News about SERV Sussex

This page contains all the latest news about SERV in Sussex. Keep it bookmarked and come back often.

On Sunday 22nd August, bike club Mad on Bikes will be running Pubchase 2010, a sponsored event in which riders have to visit a number of pubs across Sussex and Kent - proving that they visited by answering questions about the pub. The 2008 Pubchase raised over £2,500 for SERV.

SERV Sussex were pleased to attend the Worthing Lions show on 24/25/26 July. Thank you to everyone for their efforts and their support.

SERV Sussex attended the VMax rally for the weekend of 11-12 July 2009. By the end of the weekend somwhere in the region of 80+ percent of the people attending, had a SERV stubby holder on their beer or arm! Thank you for your support.

SERV were privileged to be the main beneficiary of the Dial Post Traction Engine Rally for 2009. The Rally has now been held for a second year on the 4th and 5th July 2009. We are looking forward to another event next year. Thank you for your support.

SERV Sussex were pleased to attend Petworth House on June 21st for this years Harley Fathers Day. The volunteers attending said that the day was a real success.

Petworth House is set in a majestic 700-acre park, designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. It is also home to the largest and oldest herd of fallow deer in England.

Worthing Lions have announced that they intend to raise funds along with the help of The Charles Dickens Public House (Worthing) for SERV Sussex to purchase a blood bike to help with the vital work that SERV does for Worthing Hospital.

Despite the weekend’s horribly wet forecast, apart from a bit of drizzle when we were setting-up and torrential rain in the early hours of Sunday morning, we had fine and fairly warm weather. Bobby, Sean and Rod set-up our stand and Simon Morley arrived with FJR during the morning. Simon Cowen joined us Saturday afternoon.

Although the event didn’t raise much in the way of funds, we did have a couple of enquiries from potential volunteers and some interest from Adur District Councillors. Our presence was more about supporting a local community event (the organiser had been after us for three years) and making members of that community more aware of our service.

Unfortunately, Bobby and Sean before the evening’s Battle of the Bands and other musical entertainment took place. A couple of local pubs ran a Beer tent with a really good range of local real ales, which of course we needed to try – supplemented by our own Normandy Poiré. Harvey’s Armada was our tipple of choice.

There was a range of arena entertainment, from Karate to Belly-dancing, and Simon M took the FJR into the arena where he was interviewed by the MC during both afternoons.

Sorry about the quality (or rather lack)of the photos of Simon in the arena, as they were taken on a phone with a hand still shaking from the spectacle of the exotic dancing. We are expecting a couple of pics from a professional photographer, shortly.

The organisers have already asked us to attend next year, so it would be nice if we could. Many thanks to the lads who attended and to Dean for helping with the gear.

Attendees: Mike Mara, Sean McKeeman, Ian Stroud, Dean Wickham

Myself, Sean and Ian turned up about 8.30am to set up the gazebo and had the stand ready for 9am. It wasn't a particular busy event But as the Sussex Goldwings have supported us for the past year and a half it was only right for us to support them at their rally.

We did have quite a lot of interest on potential volunteers for other counties including the soon to become Hampshire Group of SERV.

The day steadily became windier to which we lost one pop up stand and the gazebo back legs collapsed five or six times, however we managed to get over this all with bungees and gaffer tape! (This problem of legs collapsing has now been resolved by myself by putting safety bolts in place so that we don't have this hassle again). We all manned the stand till about 5pm Saturday, then myself and Mike decided to head for the bar for some well deserved food and refreshments (hic hic) only to find out that the Goldwings were holding a raffle for various prizes and all proceeds would come to SERV Sussex! This raffle raised £300. Before they started the raffle I had to go up on the main stage and make a fool of myself as they wanted to present us with a £1,200 cheque which I greatly accepted on behalf of Sussex SERV and thanked all the Wing owners that were there. Also as a gesture I asked all of them to come and see me at the bar so that I could give them all a SERV keyring, it may not sound like a lot but at least they will see it each time on their motorcycle keys and remind them what they achieved for us.

Myself and Mike continued with the refreshments, resulting in myself getting up on the dance floor on 3 separate occasions when the blues brothers was played! The bar shut 1am, to which we wandered off towards our tents only to stop off at the burger van on the way and who was behind the bar a little bit tipsy.... Kim from "how clean is your house show" (the blonde one). We eventually nestled down into our tents only to have the heavens open from 4am till 6am!!! Fortunately we stayed dry. 8am Sunday morning we had the stand up and ready again, there wasn't too much passing trade as a lot of the wing owners were cooking breakfast and heading off at lunchtime.

Dean Wickham

On 23rd May 2009, SERV Sussex attended the 5th annual Heros Run, in Brigton, East Sussex, where there was a Guinness World Record attempt for 'The most people dressed as Superheroes gathered in one place'. SERV Marshalled the event at the start point and at the final meet up point.

Thank you to all those volunteers.

<p>Blatchington Mill was busy, with a strong turnout for the older  generation of bikers                 and machines. Somewhere in the  region of over 150 bikers attended, including 12                 SERV  riders which were used as event marshalls and to man the stand.</p>

On 13th April (Easter Monday) SERV attended and supported the Bolney Pram Race. Thanks to all of those who attended to support the event.

LA Pebbles on the Beach, is a free music festival and family day out, which on the 23rd August 2008, was held on Littlehampton seafront.

The idea behind the event is that it is free, and performers and supporting businesses are all local. Any profits from the event are donated to one of the supported charities.

This year SERV was one of those charities, and was very pleased to receive £1000 as a donation. SERV would like to say a very big thank you, and look forward to helping support future events.

More information can be found at the LAPebbles website

SERV Sussex often attend the Remembrance Sunday gathering at Lancing College, at which, local riders lay a wreath in the gardens outside the Lancing College Chapel.

SERV would like to thank those who supported SERV and the gathering on the day.

Each of the counties that comprise SERV have made a move to standardise the fleet. You can see in the pictures below two of Sussex's bikes n the new colour scheme. The Honda ST1300 55, was donated by Sussex 4 Sussex

SERV Sussex would like to say a *very big* thank you to Mike Mara of CarImps for the donation of a Vauxhall combo van. Having a van is a very welcome addition to SERV's 'fleet' of vehicles. Attending events is made far easier with a dedicated vehicle, reducing the need for members to supply their own private vehicles for transporting the SERV paraphernalia around the county.

SERV Sussex would like to say thank you for everyone who supported SERV at this years Brightona event.Representing SERV on the day: Steve Darnley, Eric Hughes, Clive Richards, Dave Romaine, Dean Wickham, Stan Todd, Thomas Potter, Ian Stroud, Cliff Zoutewelle and Owen Sawyer.

More information on this event can be seen at the Bury Hill Bikers own website, which is www.buryhillbikers.com

Brighton & Hove Motor Club organise the National Speed Trials. The National Speed Trials are the original, the first motoring event to have started in Madeira Drive; the one which set the precedent which the rest have followed. SERV often attends this exciting event, and were not disappointed by this years event.

Ray Leaning, of MUSE Fine Art and Design Ltd (www.leaning.co.uk), designed the SERV Christmas card 2 years ago and has recently completed an updated design of the SERV Christmas card for 2008, thanks Ray.

Click the picture to see a larger version of the card.

P&H Motorcycles have for the last 3 years been sponsoring SERV.

P&H have previously donated a Honda Deauville for use by SERV riders whilst on duty. Now P&H have replaced this bike with another, new, Honda Deauville.

(Image: Stan Todd (SERV Sussex) thanks Simon Danckwerts (Sales manager, P&H)