April 2020 Review
Normally an explosion of riding and driving as the clocks go forward, the sun shines and tight leathers get pulled on after the winter hiatus.
Not this year. With so much promise, the annual #RidetheWolds having massive support and looking at being bigger and better than ever, invitations to many other events coming to RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders East Yorkshire - "E-YARD" for the upcoming season and four new Tutors on the cusp of earning their wings it should have been the bloom of the next stage of the group' growth.
However, with the 'lock-down' the whole world had been put on hold, with workers furloughed (a new word for most of the population!), gatherings banned, pubs and restaurants - including our meeting place - closed, most people found themselves confined to their homes.
But, on the plus side...E-YARD members hunkered down to make the best of it!
Some members were lucky enough to have changed roles just before the virus closed us down, with car & bike Tutor Andy T suddenly becoming one of our country's hero's delivering and distributing goods around the UK
Back for the weekends, he got on his bike - or at least claims so - lokked more like it was used to store his moto-kit!
Guy G appeared to be going stir crazy, deciding initially to 'tour' his garden and later to cut the grass using the GS Adventure - on the wild plains of Bubwith!
His skills also extended to fettling and fashioning a bash plate for the GS's undercarriage - should protect him from and Black Mambas he may find lurking!
There was a lot of car and motorcycle polishing as the sun shone the most it has in April since records began, with some stunning examples coming in from Andy Jenkinson, Mark K and Nick H!
Others 'lucky' enough to still be working included Andy B, who even got to ride his bike back and forth...lucky devil!
Fettling and sorting the beast out was the order of the day for Bob S along with cleaning of the mobile chicane and fence staining - followed by beer - it's OK, no driving allowed!
There was some club business took place, with the issue of Tutor Foundation and Refresher Course certificates, following the course in March.
As the March and April monthly meetings had to be cancelled, and the AGM had been scheduled for the March meeting, the decision was made to invoke the ability to hold electronic elections. Utilising social media platforms, a virtual vote was taken to elect the 2020/21 committee, with the roles of Chair - Mark Kelk, Vice-Chair - Jo Bowers, Treasurer - Dave Richards, Secretary - Chris Hood, Membership Secretary - Denise Rose and Training officer - Julian Taylor being decided.
Work also continued in the background with Ian Streets and Hoody developing a Tutor Handbook ready for publishing when normality returns!
Some members signed up for voluntary duties, with Kelvin signing onto the Royal Voluntary Service and doing a few deliveries for the NHS inbetween his racy posts on the Facebook page!
Hoody did a bit for the Hull4Heroes charity, delivering food parcels for quarantined ex service personnel and standing by for the RVS.
The team did get to fly the E-YARD colours however with delivery of 'comfort' packs to vulnerable adult hostels on behalf of Hull City Council Social Welfare, by Hoody, Pippa, Kelvin and Mike A
For a 'locked down' month, plenty got done, even if we couldn't launch the season as planned....on a beautiful, sunny day...oh well!
There will be no formal meeting in May as the CoVid-19 situation continues, but as and when things are lifted, training, meetings and ride-outs will be planned.
