At the time of writing, I have held the post of Chief Observer for exactly two weeks, and so far the workload has been non-stop. And that’s good.  What it means is, this Club is very active and we have a steady supply of new Associates joining, each of whom have made the worth while decision to improve their riding skills. So congratulations to all the new, and existing, Associates.  I know how frustrating it can be at times, but believe me, the day it all suddenly clicks into place will be a delight, and you will know you’re well and truly on the road to biking bliss.

When it became common knowledge that I had volunteered to become Chief Observer, many asked me, “Why?”  I probably blustered something about John Goodson deserving a rest from the post after five years, but the truth is something slightly more selfish.  You see, I have a passion for motorcycling, but I also have an equally strong passion for road safety.

Sadly, I believe that for years we have been let down by a speed centric Road Safety Policy which favours legislation rather than education. There is strong evidence that driving standards are falling and road deaths are not following the historic trend and the steady reduction in fatalities has levelled off. So now, more than ever, it’s up to us to do something about it.

Motorcycling can still offer tremendous pleasures but we must all do our utmost to make it as safe as possible. And joining the IAM is a jolly good place to start. So, how better to satisfy my passions than to volunteer for this position within SAM?

I must take this opportunity to thank John Goodson for being such a hard act to follow. John has had, and deserved, enormous respect from everyone within SAM, and he has always led by example. He is a trusted colleague and friend and it’s going to be so weird swapping roles.

One further thing I must add is my thanks and praise to all my fellow Observers. It would be pretty stupid being a Chief without these guys.