Yorkshire MAG Newsletter – Sept/Oct 2019

Posted on | By marcus

As always MAG business carries on apace even though the main rallies are done and dusted.

You’ll have no doubt seen the MAG theft league table that has been published. It will be an annual table that is aimed to hold the police to account. After the appalling results for West Yorkshire (Humberside Police didn’t answer in time for publication but Hull has quite an issue too) we had a meeting with the Police and Crime Commissioner. They made all the right noises on the day but the only follow up we had was from the West Yorkshire Crime Reduction Officer asking what security they should be promoting for motorcycles! We felt that they had missed the point entirely and shouldn’t be putting the onus on us, but getting out there and arresting the thieves that are causing the problem. I duly sent off a strongly worded email that left the police in no doubt that we were less than happy with their response and direction after the theft league table publication and this has resulted in a face to face meeting on 17th September. I’ll keep you posted with the results of this meeting.


I also had two meetings with Leeds City Council two weeks ago.
The first was a scrutiny board meeting that was convened to discuss motorcycle access to bus lanes in Leeds. This has been ongoing for six years now and as you’ll know we got a breakthrough with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority putting motorcycle access to bus lanes into its 20 year transport policy, but we now need the individual councils to implement it. Leeds has long been against allowing it, mainly down to one councillor who was a former bus driver, who we helped to vote out at the last local elections. Colin Brown, our political bod from MAG central office joined me and helped to put the case very well. The councillors voted unanimously to give us a trial, so we’re now in negotiations to agree which route to use and the duration of the trial. This is an enormous leap forward after being stonewalled for so long so it’s quite a result.
The second meeting was to discuss secure motorcycle parking in Leeds. We’ve secured £50,000 to be spent on secure motorcycle parking and we’re now getting to a point where it needs to be spent. It looks as though all LCC car parks may be getting secure parking along with some of the outlying towns (Otley, Garforth, Morley and Pudsey were all mentioned) along with some of the bigger parks (Roundhay and Golden Acre were mentioned). We’ve another meeting scheduled for later in the year so hopefully we’ll have something a bit more concrete.

Have a look at the current edition of Network which will keep you informed with MAG happenings around the country. Central Office are looking for people to work on the MAG stand at the NEC. They’d love new faces to show the diversity of MAG so if you or any of your group fancy it, call the office and get your names down – entry to the show is free if you’re working on the stand.

We’re still wanting to restart Scarborough MAG and York MAG or get a completely new group going in North Yorkshire. If anyone is willing to become a rep (it’s great fun and very rewarding) or even host a meeting, just to get a like-minded group of folk keeping in touch and pushing the MAG message, please give me a call (07867918722) or message me via email, text, Facebook etc. North Yorkshire is a big area and it’s a real shame we don’t have a North Yorkshire group or two, especially considering it’s a biking Nirvana. As I’ve had little interest in starting a North Yorkshire group up, we’ve decided to start a North Yorkshire MAG Facebook group. I’ll be admin along with Marcus, our webmaster, so if you live in North Yorkshire and want to chat with like minded folk, get on it

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Last weekend we had Spat out of Hull. This little Rally is hosted by East Yorkshire MAG as a “Thank You” to all the Rally marshals that have helped throughout the year. Unfortunately I could only attend on the Saturday night due to a prior commitment but we had a great time and reports from those that did the full weekend ranged from “awesome” to “messy” so a big thank you and well done to all the East Yorkshire MAG crew for putting on such a splendid do.
Next Sunday, 22nd September, it’s the most important meeting of the year for Yorkshire MAG. It’s the AGM at The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR from 10am. All positions are up for re election and we’d love to see as many Yorkshire MAG members as possible turn up to make your voice heard and show your support for what we’re doing. I’m planning on standing for re election but if anyone else fancies becoming the Yorkshire Rep, that would be cool too as I have many other things I can be getting on with!
Then the week after, 28th September, we are hosting the MAG AGC at Shawcross Rugby club in Dewsbury. Full details here https://www.facebook.com/events/2551909301505456/?ti=icl We’d like as many Yorkshire MAG members as possible to come along as it’s the first time in five years that it’s been held locally and it’d be great to send out a message to the rest of the country that Yorkshire MAG really knows how to put on an AGC! We’ve worked very hard to make sure it’s a great weekend with camping on site from Friday teatime followed by live acoustic music from Kelly Anne Bolland and a biker quiz. Saturday has the AGC itself followed by the AGC after party with The Interiorz rocking the night away. Yorkshire themed food is available all weekend and we have Ultimate Ear on site doing a special MAG discount on silicone earplugs (which I can personally recommend as I bought some from them 20 years ago and they’re still great) Put it in your diary and come along and support Yorkshire MAG and let’s make it the best AGC yet!

We will have our new merchandise available from KevKev at the AGC merchandise store on 28th September; these are:

We’ve got a few events coming up in the next few months that you may want to add to your diaries.
Sunday 22nd September – Yorkshire MAG AGM @ The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR from 10am. All MAG members are encouraged to attend the meeting where we decide who is going to be running your organisation for the next year and what we’re going to focus on. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.
Saturday 28th September – MAG Annual General Conference (AGC) will be held this year at Shawcross ARLFC in Dewsbury and will be hosted jointly by the Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield MAG groups. Secure camping on the Friday and Saturday nights, live music and biker quiz on the Friday followed by the conference on Saturday and fresh from their Farmyard Party big top appearance, we’ve secured The Interiorz to headline our AGC party on the Saturday night. The party is free to members and £3 to non members.
Tuesday 29th October – Leeds MAG’s eighth comedy night, Owl With Laughter @ The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR

Wakefield MAG are hosting another Bingo Night on Wednesday 30th October at 20:00. Eyes Down for a Fun Filled Night of Bingo !!! Cash and Prize Bingo, and lot’s of hilarity guaranteed. All profits to the MAG Fighting Fund. 20:00 at the Grey Horse, Kirkgate, Wakefield.

Huddersfield MAG Sausage Night is on Wednesday 30 October 2019 at The Field Head, Quarmby Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4FB, from 7.30 pm.  Places are limited and are selling out fast.  £7.50 per head – pre-book and pre-pay only. Sunday 17th November – Leeds MAG Bargain Hunt challenge. Meet at The Bowling Green (Wetherspoons) in Otley for breakfast from 11am then head up to Otley car boot sale which opens at 12 noon. Buy one item for £5 or less that should make a profit when sold. We’ll then list them on eBay and hopefully make some money for MAG. The person that bought the item that made the most profit will receive a small prize

Huddersfield MAG’s Top Box Sale takes place at The Jubilee Biker Breakfast on Saturday 23rd November:  get your breakfast (for a donation) and treat yourself to some pre-loved kit.  It starts at 9 am and takes place at Jubilee Centre, Market Street, Paddock, Huddersfield, HD1 4SH Finally if you want to get more involved at a local level (and to really get the most out of your MAG membership, I strongly recommend that you do) here are the meeting details of the five Yorkshire MAG groups – though we are looking to expand with more groups so if you haven’t got one close by and fancy getting together with like minded bikers, get in touch with me at manny@mag-uk.org We’re very lucky in having some very strong groups in Yorkshire, but we need the members to join in, so pop along to your local meeting and help to make a difference
East Yorkshire MAG meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 8pm at The Forresters Arms HU17 0PR
Huddersfield MAG meet every Wednesday from 8.30pm at The Fieldhead HD3 4FB
Leeds MAG meet every 1st Tuesday and 3rd Thursday from 8pm at The Royal Hotel LS28 8PR
South Yorkshire MAG meet every 1st and 3rd Sunday from 7pm at The Ball,1 Hesley Bar, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, S61 2PW
Wakefield MAG meet every Wednesday from 8.30 at The Grey Horse WF1 1JG
Ride safe Manny (Yorkshire MAG rep)

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