Swansea Bay Group of Advanced Motorists

September 2011 Meeting to be held on 22nd

James Ettle — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 10:14:41 +0000

The September 2011 group meeting will be a dinner held at 18:45 on Thursday 22 September at The Cockleshell, Goresinon, a change from our usual meeting arrangements (where we usually hold meeting in Neath the last Thursday of the month). There will be no meeting on 29 September 2011.

We have a table booked for this event, and Group members interested in joining the dinner are asked to contact one of the officers so we have some idea of the number likely to turn up. For your sat-navs, the restaurant is located at post-code SA4 4DJ (see the map below).

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Congratulations: Clive Osborne

James Ettle — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:23:15 +0000

Congratulations to SBGAM member Clive Osborne on passing the IAM Advanced Driving Test today!

New Qualified Observer

James Ettle — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:20:37 +0000

Congratulations to Darren Hounsell on becoming a Qualified Observer. Darren was presented with his certificate at the Group meeting in June by Senior Observer and Training Co-ordinator Keith Evans.

Darren Hounsell (right) receiving his Qualified Observer certificate.

July meeting — Your Group Needs You

James Ettle — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 19:19:21 +0000

July’s committee meeting will take place on Thursday 28 July 2011 at 19:00. It will be at our usual venue, the RAFA Club at 16 London Road, Neath, SA11 1LE. All members are encouraged to attend, especially as very soon the group’s secretary will be stepping down, and the treasurer will be leaving in September. The Group and its activities, including the training of associates, cannot run without these posts filled. If anyone is interested in assuming either role, please get in touch with one of the officers before the July meeting.

Group news and events

James Ettle — Thu, 19 May 2011 09:36:15 +0000

Evening drive out on Thursday 26 May 2011

Keith is organising a drive out for Thursday 26 May 2011 in place of our monthly meeting. This will be nice local drive lasting around an hour to an hour-and-a-half, exploring some of the less major roads. We will meet at 6:30pm for a short briefing then depart promptly at 6:45pm. Directions will be provided. We will finish the drive with a stop at the White Heart Inn, Llanddarog. The food is fantastic. If you wish to participate, please let Keith know ASAP. For further information contact Keith on 07921 775463, or email keith_evans@btinternet.com.

June Meeting

Our June meeting will be held on 30 June 2011 at the RAFA Club, Neath (our current regular venue). The IAM regional group coordinator Richard Fernaux will be attending to address the group on behalf of IAM HQ. We are considering providing a buffet for the meeting, but this will depend on how many members can attend. Richard has important information to disseminate so please make an extra special effort to attend this meeting. We need to know how many to cater for, so please let Keith know if you are attending by no later than 16 June 2011.

April 2011 meeting minutes

James Ettle — Thu, 19 May 2011 09:28:29 +0000

The minutes of the April 2011 Group meeting are available for download here.

Beat the Sun charity run

James Ettle — Thu, 19 May 2011 08:20:00 +0000

Vaughan Hyett, an Observer with Plymouth Advanced Motorists, has challenged himself to set out from Lands End at sunset and aims to get to Lowestoft before sunrise the following morning. This is to raise money for Cancer Research UK, and you can sponsor him by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/beat-the-sun/.

Best of luck, Vaughan!

SBGAM at Singleton Park Classic Car Show

James Ettle — Mon, 02 May 2011 17:13:45 +0000

Our pitch at Singleton Park Classic Car Show 2011

The Swansea Bay Group of the IAM had a pitch at this year’s Swansea Historic Vehicle Register Classic Car Show, held at Singleton Park, Swansea.

Edwin Farrar (centre) and Andrew Hinton (right) talking about the IAM with a member of the public

The day was a great opportunity for us, and we used it to promote SBGAM, the Insistute of Advanced Motorists, and our work to improve driving and road safety. We met several members of the public who expressed an interest in becoming Advanced Drivers with the IAM, as well as raising awareness of the Group with passing IAM members.

SBGAM Chairman Darren Hounsell explaining Advanced Driving and the IAM

Many thanks to the SBGAM Members Andrew, Darren, Edwin, Keith and Sarah who volunteered to help out with the stand, and especially to Tony Ruggiero for lending us his gazebo, chairs and tables.

SBGAM members (from left) Darren Hounsell, Keith Evans, Edwin Farrar, Sarah Newbury and Andrew Hinton attend the pitch

New Secretary and Treasurer needed

James Ettle — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:11:55 +0000

As discussed in the April quarterly meeting, Keith intends to step down as Group Secretary (but will continue until July if no replacement has been found in the meantime), and James the current treasurer will be leaving Swansea in September. Given the time-scales involved, we think it would be best to start the process of selecting replacements as soon as possible, to ensure a smooth transition in both cases.

The posts of Secretary and Treasurer are vital for the continued existence of the Group, so members are strongly encouraged to volunteer. If you are interested, please get in contact with one of the Officers for more information.

April Committee Meeting: new venue

James Ettle — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:47:11 +0000

There will be a Committee Meeting on Thursday 28 April 2011 at 19:00. Note that our meeting venue has changed, and this meeting will take place at the Neath Royal Air Force Club, at 16 London Road, Neath, post-code SA11 1LE:

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The club building is blue and bears an RAF roundel. All SBGAM members are warmly encouraged to attend, and we hope to see you there.