SAINSBURY’S HITCHIN

04/02/12

The great thing about being part of Serv HertsBeds is that it helps you experience new things…..

Today would be no exception; I would discover the true meaning of being cold. The day spent last month outside Corey’s mill would be made to look like a warm spring day compared to this one.

The temperature gauge on my car showed -5 as I left Hatfield and had not gone up when I arrived in Hitchin.

Too cold to carry blood on a motorbike and too cold for the brave four who stepped up to take on this challenge. A car’s the only sensible form of transport. The public would have to make do with just a mini moto on display.

The day would be all about layers, and I was wearing a few.

The four brave souls were…Dave

John

Me and Roger “the Ego” Elvin

Yes, that is Dave’s thumb

We started at 9.00 and went through to 16.00 (on the dot)

Conditions got so cold that some people wimped out and went indoors for a warm up

And Roger got so cold he tried to start a fire using shopping trolleys

That is actually Roger trying to fix the trolleys that have had the wheel brakes activated. For those of you who don’t know, he was an engineer before becoming a TV star.

We were visited by a couple of SERV members during the day. Dave Perks, who supplied us with chocolate mini rolls (slightly different from what he is usually trying to sell us). Much appreciated… the mini rolls.

And Roy and Karen, who just came to laugh at us.

It was the usual fun day. A mixture of people who kindly put money in our buckets or stopped to chat despite the cold. And a few brave kids who wanted to sit on the mini moto.

It was also great to see Dave was proudly displaying his bronze SERV badge

Ideas were also thrashed out about a possible charity event we may put together later this year…watch this space

Thanks to the people of Hitchin and the Sainsbury’s staff - especially the lady who arranged for us to use the staff canteen for hot drinks and roast potatoes.

Neil

The Chequers Pub, Bragbury End

Saturday 21/01/11

Those among you who came to the SERV HertsBeds AGM will know that the committee have decided to present a small memento to members who reach certain landmarks in the number of times they put themselves forward as volunteers.

This is in the form of a small badge, bearing the SERV logo that will come in gold, silver and bronze.

It was decided that the bronze badge will be given to members who volunteer 100 times.

This can be as a rider, car driver, controller or even attending official events.

The committee realises that the amount of free time people have varies and any time given up for SERV is greatly appreciated.

It just seemed a nice thing to mark certain achievements.

It was also decided that the count would begin from January 2011.

SERV HertsBeds celebrated its third birthday recently and some of the long serving members will have done a lot before that date.

But we had to start somewhere.

So the first three members to hit the 100 mark where summoned to the chequers Pub with the promise of a pie and a pint and were presented with their badges by our leader Dave

They are………in no particular order

Alan Wilkinson

Clive James

Serv HertsBeds Committee Meeting 24/01/12

During the meeting a further award was presented to committee member

Derek Harrington

And it was also pointed out that our very own leader Dave Wilson had earned his bronze badge.He kept that quiet at the pub.His award was presented to him by Ruth.

Thank you guys for all you have done.

Keep up the good work

And thanks to all our other members for the hard work put in during 2011 and the years before.

You do make a difference.

Neil

Sainsbury’s Stevenage

With Christmas a distant dream, and the New Year well under way, the time had come to grab a bucket and begin collecting

Sainsbury’s Coreys mill in Stevenage was our first port of call for 2012.

It was a bitter cold start to the day as I arrived just before 9.00 to meet up with Roger “the ego” Elvin and Dave perks.

The temperature was showing -2 when a cold, chilly Roy arrived on the Pan (what a brave little soldier).

You can’t tell from the photo but Roy was sporting a brave attempt at a Roger tribute beard.

As a fair weather biker I have to bow down and show great respect to all you boys and girls who brave two wheels during the winter……

Needless to say Mr Honda, star of TV, arrived in his car.

Straws where drawn in my absence and either me or Roy got the short one as we was banished to the cold end of the entrance with no banner, bike or mini moto

We had a shift change at lunch time with

Roger and Dave being replaced by Simon and Helen.

I did manage to get a quick picture of the whole gang..

I will leave it up to you to decide who is who…I’m not risking a beating

The observant among you will have noticed that the pictures are not up to the usual standard

This is for one of two reasons

1…….Roger and his manager won’t allow any unauthorised (by that I mean free) pictures of Mr Ego to be taken or used.

2……….. I was cold and forgot to take any.

Again, you can decide

The day went by at a fast pace despite the cold. Brightened up by a visit from our leader Dave. He brought teas for everyone, chatted to his number two in command and then disappeared into the sunset. I seem to remember he even said hello to me and Roy at one point.

It was also helped as usual by the generosity and friendly nature of the people we met.

An unexpected bonus was getting a few people requesting information with a view to joining.one of them being a man who as a child joined his dad delivering blood in the freewheeler’s days.

The time was also passed by getting to know the car park attendant and watching him dish out tickets to people illegally parked in the disabled bay.

The usual raid on the hot food counter at lunch time for food on the go and before you knew it the day was over and the sun was setting.

Thanks as always to the people we met and for Sainsbury’s for letting us be there.

Ps

Talking of photos, I have to include this one from the Christmas toy run.

This is some of the members that came along trying out the great new attraction at Barnet Hospital……..

The be on the telly like Roger experience……..

Sorry roger, we was going to let it go, but you went and signed off that e mail “star of TV”

Neil

TESCO’S POTTERS BAR

It was a very cold morning.

Last year at this time I opted to do the stint at Tesco Hatfield on the Sunday. Knowing full well that the SERV members who did Potters Bar on the Saturday got to stand inside in the warm. No such luck in Hatfield as we had to stand outside.

I arrived with high hopes that were soon dashed when I spotted the warm area full of Christmas goodies on sale.

It was going to be a long chilly day.

As if to confirm this, Roger “The Ego Elvin “arrived on four wheels due to a thick frost preventing him bringing the Pan.

Recently I have been subject to a lot of criticism, and death threats from fans of Roger in groups like “THE EGOMANIACS” and the social network group

True Ultimate Roger Devote Society

They have made me see the error of my ways.

Sure, I could try and make myself look big by writing another piece that poked fun at Roger. But I am beyond that now, more mature.

I could tell you that since becoming Deputy Coordinator his already oversized ego has hit the roof.

That he is now like a dictator of a small country with plans to rule the world.

I could say that despite wearing regulation black boots instead of my red/white trainers to please him, he decided to comment on the fact that my SERV jacket needed ironing.

That he flew into a rage when he noticed I had put the lid on a collection bucket on back to front.

That he accused me of being boring and went to stand with someone else.  And that he left early.

But I won’t as I am over all that, and also because his fans “know where I live” or at least that what it said in letters cut from newspapers in a note I received in the post from the Letchworth area.

So back to the plot…….

Me and Roger where soon joined by Steve

And Adrian

In the absence of John, a stand in Father Christmas showed up. In my opinion a lot better looking but not such a great Santa….Poor effort.

Steve left after lunch, most likely to do clever computer based things, and was replaced by Tim and Ian

We had the usual great fun, chatting to customers and having a laugh.

I arranged for one weary lady shopper to get a massage from Adrian but he declined to take one for the team.

One young lady wearing only a t shirt caught my eye. Upon enquiring if she was cold, she let me hold her hand to prove how warm blooded she was. We repeated this exercise on her exit from the shop and Adrian unfairly accused me of flirting.

 Imagine my surprise the next day when I bumped into her again and was recognised, while out shopping in Asda.Trouble was I had the wife with me that time. Her hands where still warm though.

The things we do and go through for SERV HERTSBEDS.

We left with heavy buckets. And with Roy and Roger not around I spent my evening sorting and counting it all. My respect and thanks go out to Karen for doing that job throughout the year.

The sun shone all day despite it being cold and I will sign off with the sunset that marked the end of our day.

Thanks to everyone who gave us there hard earned cash and to Tesco’s and the staff for having us.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Neil

SAINSBURY’S BEDFORD

Autumn wasn’t going to give up that easily.

The quest that lay ahead… Sainsbury’s Bedford, and this grim morning was going to separate the men from the boys.

The men would arrive on noble metal steeds, dressed not in armour but hi-vis jackets, brandishing buckets not swords.

I on the other hand would be a BOY. Laden with buckets, mini Moto etc. I got into my car. A turn of the key and the reliable HONDA (keep the sponsors happy) engine roared into life. I was off cutting a path through the early morning mist, nothing could keep me from my goal, and the A1M was just ahead. Then suddenly…what was that?  Damn it, a puncture….looks like I would be stuck here on my “tod” for a while

Enough of that nonsense leave the arty farty stuff to Dave.

A quick wheel change later. Sporting a space saver spare that was thinner than the front wheel on my first motorbike, a Suzuki ER 50, I was running late and on my way.

I arrived to find Tim and John along with a strange sight. Roger the Ego Elvin had parked the Pan facing the wall and was just sitting there with his back to everyone? John quickly explained that at the NEC bike show this week the Honda stand had a blown up picture of a back end shot of Roger and the pan from the advert proudly on display.

We set up shop only for John to vanish and a strange man in red appear going HO, HO, HO and with a supply of sweets.

Roger soon got the hump at being upstaged by someone better known than him and threw a diva fit and went and stood alone at the other entrance.

John, sorry, secret Santa soon set about entertaining everyone. Giving out sweets to children and ladies who had been good this year. No sweets to men I noticed.

He did have a menacing way of telling people, Santa knows where you live!

The money started to roll in along with a few people interested in joining our organisation. We even met a lady whose mum had been a blood runner on a BSA in the 1960’s.

The gang was on a roll.

Unfortunately, Santa is a busy man at this time of year…well John has got bills to pay. So he had to leave us.

Who would fill the void left behind? Who would the kids and ladies come to see?

A distant rumble became louder……and Roy and Robin arrived, fresh from route training to save the day

The money was rolling in thick and fast. Robin set himself a challenge to see if he could spend Roy’s money on food at the same rate as it went into the buckets. He was doing well until the hot food counter ran out of stuff to sell. He then spent a little while sitting down, clutching his stomach and moaning to himself. Brave effort.

The one thing we did learn that was useful was what is Xmas 2011’s hot toy that all kids want.

The lifelike, remote control Roger the Ego Elvin Blood runner Toy.

Comes with gripping hands and real hair **

Children everywhere will be setting there alarms for the early hours of the morning when everyone is asleep. Creeping out of bed and out of the house so they can drive the remote control Roger up and down the dark deserted street.

The first hundred made come with a pull string that makes him say some of his famous phrases like” I have ridden Honda’s since I was 16 “ and “it’s the workhorse “

ONLY £9.99

Note…was £19.99 but price reduced to sell

***Note….false hair on body and face, real hair only applies to the toys head.

Thanks go out to the people of Bedford for a fun day and to Sainsbury’s for having us.

NEIL

Sainsbury’s Dunstable

I arrived at Sainsbury’s in my car. No it wasn’t raining; I just had the mini motto, buckets and banner with me.

A short time later Roger arrived…………….

Roger (or Mr Ego as he has become known) has had some bad press and his share of knockers since his rise to fame on the TV advert.

I want to put the record straight………….

 Roger ( a close family friend of mine ),has not changed at all.He still mucks in, buys the tea’s and is as down to earth as he always was.

Sure, he may have arrived in a limo with a stunt double riding the Pan. Sure he may have demanded his own dressing room and personal chef. Sure all the staff of Sainsbury’s had to form a line and greet him with the store manager spreading fresh rose petals at his feet.

But apart from that nothing has changed.

We were then joined by Ian who is a newer member of SERV and event novice. His sense of humour shined through and he soon became part of the family.

Roger was soon bending his ear about his favourite subject……himself!

Later Clive arrived, followed by Derek and the gang was complete

Derek’s arrival led to a small diva style hissy fit from Mr Ego.

When presented with a new SERV T-shirt by Derek that was apparently one size too large, he kept protesting that you always appear bigger on television,

We got down to business and had a great time meeting and chatting to the very generous people of Dunstable.

Lots of children eager to have a go on both of the bikes and even a couple of adults.

A debate then began about whether my red training shoes conformed to the dress code. I argued that red/white trainers matched the official SERV colour scheme…….the jury is out.

 We left with heavy buckets and a few more possible names of new members.

A warning to Roy…….having sold your soul to the devil for the good weather for last week’s ride out, he came looking for you to collect……

Neil

Roy’s unofficial SERV Ride Out

Roy must have sold his soul to the devil (again), as the sun was shining as we met up at Sainsbury’s Biggleswade at 9.30. A surprisingly small turn out considering how good the weather had been.

Roy was joined by his son Robin as pillion. There was also myself, Ian, Roger, and John with his wife Elaine on the back.

We where honoured that SERV Herts beds TV star Roger could join us as he has been a busy man since his TV debut earlier in the week.

He has just finished recording his debut album called “I’ve ridden Honda’s since I was 16”. On it he duets with some of the world’s biggest stars. His haunting first single “alone on the A1M” just missed the number one spot.

He is also working on a pilot for a new quiz show called “who’s on Todd”.

As well as writing his tell all book called “there is a camera crew in my bedroom and the lights keep going on and off”. It is set to blow the lid off Blood running and many famous friends of his are bracing themselves for what is to be revealed.

We set off and headed to the Green Welly café in Chatteris for a fry up. No one was up for turning around and heading home so we decided to head for Hunstanton.

John planned the route on his trusty sat nav using a spoon and we headed off.

John led the way and gave us a master class in route planning, avoiding A roads, and how to enjoy twisty B roads. Once we got a few miles from the coast the queue of cars heading the same way us us began. So John added a master class in filtering as well.

We arrived at a very busy sea front, and were confronted with lots of motorbikes in the car park.

Then it was down to business, ice creams all round courtesy of John and Roger     (made up for the air ambulance do).

I didn’t notice myself but apparently there were some attractive ladies in front of us on the beach. Not sure if they were groupies for Roger or they had heard about the SERV calendar. Sorry Dave didn’t get any pictures.

The gang on the sea front, John was off having a paddle

Talking of calendars…….Mr May and Mr June ?????????????

We stayed for around an hour then headed back to the Green Welly for a well-earned cup of tea. Twisty roads all the way again.

We headed back to Biggleswade and then onto home after a long and epic day out.

Around 200 miles done and to my amazement I only filled up my bike three times…..you don’t buy a Z1000 for the tank capacity.

We must do it again soon.

 And for the record it didn’t get a little boisterous once John peeled off the A1M……….honest.

Neil