Announcements, news items, Nacelle reports, articles
In 2025, four members of the Berkshire Branch went on a one week tour to Northern Ireland. An article about this was published in the December 2025 issue of Nacelle, the TOMCC magazine.
Click on the button below to read the full article.
If you want to see some videos of the tour, click here.
The Branch Annual General Meeting was held on 12 February 2026 at the BCSA. There were 32 members in attendance. The existing committee members were re-elected, with Steve Yarwood continuing in his role as scribe, but standing down as Vice Chairman. Graham King was elected to the committee as Vice Chairman and Graham Steele was elected to the committee as Runs Coordinator. All other members of the previous committee continued in their existing roles. See here for more details of the committee.
We are having a Lunchtime Bike Meet on Saturday 15 April 2026 from 11am to 4pm at the BCSA. It’s a great opportunity to meet other riders, see their bikes and have lunch and a drink . All motorcycles and riders are welcome.
Hot food and drink will be on sale in the club house and the bar will be open.
A collection will be taken for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, which is a charity which brings emergency hospital level care by land or air to people in the local area to give them the best chance when the worst happens.
See here for details of the venue.
See here for pictures from last year’s Spring Lunchtime Bike Meet.
Here is a flyer for the event. Feel free to pass this on to other bikers in the area who might be interested.
Below is the report published in the March 2026 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in January 2026
With snowdrops and daffodils blooming on verges and in gardens, these sentinels of spring promise winter is in the rear view mirror and warmer roads ahead. Weekly ride-outs are still well attended even though the weather, at times, remind us that it’s still well and truly winter.
From a recent committee meeting I was actioned to relay the following advice: A branch member was in need of a special tool for his Meriden twin and spoke to a committee member regarding the purchase of the tool for the branch’s use. Well it was assumed by said committee member that the branch member had consulted the tooling register for an existing tool and/or contacted Mike Ryall, Tooling Registrar and subsequently gave the “go-ahead”. On presenting the tool and receipt for refund it was discovered, you’ve guessed it, the tool already existed on the register, so now we have 2 off. The lesson to learn here is, please check the register on the branch website, Go Menu, Resources, Tools, here, TOMCC Berkshire Club Tools (latest version shown); or, of course, check with Mike Ryall. Please, before you purchase a tool on behalf of the branch, check, because you may well be disappointed…. Action complete.
Now coming up on 5th March, at the BCSA, is a presentation by John Bottomley: “The evolution of the motorcycle”. John was well received with his presentation last year and we asked him back. This time he chronicles inventions and innovations necessary for the development of the motorcycle (including cars), starting in 3400BCE. My first thought was that must refer to the “Flintmobile” that Fred drove! However, I could be proved wrong…
Ride fast and safe
Bibendum
John Bottomley will be giving a presentation to the TOMCC Berkshire Branch and invited guests on Thursday 5 March 2026, starting at 8pm at the BCSA.
John will chronicle the Inventions and Innovation necessary for the development of a motorcycle starting in 3400 BC and finishing in early 20th Century when the audience can then add their own knowledge and motoring experience . It is focused on motorcycles but does apply to cars. John will use a few examples of machines, but it is not a chronology of early bikes , or cars.
John is a former engineer and has ridden motorcycles off-road and on the track all his adult life. He also started the motorcycle team at Brooklands Museum.
John gave an excellent presentation to us last year on GP Racing Development which was well attended and everybody enjoyed it. So we’re looking forward to another great evening with John.
Below is the report published in the February 2026 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in December 2025
Well, I hope everyone is settled into 2026 and haven’t broken any resolutions made (rashly in some cases, like my own) on NYE!
December 7th saw a cool, damp, Reading Toy Run. This was well attended by branch members who were either marshalling or joining in the fun on the run itself. Well done to all who made the effort to make a difference to under-privileged children across the region.
On the final club night of 2025, at the BCSA, we held our annual festive Christmas buffet. An event gratis to branch members + 1. Quite simple cuisine was served by BCSA’s new caterers and feedback from those in attendance would be appreciated. Just make your comments (sensible please!) known to any committee member. These will be reviewed at the next committee meeting to seek improvements for this year’s event. Whatever your thoughts, there was the usual raffle with great prizes, were you lucky enough to win one?
Just because the weather can be rather inclement, Sunday ride-outs continue, so if you need to blow some cobwebs out of either you or your bike why not join in the fun…
Get your diaries ready to note the date of the Branch AGM on 12th February. Please consider joining the committee, we’re short of members and some are currently covering more than one role. It’s your branch so why not join the committee where you can influence its future.
Ride fast and safe.
Bibendum
We need new people to join the Branch Committee to enable the Branch to continue when existing members step down, where existing committee members are covering more than one role or just because having new people join from time to time helps to keep things fresh.
We are a very active Branch and there are a lot of things to organise each year. See this video for a summary of what the Branch does in a typical year or check out the Events page on this website to see what we are doing this currently.
All this takes some organising, and a lot of Branch members contribute in various ways, but there are usually some key people who are critical to making something happen. Some things need continuity, like managing the Branch’s accounts or looking after the Branch’s collection of tools and they really need dedicated effort from one person. The point of having a committee is for the main people organising things to communicate with other, coordinate their activities and collectively agree on what to do. See this description of the current roles on the committee. However, those roles are only a guide. The way the work is divided up has changed in the past to reflect what different people are able to contribute, so we could do that again if needed.
We typically have about six committee meetings a year, which last about two hours each and are held at the BCSA, usually on a Tuesday evening. In addition, the committee has a dedicated Whatsapp group and we also communicate with each other by email.
So if there is something that you could do and you can come to committee meetings, why not stand to be on the committee? You need to be a Full Member of the Branch and must be nominated by two other Full Members at any of the Thursday club nights leading up to the AGM on the nomination sheet that is on the notice board by the bar. There is then a vote at the AGM when the committee is elected. If that all sounds a bit daunting, have a chat to one or more of the existing committee members on a Thursday night and they will be able help you.
As 2025 comes to a close, lets look back at some of the great times Berkshire TOMCC members had together this year.
We’re looking forward to more fun on our Triumphs in 2026 with more rides, lots of events at the BCSA and trips to others shows and events during the year.
Click on the video below for our wishes for the New Year.
We’re planning lots of fun things for next year and they’ll be added to the events page on this site once they are confirmed. See 2026 events for the latest confirmed events.
Below is the report published in the January 2026 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in November 2026
By now many members will have, sensibly, tucked up their pride and joy for the winter. Carefully cleaning and servicing the machines in readiness for the coming season. However, those who need to ride, continue to scratch that itch. So if you feel inclined on a dry, bright, winter’s day check out the branch WhatsApp Runs group for forthcoming destinations. That said, I’ve opted for warmer climes for a few weeks, but can’t wait to get back to cold/damp/wet/slippery conditions!
One recent ride took the group to CTL (Cherry Tree Lane) in the Cotswolds. A very interesting establishment, part cafe, motor/m’cycle sales and museum. So if you’re ever in the Cirencester area, look them up, you won’t be disappointed.
The following Thursday club night saw the event of the “off-season”, Bob’s quiz. Although I was absent, Bob assured me that everyone had had a most marvellous time. The questions, as per normal, were challenging and thought provoking. Thanks must go to Bob for the time and patience in not only compiling questions, but also providing the prizes. Just one thing, that question about the biker gang in “The Wild One”; there were two gangs, not just the Black Rebels, there were the Beetles as well… Just pointing that out for a friend!
Looking forward to the 15th January and the winter Bring & Buy/Swapmeet at the BCSA. It’s a great opportunity to unload some unwanted motorcycle related parts, accessories and apparel or to snap up some bargains. Hope you can make it.
Ride fast and safe.
Bibendum
Below is the report published in the December 2025 issue of Nacelle, which covered Branch activities in October 2025
“From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar and breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow, yes, yes, yes…”. (Credit to Ray Davies) Autumn is well and truly here. However, we’re a hardy bunch (well some of us are) at Berkshire and weekly ride-outs continue apace, so why not join us and blow some cobwebs out of those hard to reach places.
Early in October we rode to the Rawles Motorsport open-day in Upper Froyle. High quality restorers of Austin “Big” Healeys, fantastic cars with accompanying prices of full resto’s (>£100K). Mr Wobbly led us on an enjoyable bucolic route to the middle of Hampshire, although some may say it was a bit of a peregrination…
I hope you didn’t miss Mick Bennett’s engrossing presentation on riding Route 66. Although the tour took place over 2 decades ago, his photographic odyssey and description of issues that the group overcame, in their 4,000+ mile trip, remain relevant today and hopefully inspired attendees to be more adventurous. The old adage that the difference between our nations is that Americans think a hundred years a long time and British think a hundred miles a long way, springs to mind.
Whatever you do, keep the evening of the 18th December free so that you can join us at the BCSA for our annual Christmas Buffet, gratis naturally. There will be a raffle with fantastic prizes, as you’ve all come to expect. We hope to see you there.
Ride fast and safe.
Bibendum
