Midlands Air Ambulance

Every year, Rolling Hills Harley Owner Group Chapter, the oldest in Europe and that to which I belong, nominates and charity.  Funds are raised through raffles at our monthly Club Night and any other specially organised events.  Last year, we raised £3,000.  Arrangements were made for us to visit the northern one of the two Midlands Air Ambulance at Tatenhill, near Lichfield in Staffordshire on Sun 27th May, to see the workings of the service we support.  There was always the risk that it might not be there, but we were lucky, just!  First, some pictures taken by pillion Agnes behind us in the pack, from our website:

That's us, on the left.

Taken across my handlebars.

Arriving, I am left of centre at the back, Jean already having dismounted.

We rode a fairly direct route to the airfield, which includes fixed wing light aircraft, for midday.  We were a few minutes late, but just in time to see the crew boarding and the helicopter being readied for take-off to respond to a cyclist in trouble near Cannock.  

Being the last to park, I just managed to stop the engine and grab my camera for a couple of pictures from the bike, then hop off and get a couple more before it was gone:

Jean talks to Julie.

The Midlands Air Ambulance is the only Charity responsible for funding and operating three Air Ambulances serving the communities of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. This constitutes the largest air ambulance operating region in the UK.  It needs £6m/year to operate and we are glad to support it, one of our Chapter riders requiring its service a couple of years ago, thankfully helping his full recovery.  They have made several presentations to us at Club Night.

Lorna and Scott were staying over the weekend so we had to head back for a BBQ in the fine summer weather, and show them the few pictures and Jean's video of the visit.  They are paramedics in London and Scott's is a HEMS paramedic for their Air Ambulance, so there was a special interest.

It was also a good opportunity for Jean to join me on the back of the new bike for the first time and all went well as a precursor to Portugal next week!  And, the BBQ also went well.

Birthday Celebrations at Burleigh Court

Although I didn't go looking for it, I did discover Burleigh Court Hotel in my online searching, in the village of Burleigh near Stroud in Gloucestershire.  How neat was that? I initially wasn't to be compelled by the name, but a visit soon confirmed that it would suit in terms of size, atmosphere and setting to get my small band together to help me celebrate.

The venue was ideal and the staff and food made us feel very welcome for Days 2 and 3.  Drinks and dinner helped people mingle and get to know each other on Friday, everyone did their own thing during the day on Saturday, and by the time Saturday drinks and dinner came around, the atmosphere was well established.  I will leave a selection of photos to portray the success:

Of course, there was a hard core to the end, both nights, as those with a less hardy constitutions, but more sense, fell by the wayside, and the Bushmills did need to be restocked in between assaults.  I can vouch for at least one 'morning after' but few others were admitted to, although they likely existed!  So it should be!

The get-together exceeded my best expectations.  Everyone knew some at the outset, but very soon conversation was buzzing throughout and everyone knew everyone else.  Just the right size, just the right people, and a little lubrication as a catalyst, a perfect cocktail!

So, 3 day Bur[leigh] Trials concluded and everyone home safely, it's now time to look forward to better weather and getting out on the Harley for a few trips!  Things to do, places to go........................

Birthday Bash

Well, you don't get to 65 every day, to be endowed with the avalanche of State Pension and other benefits that brings, so I decided to try to get a small, eclectic, group of family and friends together to celebrate it accordingly.

It was actually on 5th April, so it was first a dinner with Cathryn, Michael, Dan, Amie & Daisy at home.  I was given a magnificent cake in a Harley-Davidson theme by Cathryn, a Harley King crown made by Daisy, and a couple of bottles of bubbly that remain for future consumption in my fridge!

That completed the first of what was to become a 3 day event, rather like the Horse Trials of a different spelling.