Dates For Your Diary
Next meeting is on 22 June.
From 7.30pm for a 7.45pm start .
This is our AGM followed by a talk on an appropriate topic!
Do you have a topic you would like discussed, or know of an interesting speaker? Please contact speaker at speakers@wiltshireroadar.co.uk
SkillShare & Social
6 June 2026 meeting at the REME Museum Cafe, Lyneham. 9.30 am for 10 am start. See main section for more details.
Bike Ride-Outs on the 3rd Saturday of every even numbered month and the 3rd Sunday of every odd numbered Month. Email will be sent out to Bikers and added to the Forum.
Next ride out Saturday 20 June Details will be forthcoming via email to all bike members.
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Congratulations
Congratulations to the following members who have passed their Advanced Tests recently:
Matt Kent – Approved Group Tutor, Bike
Leanne Mawbey – Silver, Bike, Jan Taylor
Les Alley – Gold-retest, Bike, Em Hookham
Nick Carrington – Gold-retest, Car
Please welcome the following to the Group:
Daniel Tucker – Bike
Ian Marsh – Bike
Gary French - Bike
Graeme Leighfield - Bike
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We are reviewing the process for purchase of branded clothing - please bear with us |
Newsletter Content
We are always looking for more articles, ideas and news for the newsletter. Have you been somewhere interesting recently that would make a good story? If you attend any group events then take a camera and send us your pictures!
Please forward all contributions to newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk |
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I have travelled over 2500 miles this month and it has been fun and interesting. One thing I have noted is numerous drivers and riders who are uncomfortable in slow speed manoeuvring. In many busy car parks and streets drivers struggle to park in allocated car spaces; I realise cars are much bigger now than when the spaces were painted. Many bikers appear to lack confidence in car parks both riding and manual handling their bike. I also had to help a biker who had fallen from their machine leaving a carpark; admittedly it was a complex junction, and the road surface was appalling but their comment of “I hate slow riding” struck a chord with me. They had also recently been on a track day where the emphasis was on riding safely at speed; clearly riding fast was not an issue. How often do we practice our slow speed manoeuvring to gain our confidence? I know I struggle sometimes.
I am always impressed when I see someone reverse park quickly and efficiently or see someone ride slowly and confidently on an uneven surface and I often think to myself I must practice my slow speed riding and manoeuvring of my car. The feeling often goes away once I have reached my destination; I must try harder to improve this important aspect of my driving and riding.
Nick Carrington has secured a pitch for a recruitment stand at 23rd Annual Classic Vehicle Show - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Jul 12, 2026 at Atwell Museum. We hope to recruit car members. We are looking for a volunteer to coordinate the day - put up a stand - set up a rota to man it - take it down. We did this last year so there are people to help and advise you. Please consider supporting the group on this day.
AGM – this is being held on the 22nd June at Nursteed Village Centre, followed by a talk/presentation the topic of which is yet to be confirmed. The AGM agenda has been sent out to all members, so please come along if you can.
Bob
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Our Annual General Meeting will take place at Nursteed Community Centre - Nursteed Rd, Devizes SN10 3AF at 7:30pm on Monday 22nd June.
A proposed agenda:-
Please consider if there is anything you would like to raise and let me know so that we can prepare an answer for you.
Please let me have apologies if you cannot attend and give me a name for a proxy to vote on your behalf.
Happy to chat
Mark Sealey
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We need your help! We have secured a stand location at the Atwell Motor Museum (Calne) annual festival on 12 July. Sadly, the usual suspects who coordinate this activity cannot commit fully to the stand. I know we have sent an email out but here is another appeal to ask for someone to coordinate the building and manning of our stand. This is a great opportunity to try and attract more members to our Group (car drivers in particular – but we did recruit a bike member last year!).
You also get free entry to the festival and to see some amazing cars and talk to.
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New Group Meeting Location
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As a Wiltshire group, it was decided to move the location of the monthly Group Meeting to Nursteed Community Centre, 19:30 to 21:30 with the objective of being a more central location that it would attract members from around the county.
However, with this comes a change of day too; still a Monday, but now the fourth Monday of the month.
May’s Group meeting was successfully held on May 25th , there is plenty of parking space and probably easier to approach than Liddington!
The address is Nursteed Community Centre, Nursteed Rd, Devizes SN10 3AF
What3words ///boarding.imprinted.rebounds
Hope to see you there!
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Monthly meeting – May 25th, our first one at Nursteed Village Hall, which turned out to be popular!
This month Jackie Prictor presented “Horses on the road”, running through how a horse behaves and reacts to things; all the way to how other road users should behave when confronted with a horse. One of the standout aspects is a horse’s vision, what it can and cannot see.
The image below helps illustrate that point quite nicely. It also explains, in part, the way they may act.
Another aspect that scared us all in the room is, that a horse rider does not require to pass a test before they go out on the road! So, any of us non-horse riders could go out today and buy a horse and saddle and ride it home without any formal training!!
A question for you all - at what age must you wear a helmet when riding a horse?
For the answer, take a look at Highway Code Rule 49.
Thanks Jackie for a very informative presentation and discussion.
Peter
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First aid at work with Helmet Removal
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Eight members of our group successfully attended this session and all are certified! We will be running another in the Autumn.
Peter Genet
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IMPACT - The Centre For Post Collision Research, Innovation and Translation
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Road trauma is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. We believe this can be improved and needs to be improved.
IMPACT exists to further the scientific study of factors which affect patient and bystander outcomes following road related trauma. It includes research facilities, experts in a wide range of disciplines, educational facilities and a post-collision care thinktank to drive innovation and impact.
We consider a range of outcomes in our work including death (mortality), disability (morbidity) and psychological harm, but also extend to the investigation of emergency service response, professional training, bystander interventions and new and novel approaches to the provision of care in this area.
Importantly we deliver research, develop translational educational and policy output and measure the real-world impact of all the work that we do.
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Notices
Merchandise
The eagle eyed of you will have noticed the merchandise section of the newsletter has been removed. There is little demand for this and we do not really hold any stock (a poor use of our money). We are looking at a way of providing branded clothing to those who need it and will publish the results of our efforts as soon as we can – please bear with us.
Committee Members
A number of people have asked who is who in the zoo. The list of Officers for the Group is on the website here. Feel free to join us (I know the list of Committee members is a little out of date as Nick Carrington is a member, we have lost Steve Allsworth – thanks for your time and effort Steve, and have gained Scott Bonnell – thanks for your commitment Scott)
Calne Bike Meet - 25 July
We have booked a stand for the Calne Bike Meet this year. more details to follow but please do book some time in your diary to help on the stand if you can. We recruit a lot of members, mainly bikers, but we do get the message across to car drivers as well. Please come and support the group recruiting efforts - and have some fun into the bargain.
Atwell Motor Museum - 12 July
We have a stand in the annual festival at the Atwell Motor Museum near Calne on the 12 July. See details above, but again please help out at this promotional events. This is a great opportuity to chat to motoring ensthusiasts and to see some classic cars.
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Saturday Social
The venue for our monthly Saturday Social is at the REME Museum Café in Lyneham.
Bring a friend and join us on the first Saturday of the month at the Wiltshire RoADAR Saturday Social.
You never know what/who may turn up!
Come and meet your fellow members; exchange notes with other associates; meet some of our tutors and pick their brains.
We usually stay chatting eating cake and drinking tea until 11 ish.
The first Saturday of the month - 09:30 - REME Museum, Calne Rd, Lyneham, Chippenham SN15 4XX
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Have you been up to anything to do with Riding or Driving lately? If so, then please let us know as we would love to include it here; photos would be great too!
Wet early May Bank holiday – but great fun!
Over the first May Bank Holiday weekend, six intrepid riders headed down to Caffyn’s Farm in North Devon, https://www.exmoorcoastholidays.co.uk/ taking in Lynton and Lynmouth for what turned out to be a damp—but thoroughly brilliant—weekend on some of our finest coast roads.
The route served up plenty of highlights, including Porlock Hill, the A39 Atlantic Way and a collection of wonderfully narrow, gnarly lanes that tested both navigation and suspension. After weaving our way down towards Mortehoe, we eventually reached Morwenstow for a well-earned lunch stop before turning back to the campsite, slightly wetter, slightly muddier, but grinning all the same.
LEJOG - Land's End - John O'Groats cycle ride
Don’t worry, not starting to write in French, but to let you know that Steven Hyde and Bob Fram are cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats over the next three weeks starting 26 May.
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Farm Fest 26!
Farm fest 26 Clay shoot is in aid of helping the Prospect Hospice, they are in dire need of funds as they can currently only offer 6 beds for end of life patients. How sad and wrong is that? They get a miserable 18.6% of their income from the government and need our help for the rest.
Each entry into the clay shoot pays £50 and all of that goes to the Prospect Hospice. We have a maximum of 40 spaces and once taken there are no more, refreshments are available in the form of Dorothy Prictors Tea and cake stall.
The Clay Shoot runs from 12.00 to 15.00.
The evening party starts of with a fantastic band called Mudflap, very apt for a farm. Then we have the charity auction, loads of fantastic lots, drive the combine, hot air balloon ride, flight in a light aircraft between the Severn Bridges and a lap of your home, a weeks vacation in a fantastic house in Cornwall that sleeps 8, free tickets to motorcycle trail riding, plus other lots.
Then we finish the night with a local Calne band called Six O Clock Circus. A voluntary donation on entry would be well received.
Last year we raised over £4,000 for a very deserving charity.
Please attend and help us do even better.
Paul Prictor
paulgprictor@gmail.com
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British Medics request to curb the proliferation of SUVs
Experts writing in the BMJ, a leading medical journal, have called for urgent policy intervention to curb the proliferation of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), citing their significant harms to public health and safety. The opinion article highlights that the increasing size and popularity of SUVs – which now account for nearly half of new car sales globally – is directly responsible for greater risk on the roads, particularly for vulnerable users.
Evidence cited shows that a pedestrian or cyclist faces an alarming 44 per cent relative increase in the likelihood of death if struck by an SUV compared with a standard car, largely due to the vehicle’s taller, squarer bonnet striking the victim higher and creating greater driver blind spots. Beyond trauma risk, these heavier, larger vehicles exacerbate air quality issues through increased non- exhaust emissions – fine particulate matter from brake and tyre wear – which now dominate pollution in many European cities and are linked to chronic illness. Furthermore, the greater use of raw materials presents a major hurdle to climate goals. The experts urge governments to reverse this trend through immediate policy changes, including reforming tax charges on large vehicles and implementing weight-based parking fees, alongside the introduction of a ‘child visibility test’ within safety rating programmes like Euro NCAP.
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CHANGING THE LANGUAGE
The RoadPeace 'Crash not accident' campaign calls for policy makers and the media to stop using the word 'accident' when referring to road crashes, and to adopt appropriate,
constructive and accurate terminology such as 'crash' or 'collision.'
Jo Shinner, Chief Constable of Sussex and national lead for road Policing, is actively supporting a change in the language we tend to use.
Use this link to listen to her speak about the difference it can make.
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Roadcraft updates
October 2025 saw introductions of new versions of Roadcraft.
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Promotional activities
SkillShare - has retruned! If you know someone who wants to learn about the Group bring them to the Saturday Social on the first Saturday of the Month at Crown's Cafe at the REME Museum in Lyneham.
Successfully supported by Wiltshire RoADAR motorcycle tutors and WABAM Observers. Dates for 2026 are below:
All are on a Sunday at Devizes Police Station unless otherwise stated:
July
5th
12th
September
13th
October
4th
Calne Bike Meet and Atwell Motor Museum
We are returning to the Calne Bike Meet - 25 July 2026 - and the Atwell Motor Museum - 12 July 2026.
If you have any ideas for events, then please get in touch with the committee using the committee email address :
Look forward to hearing and discussing your ideas.
Presentation material
A generic set of slides has been created for use if you are asked about Wiltshire RoADAR and have the opportunity to present. This could be at a local club, workplace etc. Please send a mail to committee@wiltshireroadar.co.uk and the slides will be sent over to you.
We also have flyers and business cards so ask for these via the same means.
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Tip Top motorcycle touring adventure!
After planning, organising and enjoying several motorcycle trips to places such as the Alps, Dolomites, Pyrenees and Ireland, amongst others, Peter Genet has, along with a couple of advanced riding, albeit IAM, friends set-up www.tiptoptours.co.uk These tours are encouraging riders to explore and enjoy more their riding amongst like-minded riders. After all, “I ride not to go anywhere, but to ride. I ride for riding’s sake. The great adventure is to ride!”
The Austrian Alps is full!! Bookings still being taken for the Dolomites and Scottish Borders. We are also putting together 2027's schedule including an early spring dash to Spain!
Look forward to seeing you soon!
Peter Genet |
Taking both Car and Bike tests?
We have a handful of people who have passed both their car and bike tests. If you wish to do the same it can be confusing as we include the training in your membership of Wiltshire RoADAR but your membership of RoSPA only covers free retests for one vehicle type. My thanks to Ryan Jones who clarified the situation with RoSPA.
If you are already a bike member, you can just pay for an interim car test @ £55. Your main membership would be bike (first one to pass) so "free" retests would be for bike. Each car retest would be same interim @ £55.
The interim test is accessed from the RoSPA member area here:
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Booking a Retest
Please be aware you need to book your 3 yearly retest directly with RoSPA via their website. Sadly we cannot book it for you as it is all done electronically. You may also need to check when your re-test is due if you have not been paying your subscriptions to RoADAR as they will not remind you.
Tutors will be happy to conduct a refresh should you wish one prior to a re test.
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Membership and GDPR
Due to GDPR we are required to remove an individual's details from our Group database when they are no longer required by us. We remove a lapsed member's details if they have not paid a subscription by the 31 Dec following the AGM (3 months after the subscriptions are due). If a member has forgotten to pay their subs and pays after 31 Dec we will require a joining form to be completed so we can replace them on the database.
It all seems a bit strange, but we do not want to get on the wrong side of the Government's Information Commissioner. We understand if members forget or are late with their subscriptions, but please help us to keep our database accurate and compliant.
This is, of course, separate to those of you who maintain a membership with RoADAR HQ.
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Committee minutes
These are available from the Group Secretary if any member wishes to see them. If you are interested in reading the minutes, then please send a mail to the Group Secretary whom will promptly forward them onto you.
Test results
Reminder to let the Membership Secretary and your tutor know when you have taken your Advanced Driving/Riding Test and result. This is so our database is kept up to date; there is no need or pressure at all to have the result published on the website or in this newsletter if you wish to keep your result confidential.
If you have read this far, thanks! If you have any feedback or suggestions about content for your newsletter, then drop us a line at newsletter@wiltshireroadar.co.uk If you can't leave constructive feedback though, then we don't want to hear from you!
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