornes Park, Thornes Road, Wakefield) where we will have a mass ride–in to Squires. Meet at Stork Lodge Tea Rooms at 09:30, leaving at 10:00 for a scenic & leisurely ride to Squires where we will meet up with Leeds MAG (the organisers), other Yorkshire MAG branches and MCC’s for the Fred Hill memorial run
Saturday 13th February - Leeds MAG Valentines Party
Get loved up with Leeds MAG at their Valentines Party, at the Dragon Hotel, 150, Whitehall Road, Leeds, from 20:00
Friday 19th February - Wakefield MAG is going to the Dogs
As detailed above
That's all for this month, have a great Christmas, hope Santa brings you lots of biking goodies, and I hope to see you all soon.
Ride Safe
Steve Travis
Chairman
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.