UK & Ireland exclusive: Chapter News

All the latest H.O.G. Chapter news from the UK & Ireland

Manchester Harley-Davidson® – The Big Launch 

The recently renamed Mancunium Chapter (formally Hatters Chapter) was pleased to join their new sponsoring dealership, Manchester Harley-Davidson® for ‘The Big Launch’ on Saturday, 28th April 2018, when they officially opened their doors to the public. A team of chapter members was in attendance during the day’s proceedings to show their support and to assist where needed to help the day run smoothly. 

The ribbon cutting ceremony took place at 10:30am by which time, large numbers of visitors had already arrived. 

An estimated 1500 attendeed the event. Visitors were able to take a look around the completely refurbished and extended premises, brimming with gleaming new Harley- Davidson® motorcycles and an extensive selection of Harley-Davidson clothing and  accessories. Great food and beverages were also available along with musical entertainment over the course of the day. 

This was the first chance for chapter members to show off their recently acquired Mancunium Chapter rocker patches, T-shirts and other chapter apparel which Pete Wilson, the chapter’s merchandising officer, had managed to take delivery of in time for the event. He had a busy time throughout the day distributing the newly acquired stock to visiting members from the boot of his car on the car park. 

To add an extra special touch to the day, a number of celebrity guests from a well-known Manchester based TV Soap dropped by to help with the opening ceremony. 

One of the tasks that chapter members were pleased to help out with was manning the bucket collection for the dealership’s nominated charity - St. Ann’s Hospice. 

Amidst all that was going on, Chapter Director, Arthur Arrowsmith still found a moment to present recently appointed Head Road Captain, Richard Kinsey with his Head Road Captain patch. 

A brilliant day was had by all who attended and after 7 years as an orphan chapter, it was great to finally see a Harley-Davidson dealership back in Manchester. 

The Mancunium Chapter wishes everyone associated with Manchester Harley-Davidson a successful future and look forward to having a long and fruitful association with them over the coming years.

Mike Greer 
Mancunium Chapter

 

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The CRAGG - Triple chapter ride and meet

The CRAGG is a three chapter ride and meet-up held each April at Gretna Green. Organiser, Rob Harvey (Red Rose Chapter), Trish Gillespie (Geordie Chapter), and Dave Henderson (Clyde Valley Chapter) teamed up with the Great North Air Ambulance crew at Penrith, Cumbria to present a cheque for £400 which was raised in the 2018 CRAGG raffle by H.O.G. members supporting this great charity.

Rob Harvey
Red Rose Chapter

 

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III Rivers: Charity ride out and fun day

In 2017 III Rivers UK Chapter was asked if we would be willing to get involved with the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance ride out and Fun Day. Since we have raised money for this fantastic cause before, we jumped at the chance to help out. 

Big Al Fether, our Chapter’s Head Road Captain, and I attended the event committee meetings and offered our Chapter’s support for the event.  That year the overall event went well but as Harley-Davidson riders we knew the ride could improve. So after some feedback meetings, it was agreed that for the 2018 ride, III Rivers would offer their full support. This included planning a slightly different route, excluding motorways, which would allow the event to be opened up to learner riders. In addition, we agreed with Herts police a new strategy to keep the ride together as one unit.  Our chapter riders would - with the backing of the police riders - close off junctions.

We used to the various contacts that we had built up over time to support the event, including the Lind Group, owners of H-D dealerships in Norwich, Newmarket, Reading and Guildford. Two teams – some of the Chapter committee and some of Chapter members - rode the route the week before the event and then again on the two days before we signposted the route to ensure riders couuld not get lost.

On the day of the event, at 8am, 25 riders from III Rivers turned up to make this event the success it should be.  More than 700 bikes turned up to Police Headquarters in Welwyn. Along with 8 police riders, we left for the 60 mile trip, ending up at North Wield Airfield, the home of the Air Ambulance.

The ride through Royston was just one highlight. The streets were lined with well-wishers and I am pleased to say all riders made it to the airfield as we intended, in one group.

The event raised more than £12,000 and the money is still coming in. III Rivers has committed to organising this event again in 2019. It would be good to see some more H.O.G. members there too. I am proud to say that we are one of the smallest official H.O.G. chapters in the UK H.O.G. family but, when faced with a challenge, we rise to the occasion.

Find more information on the Essex And Herts Air Ambulance website.  

Martyn Coote 
III Rivers Chapter 

 

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Ghent Chapter enjoy the Geordie Chapter’s legendary hospitality

It’s always nice to meet new friends, especially those that share a love of Harley- Davidson® motorcycles. So, when Trish Gillespie told me that some members of the Ghent Chapter from Belgium would be passing through Northumberland/Tyneside on Saturday 19^th May, it was too good an opportunity to miss.  The group included Trish’s good friends Martin and Karen Harvey, who together with some other members of the Ghent Chapter, had been travelling around Scotland.  Unfortunately, Trish was going to be away for their visit, so I was more than happy to arrange a warm Geordie Chapter welcome, especially as their planned route would take them virtually past my front door.

I followed the group’s progress through Scotland via Facebook and it looked like they were very fond of castles (and whisky, but that is probably another story), so it seemed appropriate to meet at Warkworth Castle in Northumberland.  

Once the time and place had been arranged, I set about rallying the troops to provide an escort for the last stage of their journey and to make sure they had a decent send off.  On the day, there were about 10 Geordie Chapter bikes as well as 3 ‘outriders’ from the Dunedin Chapter that the Ghent group had picked up in Edinburgh.  The sight of Warkworth Castle and all those beautiful Harleys, gleaming in the glorious May sunshine, was so impressive it even turned the heads of 2 German bikers that turned up on their BMW tourers.  I jokingly asked them if they thought they may have come to the wrong party, to which they answered: “it’s never the wrong party”.  Nobody could argue with that sentiment. 

I volunteered to lead the group to Jennings Harley-Davidson® in Gateshead to meet the rest of the reception committee.  It was the first time I had ever been at the front of a pack and I must admit,  as we rode alongside the River Coquet through Amble, I was grinning from ear to ear when I looked in my rear-view mirror to see the majestic sight of nearly 20 bikes riding in close formation behind me.

When we arrived at the dealership, we were delighted to find that several more Chapter members were waiting for us and that Grant and the Jennings H-D team had laid on some refreshments for us.  After a bit of retail therapy, it was time for our guests to leave for the final leg of their journey to the ferry terminal.  However, our hospitality didn’t end at Jennings; Tony McGill had organised lunch for the group, courtesy of the Geordie Chapter, at the ferry terminal.

It was a brief meeting, but I would like to think we have all gained some new friends. At some point in the future, we would love to visit the Ghent Chapter and experience some Belgian hospitality.  Excuse the cliché but beer and chocolate (and Harleys); what’s not to like?

Jo Shackleton
Geordie Chapter