Tag: kevin dunwell

I’ve survived a couple of months in the new role! I’ve been impressed: joining a skilled and committed group of people has made it a lot easier to get up to speed. I’m confident we can work together to get things done.

I’m going to use this spot to bring you up-to-date on a couple of things that have been going on, and to introduce some things I feel strongly about.
I tend to use my bike all through the winter, except when there is a risk of ice. However, I don’t use it as much as I do in the warm weather. Now spring has come I wonder if my own riding skills are the same as they were last autumn. I’ll be seeking training opportunities amongst the many options available through the Club, and I encourage others to do the same. Don’t assume your skills remain at the same level. As I write, there are places left for Castle Combe on 21st May, maybe see you there?

Be A Better Biker are one-day motorcycling workshops, aimed at people who have not done any advanced training. We hope to introduce concepts that will improve their competence and safety, and perhaps act as a feeder into the IAM RoadSmart course. It has grown from an idea introduced by TVAM and Buckinghamshire Council into a series of 12 events supported by Buckinghamshire and Berkshire Councils, as well as Buckinghamshire and Berkshire Fire and Rescue Services and four IAM groups including TVAM. This year TVAM are delivering three events in Berkshire: 4th May (Crowthorne), 25th May (Theale) and 22nd June (Theale). ‘How can I help?’ I hear you ask. We will need approximately six Observers for each event (and thank you to those who’ve already offered), but the main help we need is promotion. There are events listed on the TVAM public Facebook page, which could be shared with local bike clubs, and by the time this goes out there should be fliers available for bike shops.

I promised a follow-up on TVAM’s response to the recent price rise for IAM RoadSmart Course. Our “balanced and appropriate response” became a letter from
me on behalf of the TVAM committee. The most important of the points I made was to ask why the jump in price was so large (23%), and why we, and other groups, had no communication beforehand. My letter was escalated internally, and I received a response the same day from Nicholas Lyes, IAM RoadSmart Policy and Standards Director. He explained that the price rises had been long-overdue and were necessary to bring some courses back to a break-even status. He fully accepted our points about communication, and explained how they would make improvements going forward. In my view, our ability to make an appropriate complaint, and theirs to handle it as they did, will only help to improve how we can work together going forward.

It is important to me, that we, as a club and training organisation, are open and welcoming to all. I believe we do a pretty good job overall, but I wonder if the
demographics of club membership properly represent the same in the motorcycle community. I struggle to get my head around why race, gender, age or anything else affects the ability to ride a motorcycle, but sometimes it’s the seemingly subtle things we do that make a difference. I’m interested in what we may need to do as a Club to make TVAM even more welcoming to everyone.

Finally, a shout-out to the marshals organising the parking, and everyone else in the Green Team at St. Crispin’s. It will be a similar arrangement in April, so please do follow guidance on where to park, and avoid the coned-off areas when departing. We will again be marshaling people on arrival into correct parking areas, and on leaving please ensure you use the exit nearest the road and not through the coned-off areas. It is much appreciated how well everyone has supported the changes and helped St. Crispin’s to run smoothly. Of course, we need this support to continue for a while yet.

Take care out there!

Kevin Dunwell
TVAM Chair

Well, here I am with a new job – TVAM Chair! (gulp).

As I write this, it’s only my second day in the role and it feels like I’m on the steepest bit of the learning curve. I’m also worried there are things I’ve not found out or been told about.

Perhaps I’d better introduce myself. I live with my wife of 43 years in Newbury, having moved from Thatcham just about a year ago. We have two children, and two grandchildren (so far).

Although initially trained as an engineer, I’ve worked in software development since 1979. I ran my own company in Newbury for ten years, and for the past ten years have managed teams of software developers and/or software projects. I’ve been both a Director and Trustee of a charity multiple times in the past.

Some fun facts. I’ve got a Private Pilots Licence (long since expired, which basically means I haven’t got one), an amateur radio licence (I was even a morse code examiner), I’m in a choir and I’ve performed in several stage musicals.

I haven’t always been a biker. My father was anti-bike. When I was in my teens, my brothers and I were given a choice – either get a bike or continue living at home. I still managed to get a second-hand Honda S50 at 17, maybe that didn’t count. Quite a few years later, in 2009 and the week before they introduced the mod 1 part, I passed my bike test. My first introduction to advanced riding was a BikeSafe day, and I joined TVAM having been invited on a guest ride by Alan Mossman.

It took me a while to get to advanced test standard, but thanks to my observer (Nick Caiger-Smith), a weekend of 7Ws and a trip with WAGs to France, I got there in the end. I’d caught the bug, and wanted to learn more, so I kept going with training. I trained to become an Observer in 2014, with the idea that the best way to benefit from an organisation is to contribute to it. It worked: I learned more about advanced riding after I got a gold badge than before. It was followed by National Observer qualification in 2017, a Masters Distinction in 2018, and becoming a Skills Day Track Instructor in 2022.

I put myself up for this role because I want to contribute and believe I can add value. Being part of a team is important, and I’ll be looking to build
on skills within the club to improve what TVAM offers. We are succeeding in many ways, yet there are opportunities to grow. The standard of our training is well known to be very high, for example, yet perhaps we could step up our efforts to reach other demographics.

I was coordinating our work with road safety organisations before I took on this role and will, at least for the time being, continue to do that. As I write this, we’ve just booked some dates and venues for Be A Better Biker in 2024, and I will be seeking help from the membership to run the events.

Finally, I should echo what Barrie has said on previous months about the forthcoming St. Crispin’s. We will again be marshaling people on arrival into correct parking areas, and on leaving please ensure you use the exit nearest the road and not through the coned-off areas. It is much appreciated how well everyone has supported the changes and helped St. Crispin’s to run smoothly. Of course, we need this support to continue into the new year.

Kevin Dunwell
TVAM Chair