(I.A.M. group 1124)
“The first 21 years.”
The days of small beginnings:
The West Glamorgan Motorcycle Training Scheme (WGMTS) was set up towards the end of 1977, coming into full operation in the spring of 1978. A police initiative, sponsored by the then West Glamorgan County Council, it was affiliated to the Royal Automobile Club/Autocycle Union (RAC/ACU). Sergeant (Later Chief Inspector) Clive Wynne-Hughes, of the South Wales Police driving school Bridgend was appointed Chief Instructor, gathering people with motorcycle and where possible, relevant instructional or leadership experience to form a nucleus of potential instructors, to back up police motorcyclists from the Western Sector. The staff of Bridgend police driving school undertook the training of the non-police instructors since their chief motorcycle instructor David Evans was the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) examiner, for all classes of vehicle including the newly established motorcycle class; it was natural that the IAM test standard was adopted as the benchmark of riding ability. In fact it was almost immediately laid down that all instructors should hold the IAM motorcycle certificate as a minimum qualification, with encouragement to obtain car and commercial certificates as well. Ongoing internal training was developed both for instructional competence and for riding skills to IAM standard
The year of consolidation:
As the Scheme grew, an increasing number of instructors were needed; hence any trainee showing exceptional abilities was encouraged to progress onto instructor training. One such person Dr.Russell Stephens, a rather self-effacing lecturer in English Literature, was the very antithesis of a “biker". Russ refused to just accept that if one were underdressed one felt cold, if one cranked the bike over too far one lost it, if the right-hand bar was pressed, the bike went left, if the plug gap was more or less that 1mm or whatever, the bike wouldn't go. Not only would he make it his business to find out why, but would produce a learned paper on the subject. Besides this and being a superb rider and excellent instructor, he strove to encourage us all to increase our knowledge and abilities. Finding that there was a demand for training beyond the Ministry standards, and WGMTS already had an “Advanced Department” set up for internal training, Alun Richards who succeeded Clive Wynne-Hughes as Chief Instructor, obtained official sanction from the RAC/ACU to run official “Advanced” courses, probably being the first training scheme to be officially sanctioned to do so. Russ was the obvious choice to lead the panel of advanced instructors. He and Alun being the only ones in Wales to be so graded RAC/ACU, to act as a travelling examiner to test trainees at neighbouring motorcycle training schemes
A time of steady advance:
In 1982 the West Glamorgan Scheme suffered what seemed to be a blow when the RAC/ACU decided to withdraw from motorcycle training. Rather hastily the Scheme threw in its lot with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), RoSPA had its own Advanced Certificate, but since this was perceived, at the time, as lacking the standing of the IAM qualification, permission was negotiated to continue to use the IAM pass as the goal both for instructors and advanced trainees. RoSPA's motorcycle training division had a whole hierarchy of rules, regulations, courses and a system of grading of instructors as A, B, & C. so on, unsurprisingly Russ was graded A and when a “supergrade” A1 was introduced he got that! (One of only two in Wales at the time.)
By this time Russ was pointing out that the Scheme instructors went on runs together and attended lectures and social events, and that it would be of great value if ex-advanced trainees, and indeed other safety-conscious riders were to join in these activities as a broad programme of enhancing riding skills.
Hence on 24 th March 1983 at a meeting at the London & North Western Hotel at Gowerton the South Wales Advanced Motorcyclists Group Number 1124 (SWAM) was formed. Russ Stephens was elected Chairman, Haydn Tuck Secretary, Peter Weeks Treasurer, Gwyn Davies Membership secretary, Wayne Rees Events and Alun Richards Publicity/Newsletter. Shortly afterwards Clive Wynne-Hughes was elected President and official affiliation to the IAM was obtained. Initial membership was 25
The years between:
The first Newsletter was produced in May 1983 announcing forthcoming events including runs to Silverstone, to the Motor Museum at Beaulieu, and participation in the IAM National Day at Ford's Swansea and the Swansea Road Safety Rally.
This and subsequent newsletters included a Chairman's letter, a bike test from Alun Richards (he was doing Press work at the time) and various chat items, old press reports and so on. The first foreign run was organised (to the Dutch TT),
By the end of '83 Haydn Tuck had to resign as secretary due to pressures at the WGMTS and was succeeded as Secretary by Richard Cie and in the November the first Annual Dinner was held at the Towers, Jersey Marine with 30 members attending.
By 1984 our first AGM was held in the Central Police Station Swansea, our President Clive Wynne-Hughes was appointed Commandant of the Bridgend Driving School and at the end of the year Steve Jones took over as Secretary. A visit during the year by Mike Pickering, National Chairman of the IAM, showed that SWAM was being taken seriously.
As in the previous year there were a number of runs in 1985, and that year our official constitution was drawn up, Andrea Byrd taking over as secretary.
The 3/85 issue of the quarterly newsletter became a proper little A5 magazine, sponsored by advertisers such as Surface Systems, J T Morgan Motorcycles, and Derek Crook Sign writer, Badger Bike Bits, Gower Motorcycles, Kick Start and M&P Accessories. It carried the usual reports of runs, announced the change of meeting venue to the Traffic Police HQ and recorded the 50 th anniversary of the death in a motorcycle accident of T E Lawrence and amongst the vehicles road tested and reported on by our resident scribe was the Sinclair C5.
By 1988 meetings were held at Morriston Fire Station, by courtesy of Firefighter Paul Liiv who had joined the Committee, by which time Steve Dawkins had taken over as Secretary, and under the able leadership of W. John Evans a formal system of Observers, was set up. It is believed that the present IAM system of Observers, is very much based on the SWAM model
Continental trips continued as an annual feature, as was the Silverstone run, usually led by Gareth Thomas. New for 1989 was what became a regular spring event, the North Wales Weekend. There were 21 people on 17 bikes. Lunching at Bala, reached via the Bwlch y Groes pass, the Llechwedd slate mines were visited in the afternoon. Two small hotels were taken over in Llanberis for the night and after visiting Caernarfon on the Sunday morning, lunch was at Machynlleth and return by the mountain road to Llanidloes.
Alun Richards led this first one, but for many years afterwards Russ Stephens did the honours. It was this year that Alun and Russ participated in the revival of the old magazine title “The Motorcyclist”. It endeavoured, without being tied to say IAM or RoSPA, to provide an organ for responsible motorcyclists anxious to improve riding standards. Regrettably it was not successful.
In 1990 Russ gave up the Chair in favour of Peter Weeks, but succeeded Alun as vice-chairman of RoSPA's national Motorcycle Training & Safety Committee and at about the same time took over from Alun as the RoSPA Motorcycle Instructor Training Supervisor for Wales and the West of England
By now the Newsletter advertisers included our own Peter Weeks (Cottage Photography) Darglen Motors, Two wheel Services, South Wales Superbikes, Abbey Motorcycles, 3M motorcycles and Enterprise Tyres.
Russ' Advanced Department of WGMTS was doing well and was a source of new members for SWAM. In 1991 Paul Liiv took over as Secretary
For 1992 there was a new line-up at the top. Brian Griffiths became Chairman with Kevin Griffiths succeeding him as Treasurer.
Most sadly David Evans who had provided a guiding hand for us as IAM Examiner died. Barely 60, he had retired from the Police force after a career exclusively on motorcycles, still at the rank of Sergeant since any further promotion would have involved being taken off motorcycles. His funeral at Bridgend crematorium was accorded Full Police Honours, a fitting tribute for a retired officer. Alun Richards, who had known him for over 40 years, represented SWAM, joining a galaxy of very senior policemen from many different forces. The RAF Tornado performing a slow fly-past, as the congregation emerged from the service, demonstrated that respect for Dave extended beyond both motorcycling and the Police force.
The Summer 1992 Newsletter carried a letter from Malcolm Rifkin the then Transport Minister, and from the Swansea City Council promising to look into the matter of free, secure parking for motorcycles – it was 12 years before anything was done!
Throughout this time, SWAM via Russ Stephens was playing an increasing role in IAM affairs at both Regional and National level. John Davies was now secretary
In 1993 our ten years was celebrated with a number of successful events and again there were changes at the top. Clive Wynne-Hughes having left motorcycling resigned as President and Alun Richards was elected to succeed him. Gareth Thomas another founder member and noted trials rider took over as Chairman. Diane Bennallick became Treasurer. Much to Alun's relief Steve Dawkins took over as newsletter Editor.
Thereafter the newsletter ceased to appear regularly each quarter but its format was much improved thanks to Steve Dawkins computer skills.
By 1994 our regular winter meeting place had moved to the Black Knight at Pontardawe, then in the capable hands of one of the highest mileage members Julie ( Belgium for the weekend) Kenny. Evening runs and breakfast runs were now an established summer feature. In the beginning Alun Richards had much input into the former, and laid down, for instance that the leader must stop at each turning point until the appropriate number of headlights had appeared. The weakness of the system was demonstrated on the first run following the introduction of the rule, when despite the leader noting the full quota of headlights being behind, one member was encountered coming from the opposite direction! He had somehow got himself lost with the vacancy having been fortuitously filled by a stranger who “saw all these bikes and tagged along to see where they were going”.
Seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness:
During the 90's SWAM began to shake off the Swansea image an increasing proportion of active members coming from the more Easterly parts of South Wales. In fact for a time at least, monthly meetings were alternately held East and West, the (sadly now closed) Police Club proving a popular “Eastern” venue. More important were the establishment of charity runs with included - Children in Need, led by Gareth Thomas, the five British Isles capitals, Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin were visited in 48 hours, raised £1200.
Leukaemia research , a “Three-cornered” run taking in (from Swansea ) Lands End, Dover and John o'Groats. John Evans and Gareth Thomas raised £1000. A Lands End to John o Groats run by Gareth Thomas, John Evans and Terry Carter Ingram raised enough to enable Glantawe Lions to present a Nebuliser to Morriston Hospital .
In 1994 Dave Hutton assumed the role as Chief Observer and his cerebral contribution again moved the SWAM commitment to training forward.
In 1996 Brian Griffiths handed the chair back as it were, to Gareth Thomas who handed it on in 1998 to Wayne Browning, who was in turn succeeded by John Evans in 1999.
In October 1999 SWAM became a registered charity, number 1077703.
For the Millennium year there was a “Job swap” with Gareth Thomas who had been secretary becoming Chairman and John Evans taking over as Secretary.
By this time Russell Stephens' participation had all but ceased.It was known that his health was poor, but the news of his death aged barely 50, was a sad and unexpected shock.
SWAM in to the future and the new Millennium:
There were more changes in 2001 with Gerald Jenkins in the Chair and John Guy as Secretary, with Alun Jones remaining as Treasurer. This was the year when the question of the “Long-term Associate membership” was tackled with a training committee being formed, chaired and motivated by John Evans (Pontardawe). The role of Chief Observer became obsolete when John Evans succeeded in setting up a fully structured Training Programme to assist associates in passing the IAM Test.
The first of the formal structured courses was held in the autumn of 2001 at the Loughor Boating Club and consisted of six full days training on alternating Saturdays. This formula proved an immediate success and these courses held every spring and autumn, have become an important part of the SWAM calendar. At the same time formal Observer courses were begun, conforming to the IAM's Observer and Senior Observer requirements.
The group's emphasis on training continues and “ St John's First Aid” qualifying courses were introduced, the emphasis being on road traffic injuries. The Club now have thirteen Observers who are qualified in First Aid. Also continuing is the police involvement, both as members and providing input into our training and as speakers at some of the monthly winter meetings. In addition the group has always liased closely, and enjoyed good relations with, the IAM examiners.
SWAM in Cyber Space http://www.s-w-a-m.org.uk
During 2001, realising the importance of communication, the Committee initiated an Internet web site which was designed and maintained by Simon Guy assisted by Terry Carter-Ingram. The newsletter was presented in the most vibrant and interesting format, that SWAM had experienced since its formation. The duties of Webmaster were taken over by Chris Matthews in 2002, at which time the site was totally redesigned. Maintaining the site to such a professional and high standard the SWAM website was awarded the coveted designation of ‘IAM approved site'. It has become the major source for information about social activities and events enjoyed by SWAM members. European trips became a regular feature and this encouraged an increase in the active membership. These social events running harmoniously with the primary function of the club, ‘To promote advanced motorcycling'.
A “Media committee” was formed to promote the many and varied activities of SWAM and the now regular training courses.
In 2003 Gareth Gait and John Collins took over as Chairman and Secretary, with Gary Phillips continuing to be Membership secretary and Treasurer. Tasks that he had taken up the previous year. It fell to them to face the challenges of the IAM's “Skills for Life” program. This programme whilst presenting a marketable package, was car-orientated and proved to be less than ideal for motorcycle groups; the fact that satisfactory compromises were reached is a tribute to the skill of both the Officers and the Committee.
SWAM has always taken a full part in, and provided valuable input to the IAM, both National and Regional levels and it is most fitting that in their 21 st year (2004) they should host the Regional Liaison Forum.
Author: Alun Richards