Hello All
This is my first column as Chief Observer so I just wanted to thank everyone who voted at the AGM for giving me the opportunity. There have been some changes to the committee with David Jacobi now elected as Chair. I am looking forward to working with him as well as getting to know more of our members. I continue to be amazed at the levels of commitment and professionalism shown by everyone. We are without doubt the best bike club bar none. We are also the largest IAM group, car or bike with 870 members, something we can all be proud of.
The training Team have just held another successful Core Skills Day (formerly known as the TOb Induction) at Marlow Fire Station. This is proving to be a great environment for the training as although the station is uncrewed (I was going to say unmanned but this is frowned upon by the PC Police!) they always manage to arrange the dispatch of a Fire Appliance at some point during the day. Our thanks go to Keith Wheeler of Bucks Fire and Rescue for the use of this facility.
We had 11 TObs and Potential TObs complete the day and begin the new TOb training process. They will be assigned Mentors and will continue their Observer Training under the guidance of an experienced Observer as opposed to the previous system where we all had to flog through the infamous “yellow card”.
Just as new Associates continue to be the life blood of TVAM, new Observers are equally essential. Becoming an Observer is a challenging but hugely rewarding way of sharing what we all love best – riding bikes and riding them well. If you are thinking that observing might be for you, then have a chat with one of the Training Team.
Plans for the Observer Training Weekend in Llandrindod Wells are well under way and this year there will be change of emphasis from coaching skills to riding skills so if you are an Observer or TOb clear your diary for the 5th – 7th June and book your place.
Sadly, I will miss the May St.Crispin’s having previously arranged to be in Northern Ireland for the NW200 so my thanks go to David for standing in with the announcements and Guy Lipscomb for doing the allocations.
Keep it shiny side up
Pat Coneley
Chief Observer
