Our People

Passed my bike test in January 1974 on my first bike a Yamaha 80. Moved onto a BSA Goldstar SS 250 for a while. Passed the car test in August 1974 and had a share in a car with my mum until she passed her test in 1976 after some of my coaching. Needed a car full time later in 76 so the bike was sold.

In 2006 I had a track day with Ron Haslam Race school enjoyed it so much that I got back to biking on a Yamaha Fazer 600. In 2010 the bike was changed for a Yamaha FJR which I kept until 2018 and swapped it for a lighter Honda Crossrunner. Hated the chain cleaning so that was exchanged in 2019 for my current Honda Crosstourer DCT. Have recently bought a Moto Guzzi v7 as a second bike.

In 2007 my son started on bikes so I have supported his progress through some interesting bikes. A Malaguti scooter, Derbi Terra, Suzuki SV650, Yamaha MT03 (660), Yamaha Xv950, Harley 883 Sportster, Triumph America Bonneville. Of these, the best was the Mt03.

Have travelled the Uk on the FJR with the longest trip around the Scotland Northwest 500 with my Daughter and Grandaughter.

Since joining the Advanced group have enjoyed the riding with greater confidence.

Riding bikes since I was at school. First bike Honda SS50 (£140) which didn’t last long as a car pulled out across me at a set of traffic lights, I hit it side on, a couple of spins through the air and one bounce but I was shaken not stirred, no broken bones, very lucky. Passed my test in the days when the examiner was on foot!

Lots of bikes followed including two strokes, Honda and Suzuki fours. More recently Ducati Multistrada, BMW GS and now KTM 1290 SA plus a 38 year old Honda CBX 1000, my dream bike when I was young.

Ride for pleasure. Enjoy motor bike trips especially Isle of Man TT, Europe, SE Asia, Himalayas…….

Joined Nottingham Advanced Motorcyclists 2007, became an Observer, then Ride Out Coordinator. Now National Observer and proud to be Chairman

I have been riding since 1988, when I passed my test despite the examiner complaining that I’d “aimed for him” during my emergency stop (in those days, the examiner would step out onto the road). That was on a Honda CB100N, which had taken me and my L-Plates on a round trip from Nottingham to Dumfries for a memorable New Year’s Eve. That bike was also, thankfully, the only one upon which I’ve fallen asleep whilst riding and, of course, inevitably had my only meaningful accident… so far. I like to think that I learn from my mistakes.

After a 20-year hiatus, I got seriously back into biking in 2015 when I took possession of TDM900. I’ve never looked back – figuratively speaking – joining NAM shortly after and passing my Advanced Test on snow-lined roads at the end of 2016.

My current bike (I’ve only ever had one at a time) is a 2017 Z1000SX, which has been an astonishing machine on which I’ve enjoyed racking up 6k-8k miles each year since I rolled it new out of the showroom – having only gone in to get a chain and sprocket set for my previous bike! Chris Walker didn’t even have to try all that hard.

I passed my test in 1977 on a Suzuki 120 when all you needed to do was ride around the block and perform an emergency stop in front of the examiner who was on foot! I bought a Suzuki GS550 and in 1981 had a big SMIDSY which I, very fortunately, walked away from. Three weeks later I purchased a GS650GT that I rode all over Europe on but in 1992 it was sold. In 2003 I returned to biking and bought my first Ducati, a yellow 900SS.

My mum who had passed her advanced driving test bought me the RoadSmart package as soon as she realised I was about to set out on the road on my Ducati. I thoroughly enjoyed the training and passed my Advanced test in 2004. As the cliche goes “I wanted to give something back” and became an observer in 2005.

In 2009 a beautiful yellow Ducati 999 was added to the garage. I loved its looks and ride. I went touring on it, took it on the track and thoroughly enjoyed the full Ducati experience – yes I had a couple of electrical problems!!

In 2016 I struggled to remain in a crouched position for as long as the small 999 fuel tank allowed and both Ducati’s were sold to finance the purchase of a Ducati Multistrada. The Multistrada is a phenomenal bike as it’s happy on both road and track! I ride for pleasure on club ride-outs and on my own. I’ve been on several excellent European tours with club members.

Riding History: I started riding (legally) at 16 with a Honda SS50 and had a range of bikes of increasing performance and capacity for 20+ years. Took a break for a while and got back to biking some time ago now, joining IAMRS about 16+ years ago. I took my iAM RS advanced riding test and immediately decided to try and become an Observer. I got my National Observer a few years after that, eventually becoming a Local Observer Assessor in the West Sussex iAMRS Group and eventually Chief Observer in WSAM before my wife and I moved back to the East Midlands. I remain a member of WSAM and contribute to their observer group.

Current Biking Activity: Chief Observer NAM, Observer Trainer, National Observer for both NAM and WSAM and currently a member of the Bike Safe course delivery team Surrey and Sussex.

Current Bikes: BMW GS 750 Sport and R80GS under renovation, but always looking for another bike, can’t have enough bikes can you!

My day job: is working as an independent contractor to UKROEd and DriveTech, where I am a trainer delivering Speed Awareness Courses and the National Rider Risk Awareness Course specifically for Riders.
Biking Regrets: Having to sell some of the great bikes I have had in the past, e.g. my beautiful red Honda 400 4 F2 back in the ’80s (now a classic) and that Silver VFR I took my iAM Test on.

I passed my test in the early 80’s so I could commute to work before I could afford to buy a car. But as soon as I was out and about on 2 wheels, I realised this was for me. My first bike was a Honda CB125S and I now have the same model for the occasional runout and about on. I soon progressed to a Yamaha 250XS which kept me on the road for the next years, but I did eventually switch to 4 wheels.

I rejoined the wonderful world of 2 wheels in the mid-’90s when I bought a Triumph Daytona and toured extensively around the UK on this. I did have a GS for a couple of years, but switched to my current Triumph Tiger 1050 in 2011 and have since retired, joined NAM, passed my IAM advanced qualification and now observe and manage the Group’s associates.

I also volunteer with Nottingham Blood Bikes. I am thoroughly enjoying life on 2 wheels these days, riding throughout the year and have expanded my touring horizons to visit Europe when we are allowed to.

I have also added a couple of older bikes to my garage recently, getting a Triumph Speed Triple from 1994 and a 1930 Sunbeam Model 1, both of which are eligible to ride in VMCC ride-outs. See you out there – stay shiny side up!

After a few years of riding smaller bikes in my teens, and then a hiatus. I took my full Motorbike licence in 2015. I then went on to pass my IAM advanced motorcyclist course in 2019. As a commuter and former blood biker, I cover quite a lot of miles on two wheels and ride all year round. This means I put the skills I have learnt on the course to use on a daily basis. I’m also a petrol head and amateur mechanic, and I love cars and bikes. Sadly I only have one bike in my stable currently, a Kawasaki Versys 650 which I enjoy Riding, servicing and occasionally even cleaning.

Having started at the age of 12, I progressed from trials riding to roads at 17. My first road-going machine was a Yamaha RS125, and over the years I have had many bikes with the highlights being a Norton 650SS, Suzuki RGV250VJ21, Buell XB9R Firebolt, Yamaha R6 (first edition) and Aprilia RS660 Tuono. My current runarounds include a Moto Morini 350 Strada, Yamaha MT09 and Suzuki DL1050XT V-Strom.

As a passionate rider, I commute, socialise and observe, clocking up approximately 20,000 miles per year. I successfully completed the IAM Advanced Rider Course with a F1rst and Masters, and completed i2i, Rapid Bike Master 3 and many more training courses. I love everything about motorcycles.