This was my first time to the Pioneer run, which is for pre 1915 motorcycles that are older than vintage. I took my trusty Harley Street Bob and met the other Bee members at Denham it was a nice sunny morning. There was Chris, Steve, Vinnie, Rob and me, Brian and Pat were there but could not come as they were going on Holiday and needed to pack. We were stopping at Rykas at Box Hill, Brian said he was disappointed as would have liked an egg and bacon roll, hmm, good idea I thought!!
We set off with 3 Triumphs and 2 Harleys, Steve leading with his vizy vest on, we had a great ride to Box Hill and kept a good tight formation. After coffee and egg and bacon rolls at Rykas we set off for Brighton, Laurie had arrived at Rykas before us and went on ahead. There was a lot of filtering to do at Brighton town centre and just before the sea front we got split up, but all managed to park up the top with the other motorcycles, it was only pioneer riders that were allowed on the front. We soon all met up with each other and had a look at the wonderful machinery that was turning up. The look on the faces of the pioneer riders said it all, that was a hell of a ride from South London on a 100 year old motorcycle!
After figering out the mechanical marvels of what they did back then on lovely makes like Excellsior, Indian, and Ariel, it was time for fish and chips on the front. Bob had arrived by train and had a terrible journey and wished he had come by bike, we had a great bit of banter and a good laugh , we decided not to leave it too late to go because of the traffic. Out of town we stopped for fuel, at the pumps an old boy came up and said he loved the sound of a V Twin, what cc is it? I said 1600, he said nice nearly as big as my 2 litre S&S motor, I looked over and saw a lovely Morgan 3 wheeler replica with the S&S V Twin on the front! We had a good run back, except for the M25 which started to jam up so after filtering for a few miles we peeled off at the exits we needed I was in by 4 30 pm , I had a great day in the sunshine , and would go again next year.

Pete Barton

Got to the Ace Café for 10:30am. Johnny was already at the bar ordering a hot drink. He had travelled in an old army ambulance which his buddy owns.

As we were sipping our hot drinks we bumped into George and Max in the car park. Just then Pat and Brian rolled in on their bike. The turnout was very poor compared to last year. I suppose there were lots of remembrance services taking place everywhere and this year being the centenary.

On the dot at 11 am we assembled in the car park facing the Café where the remembrance services began with ‘The Exhortation’. The bugler sounded the last post followed by 2 minutes silence. The service continued with ‘Dedication’ and the reading of ‘In Flanders Fields’.

We all went back inside the café and continued with our catch up and more cups of hot drinks. Pat and Brian informed me that they were flying out to Los Angeles on Tuesday to be with their grandson. So had to go home early to start packing for the trip.

Geoff did text me earlier in the week to say that few of the lads were heading to Duxford for the Remembrance Day.  I had sent out text message to all Bee’s members to inform them. I wished I had gone along but heavy rain was forecast and weather was very unsettled.   

Vinnie

PS. Ace Café could have done a better remembrance service especially as this was the centenary.

 I’d heard about Reg Jellis yard and this event held in aid of Guide Dogs for the blind each year so was keen to go and what an amazing place it was.
  Despite Saturday’s best efforts to drown Herts in a deluge, Sunday dawned bright and clear and delivered a perfect crisp Autumn day.
  A bunch of Bees met in the car park of Halfords at Hemel Hempstead and set off behind Laurie through beautiful country lanes, pretty villages and over precariously steep canal bridges to Cheddington, famed for being the drop-off point for the The Great Train Robbery.
  Wow! We arrived into this yard full of huge military vehicles flanked by sheds filled with paraphernalia of all sorts. The collection of many years. Who else has rockets in their shed?
In the adjacent field enthusiasts had military and classic vehicles on display and there were folks mingling in Forties and military dress. 
  Something of interest for everyone made for a great afternoon meeting and chatting, with the smell of BBQ food, especially frying onions filling the air.
For a donation to the Guide Dogs cause you could ‘fill your boots’ with hot drinks and burgers and sausages supplied by a local butcher, and the helpers worked tirelessly as the number of people arriving grew as the warm afternoon went on.
A large table of raffle prizes kept being added to throughout the day and Karen ‘the raffle ticket Queen’ and helper did another amazing job sallying forth to fill an ice-cream tub with cash.
Consequently the raffle took ages to draw to much amusement, especially on our table as none of us had a winning ticket and Bob (N) kept saying it might be dark by the time we set off etc. And Johnny said that nearly every ticket was one he’d bought and given away.
Just as well we didn’t win anything enormous as no-one was riding an outfit.
After the raffle, the last event was the auction of a trip up in a vintage plane owned by a local chap which raised around a hundred pounds. 
It was debated whether this event would continue next year due to the amount of work involved etc and I hope that the great turn-out and therefore hopefully the good amount raised will encourage them to find a way to continue.
A blind chap there with his Guide Dog who has been attending for many years thanked everyone for the support given to the cause, and those of us attending will remember it as a great day out.
Many thanks to Bob Norman for taking me and thanks as always to the Bees for being such good company.

Heidi O’Neill

We met at Otterspool Way late as usual, but had a good excuse this time, still suffering from jet lag as just got back from LA.
Waiting for us was Steve, Bill, Len and Rob. Weather was cold but at least it was dry and so we set off straight away, good journey there and so arrived at about 10 30am.
Not many bikes had arrived maybe because of the cold weather so naturally our first stop was the cafe for a nice hot cup of tea and coffee,
Was well disappointed with the price as small cup of tea cost £.50 and for a coffee £2.00.
Brian had two cups and he was still not satisfied, what a rip off!
Met Steve, Karen and their grandchildren for a good chat as I had not seen them for a long time,
Was very pleasantly surprised when coming out of the cafe to see the field was getting filed  up with so many fantastic bikes, old and new. It took us ages walking around the grounds and also there were quite a few stalls selling so many interesting things.
We met up with many Busy Bee members namely Dave Scott, Derick, Harry, Laurie,
Ian, Frank, Geoff, Dee, Alison and Terry throughout the day. We even bumped into our Club president Peter Mayne who told us about the little shop just outside the show which sells everything. So off we went to the back of the shops was a deli and you can buy brilliant rolls, sandwiches, teas, coffee, meats etc., at very good prices? The weather was getting warmer but colder so tables and chairs were put outside for people to sit on, a great little find.
The weather was getting colder after a good wander around and chatting to so many interesting people. We saw a board in the next field saying food and drinks so we walked down the path and there was a club house which was lovely and warm. It was a meeting place for families and a play area for children where they could meet other families and enjoy food and drinks which were reasonably priced.
Quite a few bikes also found the place and like us spent about half an hour warming up with a very large mug of hot tea. When going back to the show quite a few bikes had gone home.
The wind had picked up so Brian and l decided to go home before it got any worse.
On the way out we saw lan had lost his house keys and was looking very worried. Luckily when we arrived home he phoned to say someone had handed them in thank goodness also in the purse was his money as well.
Thanks to the honesty of our fellow bikers it all ended well for Ian. A very pleasant day out although could have been a bit warmer but cannot grumble as we have been so lucky with all the sunny weekends this summer. Let’s hope next year will be as good. 
Pat Beasely