The position of Assistant Director has become available, and we have received 5 applications from Committee Members for this important Primary Officer position. The role will encompass assisting the Director, the Primary team and the Committee, and help to ensure that the Chapter continues to move forward and gives you, the membership everything that you would like from a motorcycle riding club, be it rides, trips away or socials.
The vote will be held at the December Club Night at the Dealership on the 5th December. The vote must be in person (no proxy voting is allowed), and only Full Members (both Riders and Pillions) are eligible to vote.
The candidates have each written a profile in support of their application, shown below, and I am happy to add that I believe that the commitment to the Chapter from each one of them is unquestionable.
See you on the 5th!
Dave Hardcastle
Secretary
Julian Bennett
Having been a member since 2017, I have been an active member of the Chapter, on rides, weekends away and various events over the years.
Joining the Road Crew in 2021 has been an honour, to support the ride programme as much as I can. This has enabled me to see how the Chapter is run at Committee level, how we all come together for the members to make the Chapter one of the best in the Country.
Taking on the new Chapter role as Social Media last year, has been challenging and rewarding publishing the Chapter as wide as I can within the UK and further afield. This year increasing what I was doing to publicise all of our rides & events to our members to get more engagement and participation.
Thinking up new ways, photos, slide shows, videos etc to keep the content interesting for all, with the weekly social feed of rides, I think this has really helped remind members a few days before of the rides and to get out on their H-D’s and join the road crew for a great ride out.
I also help promote Guildford H-D to our members to support dealer initiatives, events, and promotions through social media.
With my IT background, I feel comfortable with a lot of the admin pieces of the role, after discussing with Aaron & Adrian.
With my Social Media posts, I am in the website & ride programme several times a week, so I could easily help with the website administration & coordinating updates – following up with Road Crew and others for content updates and making sure this stays current and up to date.
Living just a few miles from G H-D I am down there almost every Saturday catching up with members, taking photos, videos of the rides for the Social Channels / publicity etc. and engaging with many members of the staff at G H-D.
Yes, riding has taken a hit this year with my slipped disc which has been very frustrating but hope to be back better and stronger next year to do more riding, supporting the Road Crew and trying to get on more away rides and helping promote the Chapter as much as I can working with the other Primaries to make the Hogsback Chapter the best it can be!
Many Thanks
Julian Bennett
Social Media / Road Marshal
Hilary Bryne
I am interested in applying for the Assistant Director role as I have enjoyed being a member of the chapter for the last 9 years and feel that I want to put more into the club. I have been a member of the Road Crew for two years and the Merchandising Officer for 3 – I would like to expand my involvement and do more for the club and minorly increase diversity.
As a member of the Chapter I have very much enjoyed leading rides, supporting as back marker and attending club social events. I have enjoyed seeing the Chapter evolve over that time, rising to the challenges of Covid and the bounce back once we got out of jail. The Chapter continues to try new things and diversify – I want to be part of that growth and diversification in terms of what we do, who we attract to join and how we encourage participation – We have a solid core of members but many come and go without really getting to know us and we lose potential talent. I would continue to support as many Chapter events as possible. I want to promote new members enjoyment and inclusion and encourage the evolution of the ride programme to new areas, offering increased variety of destinations and activities.
I greatly like getting to know new members, introducing them to other members and making them welcome and would want to carry on doing this in this role perhaps by creating a new members support group to help people assimilate without the responsibility being on one person.
I particularly enjoy meeting and including other chapters and want to develop a hospitality role for when we have visitors – building on our twinning with Mons – expanding the welcome to other chapters at Cirencester and linkages forged through our chapter members physically moving areas and joining other chapters – we have great links with Lindum, Welsh Dragon etc – let’s do more.
I am very grateful for the support that the Chapter continues to give my recycling efforts – I have spread the “gently used bra” collections to many other Ladies of Harley groups in the UK, supporting the UK charity “Smalls for All” and the used helmets for Africa programme. I am very grateful to everyone for supporting my efforts whilst I still supporting our charities programme and particularly enjoy our Hospice runs.
Having spent my career in community politics and safeguarding, I feel I have some experience to offer in managing the club. Whoever wins, I will support that person and the Chapter.
Hilary Byrne
Road Marshal
Hamish Rogers
I am fortunate enough to have been able to take early retirement. I believe I have both the time, the energy and ability to undertake the role of AD, assisting the Director and to work effectively with the current AD, the Dealership, the Committee and the wider membership of the Chapter.
I have been a member of the Chapter since 2017 and I am currently a Road Captain. I am a committed member of the Chapter, taking part in as many rides, club nights, social activities and Dealership events as I can. Membership of the Chapter has been an overwhelmingly positive experience and has taken my enjoyment of riding to the next level. I am honoured to be part of the Chapter’s fantastic Road Crew, to sit on the Committee and to be able to give something back. In putting my name forward, I hope, if elected, to be able to build on this foundation.
Prior to retiring I worked for the RSPCA for 34 years, rising to the position of Senior Prosecutions Case Manager. My responsibilities included charging decisions, the instruction of external firms of solicitors and the management of cruelty cases. In addition, I contributed to training and provided advice, both internal and external, on various aspects of the investigation and prosecution of offences under animal welfare legislation. I believe many of the skills this complex and unusual role demand are transferable to the role of AD. That is communication, dealing with people from all walks of life, addressing complex issues and working collegiately.
My riding life began at about 17 and I currently ride a RDS. I hold an IAM F1RST and I have attended Bike Safe and Biker Down courses. I believe my experience riding is also a quality I bring, hopefully to enable me to lead by example and to encourage safe, legal and enjoyable riding.
I think it would be presumptuous of me to set out in precise terms how I see the AD role as this is for the director, the current AD and the dealership principal to determine but the Chapter’s extensive ride program, social and public events are something to be proud of. I see the role of assistant director as one supporting the Committee, our Director, Assistant Director, Dealer Principal and the dealership in maintaining and growing the Chapter. It is important to me that the Chapter remains a broadchurch with a welcome to all so that every member has as positive an experience riding a Harley and wearing the Hogsback rocker as myself.
If I were to be elected I would endeavour to do all I could to ensure the continued success of the Chapter and the Dealership.
Please vote for me.
Thank you.
Hamish Rogers
Road Captain
Andy (NP) Williams
Awesome Andy (No – pants) Williams. I’m humble… and I have a sense of humour!
I’m passionate about belonging to Hogsback, because I believe it brings people together to share our mutual love of riding and socialising and helps us to give back to our community through our charity efforts.
They say you can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family, well Hogsback are the family I have chosen for myself!
Being part of the Hogsback family has opened up my eyes and my life to trying new things and seeing new places with people who have become friends and who I might never have met otherwise.
In my 11 years with the club, (2 years as a road Marshall and 4 years as a road captain) I’ve seen a lot of change and supported a lot of new thinking , new ways of doing things, but I also have a great deal of experience and background in how our club has formed and developed.
I have always enjoyed welcoming newer members, and tried to make them feel welcome as the club did for me 11 years ago when I joined and now, I feel it is my time to give something back to the club, and that taking on the role of Assistant Director would enable me to do that.
Andy NP Williams
Road Captain
Larry Zea
I joined the Hogsback Chapter in 2012 and immediately realised this was no ordinary group. It was so much more—a vibrant blend of riding, partying, friendship, activities, adventures, charity work, and a welcoming sense of community. From the outset, I felt inspired to give back and get involved wherever I could make a difference.
By 2013, I was already running the Golden Key, a role I proudly held for two years. Witnessing the joy of the winners made the task all the more rewarding. I also joined the Chapter’s exceptional photographer team, which produces what I believe is one of the most comprehensive and talented photo galleries among HOG chapters in Europe.
In 2014, I was honoured to be appointed Chapter Treasurer, working alongside a brilliant team of primary officers, including Toby (DP), Dik (D), Dell and Robin (ADs), and Carrol (S). Their mentorship deepened my understanding of the Chapter’s spirit and values. A few years later, increasing work commitments abroad led me to step down, and Axel stepped into the role with great success.
After a 30-year career culminating as Business Service Organization Director for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia for a global building materials company, I recently retired early to spend more time with family, friends, and hobbies. This has allowed me to be more active as a Road Crew Marshal and as Editor of the Chapter. I am proud to have recently been re-appointed as Editor for another 3 years with unanimous support, and I will continue in this role regardless of the Assistant Director election outcome.
I fully understand the demands and significance of the Assistant Director role. Building on my years of experience within the Chapter, my commitment is not just to maintain the incredible standards we already enjoy but to explore ways we can grow and thrive as a community. I aim to work closely with the Director, Dealership, and Committee to promote membership growth and retention, ensuring we remain an inclusive and vibrant chapter. Additionally, I will support initiatives that enhance the diversity of our rides, events, and activities to appeal to a broader range of interests while preserving the core traditions that make Hogsback unique. Together, we can ensure that every member feels welcome, engaged, and proud to be part of this outstanding Chapter.
I hope to earn your vote at Club Night and bring both my experience and vision to the role of Assistant Director.
Larry Zea
Editor / Road Marshal
