Hi All,
This week’s ride will be to Swavesey.
Lunch at Herbie’s Diner.
Meet at Silver Ball, 10:00 onwards for 10:30 departure.
We will follow the planned route with no halfway coffee stop.
Route as shown on attached map and gpx files. Round trip is approx. 80 miles.
Hi All,
This week’s ride will be to Holme Mills.
Lunch at Jordan’s Mill.
Meet at Silver Ball, 10:00 onwards for 10:30 departure.
We will follow the planned route with no halfway coffee stop.
Route as shown on attached map and gpx files. Round trip is approx. 65 miles.
Hi All,
This week’s ride will be to Great Bardfield. The Blue Egg.
Lunch at the Blue Egg.
Meet at Silver Ball, 10:00 onwards for 10:30 departure.
We will follow the planned route with no halfway coffee stop.
Route as shown on attached map and gpx files. Round trip is approx. 80 miles.
The Annual General Meeting of the Royston and District Motorcycle Club was held on Wednesday 21st January at Whaddon Village Hall from 8 p.m.
A summary of all topics discussed at the meeting will be issued as minutes of the meeting, however the Chairman’s message and 2026 committee members are below.
This topic will be transferred into Past Events on 31st January.
RDMCC Chairman’s Welcome, 2026
This message recognises Mark’s outstanding service and outlines upcoming opportunities for all members.
Mark Coningsby’s Achievements and Club Legacy
For over a decade, Mark Coningsby has played a vital role within the club, serving as a committee member, treasurer, and show coordinator. We are deeply grateful for Mark’s unwavering commitment and inspiring leadership. Thanks to Mark’s vision, the annual show has blossomed into a highlight of our calendar. Under his stewardship, and with the support of fellow club members, the event—originally organised, by Mark’s father Steve, at Meldreth Manor—has grown significantly, raising more than £20,000 this year. While the show’s success is a collective achievement, it is Mark’s dedication and hard work that have shaped it into its current form. The discontinuation of many similar shows due to a lack of volunteers only underscores the importance of Mark’s contributions in sustaining this cherished tradition.
As Mark transitions to new opportunities, we invite all members to reflect on the positive experiences and memories shared with Mark. It is now incumbent upon us to honour his legacy by working together to continue and grow the valuable work he has accomplished.
Club Training and Safety Initiatives
Recent statistics show a notable increase in motorcycle facilities, with a 14% rise in 2024 and a further 7% in 2025. This trend highlights, amongst other things, the necessity for the Government to revise standards for testing and training new riders as well as to raise awareness of motorcyclists to other road users. As a club, we remain committed to supporting skill development and member safety. Several members have completed and passed the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM) course; notably, Simon Whybrow serves as an instructor and examiner for the Cambridge branch. Members have also attended Biker Down
courses provided by the Fire Brigade and Bike Safe courses offered by the Police, both highly
recommended for refresher training.
Upcoming Opportunities
Our club is well positioned to benefit from the following courses and events:
• Courses held across Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, and Bedfordshire
• Police Headquarters in Huntingdonshire, especially recommended for advanced training
• Skills days for members, with future sessions planned.
While only Adrian Howard has participated in track days this year, our friends at No Limits track days offer complimentary instruction. We encourage members to consider attending track evenings at Snetterton, available at £59 for an introductory experience.
Looking Ahead
The Royston & District Motorcycle Club prioritises member safety, skill development, and camaraderie.
With everyone’s support, our club will continue to thrive and lead in motorcycle safety and community spirit. Let’s honour Mark’s legacy by working together to sustain and grow our club community.
Thank you for your dedication and enthusiasm as we embark on this next chapter together.
Alan Evans, Chairman
RDMCC Committee 2026
President: Ben Davies
Chairman: Alan Evans
Vice Chairman: Andrew Proudfoot
Secretary: Guy Moody
Treasurer: Chris Stafford
Membership Secretary: Jim Greig
Show Coordinator: Dan Shaw
BMF and Show Logistics Coordinator: Steve Coningsby
General Committee Members:
Simon Whybrow
John Gordon
Ken Desborough
Dave Richards
Richard Cassidy
David Browning
Wednesday 17th December 2025. Meet at The Woodman Inn, Nuthampstead, 09:30 onwards for 11:00 departure to Lister Hospital passing local schools.
If you are planning to join the ride contact Colin Willcox via the club WhatsApp messaging and he will add you to the Toy Run WhatsApp group.
Colin is the focal point for RDMCC involvement in the Toy Run but will not be available to lead a ride to The Woodman Inn as he will already be there.
If someone is prepared to arrange a meeting point and plan a RDMCC group ride to The Woodman please liaise via our WhatsApp group or alternatively make your own way to The Woodman between 09:30 and 10:30.
Donations information can be found at the bottom section of “About The Nutwood Toy Run”
About The Nutwood Toy Run
The Nutwood Toy Run began in 2023 with just 50 teddy bears and a shared idea between Robyn from Nutwood Pubs and Gavin Finley, organiser of the Mud Pluggers biker group. Gavin’s wife works at Lister Hospital, and together we came up with the idea to bring some extra joy to children spending time in there over Christmas. That first year, 20 bikers joined the convoy to deliver the toys — and from there, it’s only grown. In 2024, Colin Willcox and his biker group joined the run, along with members of the Harpenden Land Rover Club, another of Gavin’s groups. With around 20 bikes and 8 Land Rovers, we teamed up with Tesco Extra in Royston, thanks to the amazing Mandy from their Community Projects team and Robyn from Nutwood Pubs. The local community came together in an incredible way, donating toys through Tesco and our Nutwood sites. Together, we collected 23 crates of gifts worth between £3,500–£5,000 — along with generous book donations from Bows Books in Royston and children’s author Alice Hemming (Scholastic). Herts Rural Police supported us on the day, escorting our convoy safely to Lister Hospital.
The toys and books we deliver aren’t just for Christmas morning — they help Lister Hospital keep a back stock for children who are in hospital over the festive period, recovering from operations, or staying in for treatment throughout the year. These gifts are used as rewards and comfort items — a little bit of happiness during a tough time. This year, the Toy Run will be even bigger, with more bikers, more Land Rovers, and continued support from Herts Police and Tesco Extra, Royston, But we can’t do it without you. We’re asking for donations of brand-new toys or books for children of all ages (up to 18 years old). Donations can be dropped off at any Nutwood site or placed in the collection trolley at Royston Tesco.
If you’d like to be part of this year’s convoy, please contact events@nutwoodpubs.com, and your details will be passed on to Gavin or Colin. Thank you.
Hi All,
This week’s ride will be to Sharnbrook.
Lunch at the Swan with Two Nicks.
Meet at Silver Ball, 10:00 onwards for 10:30 departure.
We will follow the planned route with no halfway coffee stop.
Route as shown on attached map and gpx files. Round trip is approx. 85 miles.
We will be passing through the Baldock area at approx. 11am and we will pause at a safe location to observe the Remembrance Day two minute silence.
Hi All,
This week’s ride will be to North Weald Airfield.
Lunch at the airfield.
Meet at Silver Ball, 10:00 onwards for 10:30 departure.
We will follow the planned route with no halfway coffee stop.
Route as shown on attached map and gpx files. Round trip is approx. 85 miles.
Please note if downloading gpx file to an Android phone:
Android adds .txt to the name of the downloaded file. For example
Silver Ball to North Weald Airfield.gpx.txt
To use this file with any mapping tool you must edit the name by removing .txt.
Silver Ball to North Weald Airfield.gpx
There is only one café open at the airfield now, The Rosey Lea, which is situated at the furthest end of the airfield internal road.
There is plenty of space inside and out for a large group and also good parking.
The staff were very helpful and attentive and prepared a table for our group to sit together. The menu is varied and excellent quality.
Hi All,
This week’s ride will be to Kersey.
Lunch at The Miller’s Kitchen, Kersey Mill.
Meet at Silver Ball, 09:30 onwards for 10:00 departure.
A halfway coffee stop is planned at Vintage Style Living, Thaxted.
Route as shown on attached map and gpx files. Round trip is approx. 115 miles.
Also attached is a link to Causeway One website which shows all planned road closures and roadworks across UK. I use this to check the planned route and avoid road closures but not necessarily roadworks. It would be helpful if you can review the route and let me know, in advance, if I have missed a road closure.
On Wednesday 4th February 2026 at 8pm.
At Royston Bowls Club, 47 Green Drift, Royston.
Presented by our esteemed Vice Chairman, Andrew Proudfoot.
Since Chat GPT was launched 3 years ago, AI has never been far from the news. But how is it different from the computers that have already infiltrated our lives and our motorcycles? This presentation will explain all… where it came from, how it works, what it can and can’t do today, what it will and won’t be able to do in the future, and where we should and shouldn’t use it — at least in Andrew’s opinion.
Some statements may be exaggerated or untrue. AI was used in the production of this presentation.
Find out more at Green Drift on the 4th February!
On Wednesday 19th November 2025 at 8pm.
At Royston Bowls Club, 47 Green Drift, Royston.
The presentation will be given by Mr. Tom Walston – Chair of Convoy4Ukraine and a resident of Meldreth.
The talk will be the story of the recent Convoy#10 in September.
Convoy4Ukraine is a locally based charity run by volunteers who buy 4×4 vehicles and fill them with essential aid, medical equipment, food and tools for the brave people of Ukraine.
This was the largest convoy yet, with 22 vehicles, 33 volunteers from 10 countries with over £25,000 of aid.
There were breakdowns, locked in keys, missing phones, a long-distance tow and good craic. That was all before we reached Ukraine. Then it got really interesting.
Below are links to Convoy4Ukraine website and Convoy #10 report: