Committee -

Allen Glasper, Director

I’ve ridden motorcycles since a very young age, and always dreamed of owning a Harley-Davidson. It might have had something to do with the poster I had with a great-looking blonde sitting on an H-D … it seemed to set a relaxed theme for life.

As it was, I rode sports bikes for many years before getting my first Harley-Davidson in 2001. I then changed to a brand-new 2003 Anniversary Fat Boy, and joined Geordie Chapter. It’s a fantastic group of people, and everyone does their bit to keep everything moving. Our Road Crew undertake an immense amount of planning and cover many, many miles to make sure that things are just right for our monthly chapter ride-outs.

I travel abroad a lot, often to Harley-Davidson events. If the mood takes me, I think nothing of covering a thousand miles a day to get there. But once there, you just can’t beat taking it easy on your bike in the sunshine! Geordie Chapter has been through tremendous change while I’ve been a member but we have an excellent team and an increasing membership. It’s always very rewarding to see so many smiling faces when we’re on our ride-outs!

Read my Director’s welcome message here.

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

Simon Field, Assistant Director

Hello

I have been riding bikes for over 25 years and have tried every genre going. I came to Harley Davidson’s in 2013 starting on like many others a Sportster then graduating to the Touring range originally on a Road King via a Dyna and currently riding a Road Glide ST my 3^rd Road Glide since 2018.

I joined the Chapter in 2017 and from the offset started enjoying my time here, the members are a friendly bunch, the committee focused on the chapter and the riding and activities are always great fun.

I joined the Roadcrew at the turn of 2018/19 and I am an active Road Captain who likes nothing more than passing on my local road knowledge and I would encourage any rider to get out into our wonderful surrounding area’s and do a bit two wheeled exploring, you’re never lost, just somewhere you’ve never been before.

I was asked if I was interested in joining the Committee at the turn of 2019/20 as Assistant Activities Officer, Graduating to Activities Officer and I’ve loved every minute of it, organising events and outings to keep us all together and enjoying our shared interests making sure all can benefit from their membership to the greatest chapter of HOG.

Now in my current role of Assistant Director working alongside Allen and the rest of the Committee I am taking what I have learnt as Activities Officer and growing it into this role to look after every member and make sure we all have every opportunity to enjoy our time with the chapter in the best ways we can, If you ever want a chat about chapter life, come and get me, I am there for every member and all things chapter.

I look forward to meeting you all as we make our way along the roads.

Thanks

Simon Field AKA Waldo

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

Treasurer

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Anna Smith, Secretary/Editor

I’ve been a member of Geordie Chapter for a few years now and really enjoy being out and about on our Chapter ride-outs.

I make sure everything is aligned with the requirements of H.O.G. and our sponsoring dealer, Gateshead Harley-Davidson. I write articles and news features keeping everyone up-to-date with Chapter adventures.

I ride a Softail Slim FLSL which is great fun!

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

Grant Selkirk, Activities Officer

I am pretty new to the world of riding motor bikes, after a few life defining moments and wanting a midlife crisis I decided to do my test in 2021, as soon as I passed my test I went out and bought my current bike, a 2018 Fatboy, and joined the chapter soon after, since that day I have never looked back.

I joined the committee at the beginning of 2023 as assistant activities officer with a view to learn the ropes from Simon and transition into the role full time.

As activity’s officers I will be organising events and activity’s for members new and old. As a keen member, my goal is to get as many members out there riding, attending events and social gatherings to make the most of their memberships.

Feel free to contact me if you have any suggestions or ideas you would like to discuss.

Get involved, you will not regret it.

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

Dawn Beattie, Rally Coordinator

I have been a biker since 1993, when my Yamaha 125 was bought out of necessity rather than for enjoyment. I joined the Harley-Davidson world in 2008 when we bought our first Road King and haven’t looked back since.

I have been lucky enough to have a second Road King and two Dynas, all of which I enjoyed. However, my current bike is a CVO Softail which I absolutely love. You just know when a bike is right for you!

I organise our fantastic Heart ‘n’ Soul rally, which is a job I really enjoy. It can be challenging at times but when everything comes together, it makes me immensely proud.

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

Ladies of Harley Officer

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

John Nichol, Head Road Captain

My Role as Head Road Captain is to coordinate Geordie Chapter Road Crew, planning our monthly chapter ride-outs and making sure everything is as safe as it can be when we are out and about. The Road Crew are there to help anyone in the Chapter, relating to group riding, how to be safe, or even just general riding skills.

I started riding motorcycles from an early age – we lived at Haggerston Castle as a kid, where my Dad was GM, so I had a hundred acres of private land to ride on!! Since then I’ve had all sorts of bikes from an SS50 at 16 to a Kawasaki ZX12R and all sorts in between.

I came back to the UK after working/living abroad and needed a new bike. I decided that after getting my bike out of the garage and promising myself to be good that day and then as I returned it to the garage later that day thinking how daft I’d been at 55 it was time to grow up!

So, after looking at what Triumph had to offer I went to Silverlink and fell in love with the new 2014 Breakout! So I bought one without trying one out as there were no demos available, when I took delivery of my lovely new Breakout I got on it and rode up the street! WTF have I done?? It was like nothing I’d ridden before but after a while it grew on me so much so that I bought another and the rest is just history!!

I’m now on my Street Glide Special which I have to say is a dream to ride!

I joined the Road Crew in 2017 and with help from the experienced Road Crew members like Jimmy, Allen, Mark, Greg and Peter (and loads more) I achieved Road Captain status, since then I’ve had the privilege to plan and lead rides to destinations such as Holy Island, the Buddhist Temple at Eskdalemuir and the brilliant ABC ride!

I’ve been on the two BOB rides which were quite simply two unforgettable achievements for me and the Lads that I did them with!!

We have a great year coming up in 2024 and I hope you can join us on our rides!

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

Mark Jennings, Assistant Head Road Captain

My role is to help John with the organisation of the Road Crew, to plan rides and deputise for John whenever he need me to!

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

Steve Dobson, Photographer

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Tony Graham, Historian

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Mandy Jobson, Membership Officer

I have been in Geordie Chapter since 2003 and I’ve made many lovely friends within the Chapter. I ride pillion on my husband’s bike, and we’ve had many great biking holidays in Europe and the USA. Geordie Chapter has seen many changes over the years and is currently a very rewarding, strong, happy chapter and I am proud to be part of it.

My role as Membership Officer is to promote and support membership of the Chapter and H.O.G. and to assist the Chapter Secretary in membership duties.

Our membership is steadily increasing and we have members from as far away as Australia. As part of the H.O.G. family, our members enjoy our organised ride-outs and Chapter events including our very own Heart & Soul rally. Even through the winter months, we still have Chapter social events. Chapter membership gives everyone a year full of biking, social activities, events and the chance to meet new friends. I look forward to seeing you all when we’re out and about!

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

Lyn Hunter, Merchandise Officer

I’m the one who gets you to buy all our lovely chapter merchandise.

After being pillion on my hubby Ron’s bike ( he’s the one who wears all the pink for the LOH Pink ride). He had a Heritage Softail for 19yrs which I loved, he then got a Street Glide for 2yrs then another new Street Glide.

So after 48 yrs of being pillion on various bikes I decided to get my 1st trike. Which was a free wheeler, then I got my current Tri Glide which I love.

I love having our grandchildren and great-grandchildren round at our house, it’s a very rewarding time.

I was lucky to be asked to be Chapter Merchandise Officer five years ago. It’s a position that I really enjoy. I always look forward to meeting new members and having a good catch up with our extended family at Chapter events.

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

Tony McGill, Coalition Officer

I am the Geordie Chapter representative in the North East Coalition of Motorcycle Clubs.

Along with other bike clubs and members of the North East Coalition which is organised and run by the Hells Angels, we meet up at Angels Place in the east end of Sunderland at the end of every month.

We discuss each other’s upcoming activities, including social, ride outs, charity events and other business. I relay the main points of discussion back to our members at our monthly meetings.
When I ride a Heritage Soft tail, I am Big Tony, although the bike is too big for me. When I ride a Street Glide, I am just Tony, and this bike is also too big for me!

I really enjoy being a member of the Geordie Chapter and pleased to assist in being our Coalition Officer, a role I also enjoy as I get to meet fellow bikers and have a crack.

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

Paul Pouton, Charities Officer

After making my boyhood dream of owning a Harley 4 years ago, I joined the chapter and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The comradeship is unbelievable, the ride outs and social events, it has it all .I am honoured to have been asked to become charity officer in 2022 which I will do with the utmost enthusiasm and so proud to be a member of the best chapter.

If you would like to get in touch, click here.

David Smith, Webmaster

I am the Geordie Chapter Webmaster. My task is to keep the website up to date with any changes, news articles and events calendar etc.

I’ve been a member since 2018 starting out on an Iron 883, I then moved onto a Sport Glide before moving on to a Street Glide Special. Now I’m on a Road Glide Special. I’m also a member of the Road Crew which is great fun.

If you would like to get in touch, click here

If you’ve ever wondered what each person does within the Chapter, here’s a guide, taken from the H.O.G. Chapter Charter:

The required Chapter officers are:

Director: shall uphold H.O.G. Chapter Charter, conduct Chapter meetings and coordinate Chapter officer responsibilities
Assistant Director: shall be responsible for promoting membership, membership orientation, membership retention and keeping the Chapter members informed of H.O.G. programmes and initiatives
Treasurer: shall be responsible for collecting and disbursing Chapter funds, reporting financial transactions to sponsoring Dealer on a monthly basis, compliance with all revenue recording and reporting requirements
Secretary: shall be responsible for administering and maintaining meeting minutes, annual reports, membership reports on www.members.hog.com, insurance and legal documentation, event releases and enrolment releases

The discretionary Chapter officers are:

Activities Officer: assisting in planning and administering Chapter events
Ladies of Harley Officer: encouraging women members to take an active part in Chapter activities
Head Road Captain: assisting in the planning of routes for Chapter rides
Editor: assembling and organising all forms of Chapter communications. Ensures all forms of Chapter communications are approved by the sponsoring Dealer before publication or distribution
Safety Officer: providing Chapter members with information relating to the availability of rider training
Photographer: obtaining and organising Chapter images for use in Chapter communications and Chapter history
Historian: preparing and maintaining an account of the history of the Chapter
Membership Officer: assisting the Chapter secretary in the Chapter membership duties
Webmaster: assembling and organising material for the Chapter website, social media sites (if applicable) and obtaining approval from the sponsoring Dealer H.O.G. Manager before publication