December 2019
 
Dates For Your Diary
 
 
Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of every month at Liddington Village Hall, opposite the church
      
 
10 Jan 2020 - Christmas Meal at the Cross Keys in Rowde; food and skittles. More details in the Newsletter
 
13 Jan - No Meeting
 
10 Feb  - Graham Feest - Road Safety Consultant
 
9 March - Denis McCann - Dealing with Dyslexia
 
13 April - No Meeting it is Easter Monday
 
11 May - Mark Tunstall - Oils and Lubrication
  
 
Skillshare
 
The next Skillshare will be held in April 2020.
  
               

Monthly Ride-Outs
Remember that monthly Bike Ride-Outs take place on the 3rd Saturday of every month. Check the Forum for details
Do you have a topic you would like discussed, or know of an interesting speaker?  Please contact Les Brown!
 
 
Congratulations

Congratulations to the following members who have passed their Advanced Tests recently:  

No test reported this month - remember to let us know when you pass your test.
 
Welcome
 
Please welcome the following new members to the Group  
 
Ruth Mitchell Bike
Thomas Young Bike
 
 
 
 
Merchandise
Don’t forget that we have a range of clothing available to purchase. We also offer a range of books, such as Roadcraft, Motorcycle Roadcraft and the Highway Code, and these are available at discounted prices.

For more information visit the Merchandise page of our web site at www.wiltshireroadar.co.uk.
We are always looking for more articles, ideas and news for the newsletter. Have you been somewhere interesting recently that would make a good story? If you attend any group events then take a camera and send us your pictures!

Please forward all contributions to newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk
 
 
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Happy New Year
 
I wish you all a very Happy New Year.  As we roll into 2020 there is alot to look forward to, not just the longer days and the prospect of spring on the horizon.  For the Group we will continue to maintain our standards and provide the best training and support for those who want to test their driving and riding skills to the highest level.  Please do not underestimate the contribution we all make to road safety; judging by some of the driving I saw driving the 1000 miles I have driven over the Christmas break there is more to do!  I have had thanks from serving and retired traffic police officers who are amazed what we do as volunteers and we should all be proud of our achievements.
 
I am hoping there will be more sharing of best practice between RoADAR groups this year.  Our Regional Coordinator has already proposed a regional development day where groups come together and help each other improve knowledge and standards.  I have accepted his invitation  and look forward to further details in due course; If you have any issues you wish to cover at this event please do let the Committee know -or speak to the respective training officers.  We have also challenged RoDAR HQ to ensure best practice is shared across RoDAR as a whole; we will see what comes of this in the New Year
 
The bike tutors are already working with Wiltshire Police (in conjunction with WABAM) in supporting the BikeSafe training days.  This is a superb opportunity for us to maintain relations with our County’s Police Force and also to share ideas with other advanced organisations.  I know many of us are members of more than one organisation so please so continue with this liaison and share ideas – no one has the monopoly of good ideas so please do keep us informed of what is going on out there.
 
To expand on the sharing point please do submit articles for the newsletter.  Any topic related to what we do is good fodder; be it just a report of a trip, your experiences of your first (or subsequent test) or some knowledge you want to impart to the rest of the Group.  Please submit anything to the Chairman and secretary for inclusion.
 
I look forward to seeing you all over the next year at meetings, training rides, Skillshare or out on the road
 
 
Regards
 
Bob
December Meeting and look ahead 
 
December Meeting
 
A big thank you to Les Brown for providing the entertainment at the December meeting in the form of a Highway Code quiz.  This was done to the DVLA standards and I am pleased to say all present passed (although not everyone achieved 100% - more work for the Chairman in the new year!).
 
Well done Les and thanks again for a challenging and fun hour.
 
Next Year’s Speakers
 
Les has also worked hard on putting together speakers for next year and we have the following in the near future.
 
Mon 13th Jan     No meeting – Annual Dinner and Skittles on 10 Jan
 
Mon 10th Feb    Graham Feest Rod safety consultant.
 
More details about graham can be found here and his website is here .  This will be an interesting evening for all of us and an opportunity to learn the latest and also debate with a road safety professional.
 
Mon 09th Mar    Denis McCann    Dyslexia  
 
Denis is one of our Bike Advanced Tutors and holds the RoSPA diploma.  He also teaches for a living so is skilled in applying different approaches to allow those with dyslexia to reach their full potential.  About 10% of the population have dyslexia so it is important we all (and particularly tutors) understand how we can assist others who may need a coping mechanism.
 
Mon13th Apr  (Easter Monday)     No Meeting   
 
Mon 11th May     Mark Tunstall     Oils and lubrication
 
Mark is one of our members and a passionate Blood Biker.  He has spent 40 years in the oil and lubrication industry and has an in-depth knowledge of the specifications and performance of all oils and lubrications – add bit more knowledge to your pre drive/ride checks and Mark will also help us avoid some of the advertising hype.
 
New Speakers
 
Les is working hard to fill the rest of the year’s speakers if you have any ideas please let him know
 
 
Christmas Meal
 
In lieu of January's monthly meeting we will be holding our annual meal on 10 Jan 2020, from 8pm at the Cross Keys Pub in Rowde SN10 2PN (http://www.crosskeysrowde.co.uk/index) in the Skittle Alley so be prepared for some gentle competition.This was a great success last year with some "friendly" skittle play going on!
 
Mary Southgate has offered to organise the event for which we are all very grateful.
 
To keep the administration easy and to aid mixing during the evening we are proposing a buffet and some skittles. Details are being finalised so we can advise on the buffet in case there are some other preferences or dietary requirements which need addressing
 
A £10 per person deposit sent to the Treasurer using our Barclay's account will secure your place; please include your name and Xmas as a reference.
Sort Code 20-84-58, Account Number 80006998.
 

 
Newsletter from our Regional Coordinator - Martin Powell.
 
This is the last newsletter of my first year as your coordinator. It has been a very pleasant surprise when I have visited some of the groups to be met with great enthusiasm (I have not visited all the groups yet), I also realise the work is done without pay well done.

I have recently visited the Gloucester Group, I was made very welcome and drank lots of coffee? At the moment they have agreed to put on a regional get together in late spring early summer next year.They have use of a very modern and large Fire station which has a good car park and several conference type rooms, along with a street mock up. I would like if possible different groups to put on themes in relation to advanced driving and riding, so please come forward and volunteer. I think workstations with lively discussion would make for a very interesting day. We would also like to provide ride/drive outs for RoSPA members and the public. The day is in a very early part of the planning process but we need your ideas.
 
I have had several enquiries about the training and signing off of Tutors, it would appear that some groups have no way of doing this? I have also heard that some groups with diploma holders would be prepared to perhaps help with this it may involve some travelling. Some form of basic expenses may be requested. The diploma course is perhaps the obvious choice but it is not perhaps everybody’s chosen route into becoming a tutor. So you can either contact me or try a local group near to you to see if a diploma holder is available and willing to train or sign off tutors.   
 
Have a great new year 
Thanks Martin
 
07542 174899
mpowell@rospa.com 
 
Member's Activities
Have you been up to anything to do with Riding or Driving lately? If so, then please let us know as we would love to include it here; photos would be great too!
 
Notices
 
   
First Aid Training
 
It is intended to provide a first aid training day (subsidised by the Group).  This is highly recommended for all tutors as part of our responsibilities for the safety of our associates but also an excellent skill for all of us; you never know when you will need it.  It is compulsory training for me at work and one of my colleagues saved her husband’s life as she had first aid training.
 
This will probably be on a Saturday early in the first quarter of 2020 but we need to know how many are interested so we can plan accordingly. Please register your interest with the Chairman
 
 
Any Spare Motorcycle clothing?

The Blue Knights England 18 Young rider safety initiative started as the result of comments made about seeing young riders on the roads dressed inappropriately. We've all seen the young L plated riders - shorts, T shirt, trainers and we've all commented on it; but the question remained-Why are they dressed like this?

So, with this in mind contact was made with a Devon based training college called PETROC that has campus sites at Barnstaple and Tiverton. Conversation with the young riders there revealed  mopeds and 125's were transport to and from college for these riders as there were no other options available. In most cases, extended family members e.g grandparents, had purchased the bikes and a helmet, insurance and MOTquite often funded by parents or aunts and uncles. Disposable money being limited meant jackets, gloves, leggings etc just could not be afforded. We found that it wasn't unusual for these young riders to be covering 20 to 45 mile round trips daily to attend college in all weathers, totally ill protected against the elements.

 A collection of unwanted but still serviceable motorcycling clothing was made in my chapter and in September 2018 we attended the freshers’ week at the Barnstaple campus, this resulted in us kitting out 26 young riders.

Since then we have received further donations from local MC clubs. The only thing that we do not take is previously used helmets as we cannot prove their provenance.
We continue to engage with these young riders who have shown us  they know they should be wearing kit, they understand the importance of doing so and they genuinely are appreciative of receiving donated items. We receive positive feedback from the riders, the parents, other motorcycle riders and other clubs.

We would not be able to offer this service if it were not for the generosity of fellow bikers for which we are extremely grateful. Please could members contact Andrew Peaple if they have any kit spare they are willing to donate.
 
Thank you
 
Skillshare  - Back in April 2020
 
Geeks Corner - Membership
 
 
Membership stats for November
 
  • Membership overall – 131 on database;
  • Car Members - 55
  • Bike Members - 69
  • Dual membership - 7
  • Tutors 21 in total;
  • 5 Advanced Bike; 4 Advanced Car; 7 Approved Bike;5 Approved Car 
 
Communication 
Committee minutes   
 
These are available from the Group Secretary if any member wishes to see them. If you are interested in reading the minutes, then please send a mail to the Group Secretary whom will promptly forward them onto you.
 
 Forum

Please could all Members use the Forum on the Website which can be used for any purpose but particularly coordinating events, hints, tips and general conversation.  It is easy to register on the website so please do log on and chat away.
      
 
Test results 
 
Reminder to let the Membership Secretary and your tutor know when you have taken your Advanced Driving/Riding Test and result. This is so our database is kept up to date; there is no need or pressure at all to have the result published on the website or in this newsletter if you wish to keep your result confidential.  
 
RoADAR Head Office facebook Page
 
Reminder of the page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/161699161113584/ or type in RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders in to your facebook.
 
 
 
Membership Secretary: Mr Gary Franks
Hon Secretary: Mr Peter Genet
secretary@wiltshireroadar.co.uk
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