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 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

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 gettng 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

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)