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If I were asked to sum up the NABD at present in just two words, those words would undoubtedly be ‘Damned Busy’. This is the time of year when we do the final preparation for the You’ve Been Nabbed Rally in May, begin to organise the Autumn Nabd’ness Rally for September, close the books on the financial year in April, launch the annual national prize draw, prepare for the annual general meeting, prepare for the events season, produce the spring issue of Open House and restock the merchandise. All of this while still making sure that the daily work gets done and adaptions and grants are organised.
The particularly surprising thing is that it all gets done! When I look at the amount of work to be done by such a small number of people I’m amazed at how much is achieved. Hopefully this issue of Open House will give you some idea of at least a small proportion of that achievement.
Finance:
A few days ago I had a call from John Byrne (Treasurer) just to let me know that the accounts for 2004-2005 had been closed with a gross turnover of a tad over 160,000.00 (our best financial year ever). It was only two years ago that we were ecstatic at finally having broken through the £100,00.00 barrier. Of course it is what we do with the money that matters, and I think it fair to say we can yet again be very proud of our record on that issue too. (See the Treasurers report on page 13).
You’ve Been Nabbed 14:
Everything is in place now for our main annual event. We have 10 excellent bands playing a range of musical styles in two marquees. The family marquee is being sponsored by Mulderrigs Solicitors and will feature live bands, disco, on Friday and Saturday nights and a professional children’s entertainer on Saturday afternoon. The main marquee will feature live bands and disco on Friday night. The Frog & Bucket Comedy Club Roadshow will be returning to its original Saturday afternoon slot, followed by Lynx, the world’s most glamorous magician. There will be live bands and disco in the evening and exotic dancers late on.
In addition to all this we have the Bike & Trike show on Saturday afternoon sponsored and organised by 100% Biker magazine, a treasure hunt for the kids, a humungous amount of stalls, bars in both marquees selling cheap beers, wines and spirits, good food, beautiful scenery, good companionship, and hopefully a load of sunshine. We even have a mad couple getting married on site.
In addition to Mulderrigs and 100% Biker magazine we have been given sponsorship by BSH magazine, Bikers Gearbox, Johnsons of Leeds, Magic Action (the Farmyard Party) and Carole Nash Insurance Services. (Full details will be in the rally program).
As always we are looking for marshals at the event. Generally marshals are asked to do 4 hours each day so you sill have plenty of time to enjoy the event. Marshals can claim back their (prebook) ticket money on Sunday after their shifts.
Anyhow, it’s all done now bar the partying so I hope to see you all there having a damn good time.
Bristol Non Urban Rally:
Preparations are well underway for the NABD’s Bristol Non-Urban Rally 3rd - 5th June. (See enclosed flyer). This event has proven to be very popular over the last few years with NABD members and supporters in the region. I’m sure Dave Ladd (Bristol Rep) and his team will do another splendid job this year.
Autumn Nabd’ness:
Things are coming together well for this years soiree at Cornbury Park September 9th - 11th. (See enclosed flyer). The good news is that this year it will not clash with Storming the Castle. More on this in the next issue.
Annual General Meeting:
The NABD AGM is set for Saturday June 25th at the same venue as last year near Abingdon (see page 6 for full details). I’m not going to bother telling you how important it is that members try to attend. Most of you are adults and can judge that for yourselves.
NABD Prize Draw:
The first prize in this years draw is a very nice Kawasaki 1100cc Spectre Trike. Second prize is a weekend for two in Paris. Third prize is free entry to all of next years NABD events. There should be a couple of books of tickets enclosed with this issue of Open House. (See page 6 for more detail).
NABD Representatives:
We have had a marked increase in the number of NABD Rep’s around the UK over the past twelve months though some areas are still vacant (like Eire, Cumbria, Cornwall, and many others). We wish all new Rep’s welcome and thank them for volunteering for what can be a quite thankless but important job. Unfortunately we have recently lost three Rep’s. Bob Sutton (South Wales) has stepped down due to personal reasons, and Nina Reynolds (Hampshire) has stepped down due to family pressures. Also I have just been informed that Gaz McCabe (Greater Manchester) has also had to step down for family reasons. All three have assured us of their continuing support of the NABD and I offer them an all to inadequate but heartfelt thank you for their efforts over recent years.
Poorly Folk:
Steven Walker (NABD Arbitrator) is laid up in Nottingham Queens Hospital at present. He is completely bed-ridden (and no doubt bored stiff) due to a spinal recurrent problem. With any luck his condition will improve by the time this magazine reaches members so anybody wanting an update and/or contact details should ring or e-mail the office. Needless to say we all wish Stef a speedy recovery.
I have also heard on the grapevine that Pete (The Hat) Murray (Grtr Manchester Assistant) is having some serious health problems at present which are keeping him from getting out much. We wish him a full and speedy recovery.
John Lance (North Wilts Rep) is still having severe problems with his leg and I understand he is back in hospital yet again. Hopefully this time they will get it sorted out correctly. All the best John.
Anybody wishing to send cards or messages to any of these folk can send them to the office and I will make sure they are passed on.
Rachelle’s a Mum:
Rachelle, favourite exotic dancing star of many NABD events, and model for lots of the excellent NABD merchandise (see page 29) gave birth at Easter to daughter Harley. They are both doing fine and although Rachelle won’t be performing at You’ve Been Nabbed 14 she is sorting out some replacements and sends us her best wishes for the event.
MAG AGC:
I attended the Annual General Conference of the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) on April 9th to give my customary report on the progress of the NABD. Both Juley Simmonds (NABD Secretary) and I were impressed with the up-beat and positive feeling within MAG after the turmoil of recent years. MAG are once again kicking arse and taking names in protecting the rights of every biker to enjoy their lifestyle without the interference of nonsensical legislation.
Toward the end of the AGC I was very pleasantly shocked to be awarded the MAG ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’. I felt very honoured (and somewhat gob-smacked) to receive this award, but I can’t help wondering if I’m supposed to die now, as this is invariably what happens to people who get lifetime achievements awards. Maybe I’ll stick around for a bit and see if I can get another one in another 15 years?
NABD Information/Advice Stands:
As always we are on the lookout for adapted bikes and trikes which we can display at NABD stands on events throughout the summer. I will try to list as many of these events as I can in the next issues of Open House. For now we are looking for display machines for BMF Show, The Welsh Bike Show at Builth Wells, The Farmyard Party, The Rock & Blues at Pentrich, The Anglesey Bike Show, The Gems Show, The Pissed Indian, and Stormin the Castle. If You are interested contact Rose Fitton (events) via events@thenabd.org.uk or the office.
The Martin Conquest Trike:
The long awaited launch of the Martin Conquest Trike (Previously the PDP Conquest) should be happening at the You’ve Been Nabbed 14 Rally. This is a 1000cc BMW based trike which is ridden from the wheelchair. It has been designed by the Conquest team with the help of BMW and the backing of Frank Williams (of Formula 1 fame). Not only is it an exciting new development for wheelchair users but it is also a damn sexy trike. I have been helping with the development in a consultative capacity and I think this machine will be a real winner amongst disabled people.
I will publish a full article in the next Open House but keep an eye on he web site www.nabd.org.uk for further details in the mean time.
Open House:
We have had quite a few enquiries from people wondering when their articles are going to be published in Open House. Unfortunately it isn’t usually possible to give any guarantee as to when (or even if) a submission is going to be used as space is always at a premium and ‘time sensitive’ submissions usually get priority. However I never throw anything away and the chances are if you have submitted something interesting it will be used eventually. There is no point in hassling Shirley at the office because she knows I am totally immune to nagging (and she isn’t the nagging sort anyway).
So please be patient cause if you do decide to hassle me your submission will drop to a lower priority than the article on Acupuncture for Haemorrhoids.
J&W Motorcycles:
I have just had an e-mail from Wynne Evans of J&W Motorcycles (www.jwmotorcycles.com) in Borth near Aberystwyth telling me the result of his fundraising effort. Wynne had made a fibreglass bodyshell for a two seater trike (Wilmac style) and auctioned it off on ebay to raise funds for the NABD. The trike shell eventually raised £330.00 and was sold to a Mr Law in the Midlands. Our thanks go to J&W Motorcycles for their excellent fundraising effort.
Well that’s about my lot for now. As always I write these two pages after the rest of the magazine is done and dusted. It’s now 01:08am on the morning of the deadline for completion day. So if I can get it set and packed before I go to bed all I have to do tomorrow is post it off and I can go for a sneaky drink (well not all ambitions have to be big ones).
I hope to see many of you at Astle Park in a couple of weeks for You’ve Been Nabbed 14, in the meantime I wish you all well.
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