May's Club Night

Nick Lilley, Thursday, 15 May 2025

Considering the barbecue weather, May’s Club Night enjoyed an excellent turn out to listen to Lee from Helite give a comprehensive presentation. You can read all about their air vests and other products at https://heliteuk.co.uk/.

It’s always a great pleasure to see successful CWAMs rewarded for their efforts when they collect their pass certificates. Tonight Craig Pears received his F1RST pass certificate from his observer Digby Carrington-Howell and observer Mike Trzcinski presented Peter Geddes with his pass certificate.

It is often the case that when a request for a volunteer is made there is a certain reluctance by the audience who, not without cause, fear the worst. Not so tonight. A good natured Doug Gray wearing his own air vest appeared quite eager to have his lanyard pulled to explosive effect only to receive a sound pummelling with a Lee’s baseball bat as thanks for his efforts. (sadly no photos of the attack)

There was an unusually sober moment when, following Lee, the efficacy of an air vest was endorsed by Nev Pugh in a most personal sharing of his experience. Recently his wife Tess was run into by a car, she was thrown off her bike and landed with her back against the curb. Fortunately she was wearing an air vest which, as Nev showed us, bore the mark of the curb from top to bottom of the vest. It is believed that her air vest together with her helmet saved her from life threatening injury. No one in the audience could fail to have been moved by Nev. Tess is still in hospital receiving surgery on her leg and we all wish her well and a speedy recovery.

Next month (11th June) author and engineer Damian Harty presents “Motorcycle Handling, Suspension and Tyres”.