A talk by Keith Tyler: 40 years in the Marine Industry

/0 Comments/in /by

Members, Associates & guests are all warmly invited to our 2nd Members & Associates Evening of 2024. Following the format set earlier in the year, CAM Member Keith Tyler has prepared a unique presentation on his 40 years in the Marine Industry at 2nd Members & Associates Evening of 2024. This event takes place on Tuesday 21st May, from 7:30pm at Over Community Centre. Keith provides this outline of his presentation:

“ During my 40 years in the marine industry I have worked on a variety of vessels all over the world – from 7-metre leisure craft to tankers & container ships exceeding 300 metres. Starting out as an Electrical & Mechanical Service Engineer, the marine industry has been my entire livelihood and in my presentation I will outline the progression which is possible in the sector, and the kind of work and lifestyle entailed. I hope to see you there! “

The evening –
 space7:30 – 8:15pm      Member presentation by Keith Tyler
 space8:15 – 8:45pm      Refreshments
space 8:45 – 9:15pm      Presentations to our newest full Members
space 9:15 – 9:30pm      Update from the CAM Committee

All Members, Associates & their guests are welcome!  To help with the planning, please use this link to let us know you’ll be coming

Full details in the Events Calendar

Group-Ride training – Saturday 11th May

/0 Comments/in /by

We learned a lot from last year’s Ride Leader & Tail-Ender training sessions – chiefly that all participants on a group ride benefit from understanding the various guidelines (such as limiting the number of riders to 16, and having a structured pre-ride briefing) which we have in place. This training session is open to all Members & Associates: we hope that eventually everyone will have attended, reducing the number of problems on rides and making our outings safer, more accessible & a better experience for all.

What’s involved?
The day starts at 10am and is expected to end by 4pm. Activities begin in the seminar room with Module 1, which is accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation and lasts around 90 minutes. A break follows with tea, coffee & biscuits. Module 2 presentation follows, lasting roughly 30 minutes

After a break for lunch (please bring your own sandwiches), we move onto the practical, on-road session – so it’s essential that attendees arrive by bike. Although not essential, preferably attendees will be equipped with a SatNav. Current members of the RL&TE team as well as potential new recruits will have the opportunity to brief riders before heading a 20-mile ride where they will be able to ride in both the Lead & Tail positions. There will be a Q&A back in the seminar room to close the session

In summary
Whether you’re an experienced member of the RL&TE team, looking to join, or would simply like to help make our Group rides safer & more enjoyable, please support our RL&TE training by requesting your place at Over Community Centre on Saturday 11 May – click here now

Sunday ride to Wickham St Paul

/0 Comments/in /by

Try a new breakfast venue… on our next Sunday ride led & tailed by Catherine Ryan and Barry D respectively
Pillions are welcome on this ride, which is limited to 16 participants

>From BP Cambridge the route heads south-west in the direction of Sudbury via the Thurlows, Kedington & Great Yeldham before dipping south towards Halstead. The breakfast venue, Spencers FarmShop, is hidden away in the quiet village of Wickham St Paul. The owners are delighted to welcome us, and if the weather is fine will reserve the verandah for our use. To assist with their planning, please consult the menu and indicate when booking if you think you may wish to order a cooked breakfast
<After breakfast west again, through Finchingfield & Thaxted before veering north at Newport to end the ride at Fourwentways Services 

Briefing  9:20am                     Ride departs  9:30am       
Total distance  76 miles        Maximum number of participants  16

Request a place   |   Events Calendar for full details

News round-up + subscription announcement

/0 Comments/in /by

The annual cost of a CAM subscription has now risen for the first time in ten years. Everyone will, of course, receive a reminder from our Membership Secretary of the new subscription rate when their membership falls due for renewal, but Chairman Ian Dunckley has sent a News Round-up detailing the key decisions taken by the Committee to those Members & Associates who have previously renewed at the old rate

All are invited to read about the background, thinking & decisions taken by the Committee: click here to download the News Roundup if the Chairman has not sent this to you directly. This document also details the increased activities CAM is delivering now and the plans we are developing for the 12-month term of the committee following the AGM in July.

Our Chairman notes: Thank you for being Advanced Riders & members of CAM, for supporting what we do as a road safety charity, and also for creating the feeling of a club of like-minded motorcyclists

A road safety presentation by Graham Feest

/0 Comments/in /by

Over Community Centre, 7:30pm on Thursday, 2nd May
All are welcome at our road safety evening presented by Graham Feest. A highly experienced UK Road Safety Consultant and speaker at professional & voluntary gatherings throughout the UK, Graham will address various concerns in relation to transport, traffic, safety & roads. He is featured in the Public Speakers Corner list of the country’s top presenters, and has previously presented to several  IAM motorcycle and driver Groups

In Graham’s own words: My career began with Worthing Council in 1974, before a move to West Sussex as Senior Road Safety Officer and subsequently County Road Safety Officer for Northamptonshire in 1989. I was Head of Road Safety at the Institute of Advanced Motorists from 2001 until the end of 2003, and am currently Chairman of the Institute of Master Tutors of Driving and the Road Safety Advisor to the ADI National Joint Council. I am also a member of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety and serve on their Road User Behaviour Working Group

I am an approved training provider for the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation. Until May 2023 I was Chairman of the UK National Road Safety Committee, a position I held for some twelve years. I look forward to seeing you on 2nd May! 

Your guests are also welcome! To help us keep track of numbers, please let us know by email if you would like to attend

$$ CASH ONLY at the Silver Ball $$

/0 Comments/in /by

Already signed up for Phil Duffy’s ride this Sunday, or thinking of requesting a place? Please note that at the Silver Ball Café they accept only CASH!

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

Full ride details here

Phil Duffy leads to the Silver Ball Café

/0 Comments/in /by

With the scheduled ride leader out of action with injury Phil Duffy has stepped in and, with Paul Norman in tail position, will lead next Sunday’s group-organized ride. Use the link which follows Phil’s description to request a place

1Setting out from Tesco Royston we head north on the A1198, turning west near Arrington for Wendy & Shingay (passing the excellent Pig & Abbot pub in the village of Abington Pigotts). We continue through Steeple Morden & Ashwell, where we take a tight left turn up through Bygrave, which has good views over the Weston Hills, and drop down into Baldock

Once through Baldock we take the A507 to Cottered, then take a left to follow back roads through to the A10. We briefly head north here, then turn right on the old road to pass through Wyddial, and south on the old Cambridge coaching road to Hare Street. We continue on through Brent Pelham, Clavering, Great Chishill & Barkway, then follow the ridge (the highest point in Hertfordshire, hence the radio masts) to the A10 & breakfast at the Silver Ball. Outward journey ~ 52 miles

2The return route takes us through Therfield, Sandon & Wallington, and south to Walkern. At Benington we pass the excellent Lordship Arms, on to Dane End & Munden and we arrive back at the A10 near Puckeridge. We immediately turn off the A10 and follow the B1368 north to Barley. We turn left here and follow the road back to Royston. Shopping will be in full swing at Tesco so we’ll finish the ride in the town-centre car park. Return journey ~ 35 miles

Click here to request a place

Meet the Examiner evening with Simon Burgin

/0 Comments/in /by

With a long career as a Police Motorcycle Officer & Forensic Collision Investigator, our IAM Examiner Simon Burgin brings a wealth of experience to his presentations and we are very pleased to welcome him back for Meet the Examiner evening on Tuesday 23rd April. As Simon’s talks are never the same twice  we can’t say what tack he will take, but he is sure to offer invaluable insights – whether you’re new to motorcycling or have been riding for decades.

Places at this event will be allocated to Associates first, but this is always a popular evening and all Members are welcome

Over Community Centre, Tuesday 23rd April, 7:30 to 9:30pm
See the Events Calendar for further details
Please let Catherine & Nigel know if you will be attending

April 7th – Group-ride to the Skylark Café

/0 Comments/in /by

Many thanks to ride leader Mark Fox for providing the description below of our next Group-organised ride, which sets out next Sunday from Caxton and heads to the Skylark Garden Centre & Café just outside Wimblington

“Starting out from the McDonalds car park we’ll head across to St. Neots, Eaton Socon and west to pick up the B660 near Keysoe. We’ll follow the B660 north, through Kimbolton & all the way up to Ramsey St Mary’s. We’ll tick off a couple more Ramseys as we head towards Doddington and then to the Skylark Garden Centre just outside Wimblington where we stop for breakfast. Check out the menu here
“After breakfast we head turn south, back towards St. Ives – passing through Chatteris and Somersham on the way. Once round St. Ives we will head towards Boxworth and on to the BP Garage at Childerley Gate, where we will finish the ride.

Request a place  |  Limited to 16 participants  |  Events Calendar for full details

An evening with Barbara Horley, National Speedway Referee

/0 Comments/in /by

Over Community Centre | Monday 8th April | 7:30-9:30pm
Please use this link if you plan to attend

Members, Associates & their guests are warmly invited to Over Community Centre on Monday 8th April, where Barbara Horley will make a presentation to CAM on her experience as a National Speedway Referee. An accomplished speaker, Barbara’s presentation is sure to be lively & entertaining. The evening will conclude with a Q&A session
Barbara describes how it all began…

My interest in speedway started when I was very young, accompanying my father & uncle to the track. Having attended Speedway School nearly twenty years ago, I decided to become part of the sport: riding wasn’t for me and so I trained to become a referee. In this role I have to travel all over the country, from Glasgow to Plymouth, taking charge of meetings in all three tiers of racing

I have one other link to speedway: six years ago I began studying for a PhD and am about to submit my thesis on Speedway Racing in England from 1928 to 1965. I have also presented a number of papers on speedway at academic conferences. I can honestly say that speedway has been an important part of my life for a very long time!”

Full details in the Events Calendar