Newsletter 12 - Nov 2022

We’ve had a very busy year resurrecting the group after a Covid-enforced lull. Your hard work and contributions have helped us achieve significant success in both recruiting and improving our road safety messaging and activities.

Thank you all.

Have you found yourself counting the shopping days until Christmas?

I hadn't until I met a lady who proudly told me she'd already done all her Christmas shopping.

I'll save my shopping until Christmas Eve, as usual...

My hope is to spend more time wrapping presents than I do untangling lights…

May your home be filled with joy this Christmas season and bring to you and your family the promise of a better and happier tomorrow; full of love and hope.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Stephen

Christmas Markets

Spending Novermber and December in the UK and want to visit some tempting Christmas Markets?

Some of UK’s best are listed here: Best UK Christmas Markets

(click on red words for more detail)

Here are some that may be worth a day trip (see the links below for more detail).

Bath (24 Nov – 11 Dec)

Birmingham (3 Nov – 23 Dec)

Blenheim Palace (18 Nov – 18 Dec)

Bournemouth (18 Nov – 2 Jan 23)

Bristol (4 Nov – 23 Dec)

Cardiff (10 Nov – 23 Dec)

Cheltenham (8 Nov – 24 Dec)

Exeter (18 Nov – 18 Dec)

Gloucester (26-27 Nov, 3-4, 10-11 &

17-18 Dec)

London (Best 11)

Manchester (8 Nov – 22 Dec)

Oxford (1-18 Dec)

Stratford-upon-Avon (8-11 Dec)

Swansea (25 Nov – 21 Dec)

Winchester (18 Nov – 22 Dec)

Worcester (6-23 Dec)

Full list of UK 2022 Christmas Markets is here

Next Newsletter

We've had a very busy year and now is the time to reflect, plan and prepare for 2023.

It means there's not a lot to report on so the next newsletter will be published in January 2023.

We hope to have interesting content, news and articles to share and look forward to seeing what the New Year will bring.

Please tell us if you have any news you'd like to share with our members.

Group Ride: H Cafe via Witney Xmas Market

On Saturday 26th November we shall be holding a group ride to Witney Xmas Market and H Cafe led by Stephen Wilkinson-Carr. The route will be 134 miles with 4 hours in the saddle across four stages. It is open to all riders, including those in training, whether you have passed the advanced test or not.

Start location:

The Aviator Café (NOT open until 9 a.m.)

Staverton Airport

Bamfurlong Lane

Cheltenham GL51 6SR

N51 53.624 W2 09.426

https://w3w.co/sage.cheek.passes

Departure time: 8:45 a.m.

I will be there from about 8:20 a.m.

Morning tea stop (free entry)

Christmas Market (£3 to see 51 stalls)

Cogges Kitchen

Cogges Manor Farm

Church Lane

Witney OX28 3LA

01993 772602

N51° 47.060' W1° 28.535'

https://w3w.co/hulk.good.keys

The car park is out of sight and a short walk away from Cogges Kitchen at

https//w3w.co/resort.windy.rounds

Please bring your usual security device(s).

Morning fuel (8 mins):

Gulf Road Garage (0800-2000hrs)

Witney Road

Long Hanborough

Witney OX29 8BJ

N51° 39.513' W1° 10.546'

https://w3w.co/hexes.hammer.hobbit

Lunch location (arriving about 12:35 p.m.):

H Café

Deacon's Garage

Oxford Rd

Wallingford OX10 7LY

01865 341607

N51° 49.499' W1° 23.949'

https://w3w.co/rehearsed.bunks.swordfish

Afternoon tea stop:

Coffee Republic

Coop, Brewery Street

Highworth SN6 7AJ

01793 766035

N51° 37.761' W1° 42.586'

https://w3w.co/supplier.indulgent.perch

Afternoon fuel:

Shell Service Station

Swindon Road

Highworth SN6 7SP

01793 763945

N51 37.631 W1 42.705

https://w3w.co/unsightly.drove.trailer

End location:

Starbucks (open 0630-1800)

Eastington, Stonehouse GL10 3SQ

N51 45.313 W02 18.839

https://w3w.co/unwound.marzipan.native

End time: About 4 p.m.

Please ensure you carry a face mask / covering, remain Covid safe and respect social distance as local Covid rules may apply in some establishments.

An e-mail with Satnav file and route map, showing fuel and stop locations, has been sent recently. Please let me know if you'd like a copy (chair@glos-roadar.org.uk).

See you on the day.

Wanted: Marketing Officer

We have run / are running a number of recruiting initiatives such as: Prescott Bike Festival Exhibitor Stand; BikeSafe; CourierSafe; SkillShare as well as online advertising with local driving and riding groups (mainly on Facebook) and need help.

We're looking for a volunteer, with some marketing expertise, who can help us publicise our road safety mission and refine the way we engage with the public.

If you have some marketing knowledge / experience and would like to join the Committee as Marketing / Publicity Officer then please e-mail any Committee Member, listed at the end of this newsletter, and let us know.

Please help.

Did You Know?

Royal Mail is encouraging customers to use stamps, that have no barcode, by 31st January, after which they will no longer be valid for postage. So, with that in mind, now is the time to rummage through drawers, biscuit jars and cupboards to find unused stamps to use before this date.

This comes as the Royal Mail looks to change all the stamps in circulation, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with a profile image of our new monarch, King Charles III.

Otherwise, following the 31st January, you will need to exchange them for the new barcoded stamps. Royal Mail state that this will make their operations smoother and will include added security features.

Customers will also be able to watch and share videos by scanning the barcoded stamps in the Royal Mail app (click on image below for video with more detail).