Thames Valley Centre Events
Most of our events during the year are club runs. All We organise frequent runs to interesting venues, mostly on weekends but some mid-week as well. Our runs are well controlled by the Run Leader and Back Marker with a comfortable pace aimed to suit the riders and bikes. We also join up with other Centre’s runs and will lead our group to the meeting point. For dates of planned runs see below.
Get on Jon’s email list and join us on a run, you won’t regret it.
From time to time we also organise events mostly on Club nights, such as our popular Question nights on technical Velo matters of guest speakers – see Events List below.
2021 Events List
Coronavirus update 16th June 2021
After our successful first meeting we are now back to our regular winter 2nd Tuesday at 7:30 and 4th Tuesday lunchtime at 12:00 noon. We are gradually updating the calendar of events for 2021 and 2022 below as we put together our plans and the dates for external events are known.
Mid week runs
We will aim to have at least one per month hopefully more from Spring to Autumn and we have a small team of volunteers to try to achieve this. Generally confirmed within a weeks notice to fit in with weather and member availability. Any changes or cancellation will be via our email circulation list so contact Jon Dunsdon to get on his list to get the final details of the meeting place.
We are considering some other runs to be added to those below so watch this space.
May
May 25th – First Club night of 2021 at the Rising Sun pub see details on our Front Page.
June
June 9th – Berkshire Downs Run. Meet in the rear car park of the Bull pub in Streatley for an enjoyable scenic run of about 50 miles over the Berkshire Downs. We have planned a leg stretch at bit over half way and we will be back in time for lunch at the Bull as an option. Meet in the Bull rear car park at 10:00 and depart at 10:15.
June 19th – Kempton Park Autojumble (Info only)
June 27th – Prescott Bike Festival – has been cancelled
July
July 7th Flower Pots Run. Run to the Flower Pots Inn meeting. Meet at the British Legion car park in Arborfield at 10:00 and depart 10:15.
July 21st – Shiny Bike Night at the Plough at Cadsden (info only)
July 22nd – Latest!! Gaydon Motor Museum Run. – Cancelled/ Postponed due to extreme heat making it too uncomfortable & dangerous to ride that far.
July 31st – Castle Combe meeting has been cancelled
August
August 1st – Up The Downs Run (South Hants). We plan to join this South Hants Centre run again this year which meets up at the Mayfly Inn (halfway between Andover and Stockbridge) and stops for lunch at the Village Inn, in Liddington south of Swindon. However we suspect the Village Inn will be busy on Sunday with limited outside space, we were planning on a packed lunch. However we have found a quiet cafe in Lambourn, Goodies, where we plan to stop on the run back to Padworth. Packed lunch not required now – unless you prefer that. We will have a run to the start at the Mayfly, we will meet at the Shell Garage Padworth at 9:30 and depart at 9:45 which should get us there in time for a quick coffee/tea before the run sets off at 11:00.
August 8th – Popham Megameet. We have stand space booked for this year. Tickets are available from Jon at club nights or via email. Meet at Shell Garage at Padworth at 09:00 and depart 09:15.
August 19th Thurs – Cheddar Gorge Run – Has been cancelled. Regrettably we have decided to cancel the Cheddar Run for this year on safety grounds based on the fact that we have not had enough runs to get “riding fit” and this run is a 180 – 200 mile day. Review next year but the probability is that it would be too long a day for most of us to be comfortable/safe.
August 19th Thurs – Mayfly Inn Run – The Mayfly Inn Stockbridge is really pretty Inn on the river Test and we plan to go there for coffee/tea and hopefully lunch via a pleasant scenic route. It gets very busy but we hope to get there early enough to get in for lunch, if not we will have a Plan B! Meet at the Shell garage Padworth at 10:00 and we will depart at 10:15 which should get us there shortly after 11:00. Alternatively you could meet us there, we will look out for you in the car park.
August 22nd – Velo Open Morning. – We are planning to hold an Open Morning between 10:00am and 1:00pm for Thames Valley Velocette riders, at the Wiltshire Microlite Centre at Cherhill, Calne SN11 8HS. We will be having a run there from Shell garage Padworth, meeting at 8:45 and depart at 9:00.
August 29th – Sammy Miller Museum Run. Autojumble as well on this date so run as previous years but planning a different route back to avoid heavy traffic. Meet at Shell Garage at Padworth at 08:45 for 09:00 departure.
September
September 2nd Thurs – Avebury Run – Cancelled – review for 2022.
September 5th – Shere Hill Climb – run being considered to this car event – review for 2022.
September 12th Sunday – Seymour Run Our established annual charity run on a 60 mile scenic route through Oxfordshire stopping first at Thame opposite where Ralph Seymour had his shop/workshop and then off for about an hours ride before stopping at the Chearsley Classic & Vintage Fun Day for lunch/drinks etc. Meeting point and time to be advised.
September – Calne Motor Museum Run. – This is a run to the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum in Calne which has been well recommended for a visit. The museum has an impressive collection of classic cars, as well as Lorries, Motorcycles, Mopeds, Push bikes, a large selection of vehicle manuals and other archive material, and a large collection of motor memorabilia. The museum doesn’t have a cafe but we plan to use a local one for coffee/tea and lunch (under investigation). This is a 40 mile each way easy run straight down the A4 to Calne which is west of Beckhampton and Marlborough. We will meet at Shell garage Padworth at 9:45 and depart at 10:00 which should get us there shortly after it opens at 11:00. Another pick-up point may be available along the A4 (see Jon’s email). Not run this year so Review for 2022.
September 25/26th Saturday/Sunday – Kop Hill Climb near Princes Risborough. This is an amazing car and bike event specializing in old vehicles. Spectacular attendees on show, like a local Goodwood Revival. Lots of Velocettes and other interesting bikes entered for the Hill Climb, and overall a very good day. We have stand space booked and are planning to have a big display again this year. Details to be available later.
Run to Crofton Beam Engines Steam Fair. To be advised/ confirmed when they publish steam dates for 2022.
November
November 11th Thursday – Run to Brookwood Cemetary. There is usually a parade there on this date so an early start to ensure getting to Brookwood before the parade starts. Meet at the British Legion in Arborfield car park, RG2 9PR, at 09.15 for a prompt 09.30 departure to be at Brookwood for 10.15.
December
TV Velocette Christmas Dinner. This is planned to be at the Rising Sun on Tuesday 14th evening from 7:30 with the Dinner starting at 8:00pm replacing our regular club evening. Bookings for the dinner have now closed with Keith but those who booked are looking forward to a good evening of food but without the quiz, raffle etc as we are minimising movement and contacts because of the current Covid situation. We will have an area to ourselves screened off at the very back of the bar area.
Note that we will not have a meeting on the 4th Tuesday in December as the Rising Sun is closed.
2022 Events List
January 2022
TV Velocette AGM – Now Postponed . We will try to hold the AGM as soon as it is safe to do so, and will look at the situation of perhaps holding it in March 2022, and will advise members here and by email.
February 2022
Technical Question Evening -Likely to be Postponed. We are planning to hold this in the Rising Sun subject to the current covid rules and situation and an email will detail how we plan to manage it. It will be held in the Rising Sun and we will have an area to ourselves. The evening will be chaired by Stuart McGuigan of Criterion.
Diary of Events for 2022 will be published here soon – we hope
Keeping Velocettes Alive.
In the Mind, on the Road, on the Track.