Thunderbird
Times
Newsletter of the
Mighty
May
2008 Newsletter
4 May -Tadworth
Children’s Hospital (Roving Reporter Ian Thomas)
The
first I heard about the trip to Tadworth Children’s
Hospital was when Kelvin called to tell me off for missing so many meetings at
the pub. We really needed to sort out bits and pieces for The Sheepshagger Run and due to work commitments I was unable to meet up with
everybody to say what has been happening.
It sounds bad I know, but I managed to get the day off really to
give out the information for the run to
It was so good to see all the old faces at Box
Hill (old being the operative word) and a few new ones that I hadn’t
met before. After a lovely cup of cha Bob gathered the rabble together for the
run to the hospital. 24 people on 20 motorbikes in all departed for an eye
opening and certainly in my case emotional lunch with the children at Tadworth.
The welcome we received was even warmer than the sunshine that
was gloriously broiling us alive in our leathers by the time we arrived (the
sun always shines on the righteous). Bacon sandwiches and tea or coffee was
being handed out almost before we even had time to switch our engines off.
The children at Tadworth Hospital are
severely handicapped and not knowing anything about the hospital, its patients
or what to expect, added to the fact that I’m about to have my first child in
August, I must admit to being a little taken aback and intimidated by the whole
thing. (It’s not often I don’t know what to say or do). It would have been so
easy to turn up on the bikes and gather in groups to talk as opposed to
interacting with the children.
It is times like this when you realise
the strength and goodness of those people around you. I’m not what you call shy
by any stretch of the imagination but I didn’t know where to start. However
everybody to a man got stuck in right away and with the help of the fantastic carers we soon had the engines revving and the children
either playing with the bikes or even sitting on them and having their photos
taken. You could see in the faces of the children the joy and excitement they
found through the sound and vibration of the bikes, their parents and carers revelling in the stimulated
happiness shown by the children.
After increasing my carbon footprint by half a tank (along with
a few others I hasten to add) but bringing a lot of smiles all round we then
gathered the bikes for a photo shoot. I felt that everybody had a fantastic
time, children, carers, parents and bikers all had
genuine smiles and laughter rang round the hospital as easily as the exhaust
fumes.
It was with mixed feelings that I left the hospital for a pint
down the Rat that afternoon. On one hand I was very happy to have spent quality
time with the children, their parents and the carers
who were so welcoming and truly grateful for our time. On the other I really
felt for those people who cope every day with what must be very difficult times
for them all, and a small prayer that with my child due very soon that I
wouldn’t need to find the strength that these people showed.
Many thanks go out to Bob and Francis for organising
such a good day, one that has had a profound effect on me. I would also like to
add at this point that if the club wishes to do more for this hospital then
count me in....
All the best Ian (Rocketman) Thomas
Those
members that attended this remarkable visit felt as moved and touched as you
were Ian and yes, thanks must go out to
Bob and Frances who introduced us to this wonderful Charity – perhaps we
could arrange a few off-the-cuff visits
this year, get the pint pot out and fill
it up. If anyone would like to organise this and call up our members, just remember to
give us a ring too – we’ll be there!!! June
Please see the handmade
thank you card from the children of Tadworth Children’s Hospital who obviously had a fantastic time on the Notice Board and the thank you letter from Rosemary which
reads:
“Dear Bob - please thank all the
bikers for such a lovely surprise on Sunday, 4 May. The children and carers
really enjoyed it. There will be a last
minute BBQ at some stage soon and would love all your bikers to attend. Please come and see us again soon. I will keep in touch. Rosemary.”
Whitsun Bank Holiday w/end 24-26 May, The Sheepshagger Run,
Well, the weather men got it about right. We managed to get
there dry, but the Sunday & Monday were wet enough, making the journey back
home miserable. It's a shame that the wet stuff has such an adverse effect on
the enjoyment of biking, because this w/end had all the makings of something
really good.
Ian’s Aunty Joy’s hotel, the Penybont Inn was a warm
& friendly place, situated in Llanfynydd village,
and I think the 13 of us that took over the place can all testify to the
excellent food, even if the beer wasn't quite up to it! The incident-free round
trip of approx. 530 miles (for those of us on bikes) was interspersed with a
sortie towards the Gower coast, but rain stopped play, and we retreated to a
large modern hostelry to dry out a bit over a cuppa. Meeting up with other bikers from Brecon TO's club got postponed when
a rumour was going around about trouble 'up North',
and the 'plan A' run for Sunday was also quashed by the weather. The promised
Mexican meal was nearly a tapas
instead but the trip into town proved too tricky in reality. Having said all this,
we all enjoyed ourselves, and even through the lousy weather, those uncluttered
roads are a dream to ride, making it worth the trip.
Yogi & June took Dolly for a good ride in the
country, & although poking fun at the little 2CV, a few of us were envious
of them being nice & dry! Strangely, despite us hammering it along the
lovely Welsh roads, Dolly managed to get to the meeting points not too far
behind!
Charlotte, a friend of Ian & Tanyas' joined us on
a
Throughout our Gaelic experience, the Welsh valleys echoed to
the bark of Ians Rocket and the hotel windows rattled
to his infectious laughter. I'm still
not so sure about the cockles & lava bread for breakfast though!
Considering the relative ease of getting there, the
Despite my near miss with the rear end of Ians machine when he suddenly decided to stop for
someone on a crossing in the wet, the Rockets of Ian & Kelvin showed
themselves to be superb overtaking machines, making every passing manoeuvre effortless, & even surprising on the bends
too!
Nice one Ian & better luck next time!
Thanks
Paul for a fantastic report - I know we all enjoyed it as much as you did. A huge thanks to Ian
and Tanya for organising this trip to
Editor’s
Plea: I TOOK LOADS OF PHOTOS – PERHAPS A MEMBER WOULD HELP ME TAKE THEM OFF OF
MY DIGITAL CAMERA SO WE CAN PUT THEM ON THE NOTICE BOARD. Pleeeeeeese!!! June
24 May –
A very successful and
social day was had by all on our club stand. Thanks to Roger, Mog, Malc, Jim, Brian ‘P’, Rod
and Dave ‘K’ for showing their immaculate
27 May – The Dog &
Duck, Kingsfold
19 Bikers and a warm welcome to Martin, our new member, on his Speed Triple on
his first ride, plus Mog, Doddie,
Dave and Brian ‘B’ who arrived by car, all had a good ride out in the country.
We were warmly welcomed by the Licensee with good beer and grub. Malcolm very kindly suggested I did a
collection for my Charity (cheers Malcolm) “Help
for Heroes” the new Charity for our
Injured troops coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan for their swimming pool
and gym complex at their Rehabilitation Centre and Headley Court in Surrey,
which you all know I am very passionate about and involved with, so promptly
went round with my pint pot and raised over £52. I would like to thank you all very much for
your kind support for this wonderful cause.
It was a good evening. Thanks to
Runs Leader Brian Peters for yet another fab ride.
MISCELLANEOUS
THE COMING OF AGE – (Report from Kelvin) ...
After many years of riding, the time has finally come when I occasionally
have to sneak out to go for a ride. No, it's not that my wife has joined
the National Trust and wants me to look around gardens and houses; it is in
fact, after seven and a half years of waiting, my boy's feet have finally reach the pillion pegs. Having established this
after regular measuring, I and a very excited 7 year old went to Lamba motorcycles to purchase his first crash helmet and
gloves. The next thing to do was to go for our first ride - which I can tell
you was a terrifying experience. Not for
Stephen, but for me - stopping every 2 minutes to make sure that he had not fallen
off - and I had not left him a mile down the road in the gutter.
Also, that he was quite happy with the way I accelerated, braked,
cornered, etc. Now, not a day goes by when I get home from work and he
asks if we can go out for a spin on the bike. So, as I was saying, if I
wish to go for a ride on my own, I now leave a sad and disappointed boy behind,
giving his mum a hard time. The only question to ask is, whether his first bike
will be a Triumph!!!
Thanks
Kelvin – you now have many enjoyable biking years with your son as we did with
our son – your time will never be yours again but it will be the bestest time ever. June
TO LET 
Mike & Dot Smith
Please
note we now have an online website for our Vendee Cottages in The South of
France near Challans, south of
New Members - welcome to
Travis Lawless with his Thunderbird and Cub and to Martin Bayer with his Speed
Triple – look out for them at our Club meetings and have a chat.
EDITOR’S THANKS
Thanks
to all those guys who took the trouble in writing up these wonderful reports. Remember
it’s your Newsletter, it makes such a
difference and gives our Newsletter a new perspective. Thanks loads and please keep it going. Your Editor is not lonely any more!!
FORTHCOMING
EVENTS
Make
sure you have a full tank of petrol
Make
sure you have a full tank of petrol
Make sure you have a full
tank of petrol
(See John Flower if you wish to show your bike at this great event)
Make sure you have a full
tank of petrol
Remember to look
at the Notice Board for extra news and trips.
Save your old
stamps for Mog.
Last but not
least – keep your Editor busy
June F
ABOUT THE CLUB:
Princess of
98 Morden Road Runs leave the pub at
020 8542 0573 Please ensure you have a full tank of petrol
CLUB CONTACTS:
Chairman Mog Pharoah 020
8947 7727 (day)
Treasurer Malcolm Orpin 020 8640 2608
Secretary Doddie
Membership
Secretary Dave Kent Ditto
Show Secretary John Flower 020
942 9976
Social Secretary Bob Simmonds 020 8669 0921
Runs Leader
Brian Peters 01737
551762
Regalia Robin Maynard 020
8224 7421
TT Editor June Flower jjflower@hotmail.co.uk
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