Scunthorpe & Grimsby

Group No. 7080 Charity No. 106312 February/Winter

Contents

Hello and Welcome 1 Where’s the Ad Lad? For Your 2021 Diary Social Nights via Zoom SAGAM Committee Members 2 Composition of Group Chairman’s Annual Report 3 Visit the IAM Shop Associate Extensions A little bit of what you fancy! 4 Caught My Eye 5 History of the Royal Automobile Club Slice of Life – Terry Heath 7 Arctic Quad 8 Laughter is still the Best Medicine It’s Good to Talk 9 Slice of Life – Allen Hardman 11 Are You As Old As You Feel 12 Older Than Grandmas Mouldy Bread! 13 Whatever the Weather – Tyres 14 We Got Mail 15 Support Family and Friends 16 Advertising In Response: Rusty Old Petrol Pumps 17 Sudoku How Well Do You Remember 2020? 18 And Finally

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Hello and welcome to the February Edition of the SAGAM Newsletter

Well once again, we find ourselves in lockdown. The new variant of the virus seems to be gaining momentum and we have seen the NHS becoming overwhelmed in the last few weeks in some areas. The government seems to have things in hand regarding the vaccination programme so hopefully, we will be able to return to some sort of normal in the near future. Once most of the population have had their vaccination, we just might, be able to return to our social nights. I hope you are managing to keep safe and well and are finding plenty to do to pass the time. We have been pottering in the garden and tidying things up. It still looks a little unkempt but of course at this time of year there’s not really much we can do. We’ve also been doing some thinning out, throwing some things away and selling others on the internet, whilst maintaining social distancing. And don’t forget its Valentine’s day this month so why not try the recipe for Chocolate Orange Tart on Page 4 as a treat! I think you will find some interesting things again in this months’ newsletter including making sure your tyres are suited to the weather conditions and the new Slice of Life articles.

Well as you can see, the Ad Lad, like a lot of us, has put quite a bit of weight on since the Christmas and New Year festivities: he’s still hanging around but not running at the minute!

Did you find the him in the January newsletter? He was on page 7, right in the middle of the Bowser diagram of the first petrol pumps. Rose Jobson was the first person to email to say she had found him with Mike Mason being a very close second! Have a good look through this edition for him and if you do find him, drop me an email like Rose and Mike did to tell me where he is and I’ll let everyone know you were the first!

Oh by the way…..did anyone win the Fortnum and Mason Christmas Hamper???? – I’ve not heard anything from anyone so I can only assume none of us were fortunate enough to have won…..never mind I’m sure we all had a good Christmas anyway.

For your 2021 Diary; If you have any articles or photographs for the March edition, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or [email protected] before the 15th March

Committee Meeting dates for this year are: 10th March - 14th April - 12th May - 9th June - 14th July - 11th August - 8th September - 13th October - 10th November and 8th December.

PLEASE NOTE: As soon as the Observer Meetings are up and running again, we will let you know

Social Nights via Zoom So we can reinstate the Social Nights in 2021 albeit in a different format, your committee have discussed bringing in a speaker to do a presentation via Zoom. Obviously, we would let you know who the speaker is and what they will be talking about but before we approach anyone to do this for us, we would like members to let us know if they would be interested in joining in. If you are interested, please let Terry Heath know on [email protected] or call him as soon as possible on 01652 655601 so we can get the ball rolling if we have enough interest. Thank you.

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COMMITTEE MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN Terry Heath Tel: 01652 655601 Email – [email protected] or [email protected]

VICE-CHAIRMAN The views and opinions expressed in this Paul Johnson newsletter are those of the individual Tel: 01724 721156 writers and not necessarily of IAM RoadSmart, nor the Scunthorpe and TREASURER Grimsby group. Malcolm Gothard 01724 764237

SECRETARY Dawn Kitching The current composition of our group is as Tel: 01724 875276 follows:

GDPR Full Members 83 Mick Harris Associate Members 5 Tel: 01724 531625 TOTAL 88 MDU/EVENTS/GROUP CONTACT Please note these numbers can change on a weekly basis. Paul Johnson Tel: 01724 721156

CHIEF OBSERVER Allen Hardman The Area Service Delivery Manager

Tel: 01472 813231 for our region (East Midlands and North Yorkshire) LOCAL OBSERVER ASSESSOR GRIMSBY is Ian Greenbeck Peter Serhatlic. Tel: 01472 825867 Peter can be contacted on: [email protected] MAGAZINE EDITOR/PUBLISHER or via mobile on 07703 718 907 Jan Burditt Tel: 07834170678 email:

[email protected]

Please have a look at our web page which includes lots of useful information including our monthly quiz:

www.scunthorpegrimsbyadvancedmotorists.org

Facebook: @SGAMG1

Twitter: @ANDGRIMSBY 2

Chairman’s Annual Report

Hi again friends, I hope you’re all managing to stay safe and well in these still frightening times! Firstly, I have to say never has one year end report differed so much from the previous one. By comparison, last year had quite a positive vibe to it, but this year has been so negative that it’s been difficult to find words of encouragement to anyone, but I have tried, we have all continually tried, we really have. As you’re aware, the IAM has put a halt on all driver training but we have never stopped working. We’re trying to keep your interest in advanced driving, to keep you as active as we can in these strange times. One way we’re trying to move forward could be by Zoom meetings. The truth is, sadly there were more that didn’t want to try it than there were showing a positive interest. We are still undeterred though, we will give it a try, maybe with a quiz or something. Watch this space. Mick Harris is still doing some fantastic quizzes which you can access via our website, so I hope that helps to stave off the boredom. One of the best things we’ve done recently is to change from a quarterly magazine to a monthly one. It creates more work for our magazine editor Jan Burditt, but I would love us all to pull together and pass on to Jan, anything you think may be of interest for the magazine. We’re all ready to restart the training, we have everything set up and ready to go, but until then we just have to try and keep everyone interested for the sake of you and your group. I know some people are being very selfish and doing all the wrong things but we can just try and be sensible and then life can resume to some sort of normality. We will be looking to recruit and train new observers as well as associates and we would also welcome some new blood and new ideas on the committee, if you're interested. If you feel like helping please get in touch. As always, many thanks for your valued support.

Kind regards, Terry Heath Chairman S A G A M

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Visit the IAM RoadSmart shop

Don't forget to check out the IAM RoadSmart shop. Our range of branded items is available for you to buy online. From Lanyards, car badges and Jackets, to T shirts, polo shirts, pens, mugs and document bags, we hope you will wear/use your IAM RoadSmart branded merchandise with pride. All purchases show your active support for the UK’s largest independent road safety charity.

Click here to shop - or call 0800 303 1134

Don’t forget as well, the exciting new benefits members can enjoy. From 50% off MOT’s with National Tyres and Autocare, to savings on popular magazines including Top Gear and Cycling Plus, there is something for all to enjoy. To access these amazing offers, login to www.iamroadsmart.com and click on Dashboard/My benefits

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In light of the current lockdown across the UK and the uncertainty as to when the Government restrictions will be lifted to enable on-road training to resume, IAM RoadSmart will be automatically extending all Associate memberships to 30th September 2021. This applies to all Associates who purchased an Advanced course after 1st June 2019. Associates do not need to take any action in relation to this. 3

A little bit of what you fancy! Valentine’s day would be a perfect time to try this yummy

Chocolate & Orange Brownie Tart

Preparation and cooking time - Prep: 20 mins - Cook: 1 hr - plus cooling - Serves 6-8 - Freezable and Vegetarian - Keeps for 3 days in an airtight container.

Wow your family this Valentine’s Day with this Chocolate & Orange Brownie Tart. With a crumbly pastry base, it's a deliciously decadent dessert course or anytime treat…Mmmmm

Ingredients:

• 320g pack Jus-Rol™ Shortcrust Pastry Sheet or make your own! • 120g dark chocolate, chopped • 120g butter, cubed • 2 eggs • 80g golden caster sugar • 80g light brown soft sugar • 80g plain flour • 1 orange, zested and juiced plus more zest to serve • crème fraîche to serve • Mandarin orange segments (optional) • Terry’s chocolate orange segments (optional)

Method

STEP 1 - Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Unravel the Jus-Rol™ Shortcrust Pastry Sheet or roll your own and use to line a 20cm tart tin. Press into the sides of the tin and loosely cut around the edges, leaving a little overhanging. Line the pastry with a scrunched-up piece of baking parchment, and fill with raw rice or baking beans. Bake for 15 mins, remove the paper and bake for another 5-10 mins until dry.

STEP 2 - While the pastry is cooking, put the butter and chocolate into a heatproof bowl set over a pan of just-simmering water and melt together, stirring often. When melted, remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly. Add a pinch of salt if your butter is unsalted.

STEP 3 - Whisk together the eggs and sugars briefly in a bowl until combined, then stir in the melted chocolate and butter. Sieve over the flour and fold in until just combined. Stir in the orange juice and zest.

STEP 4 - Trim the edges of the pastry tart with a serrated knife to neaten, and spoon the brownie mixture into the middle. Smooth over with the back of a spoon or spatula, and bake for a further 30-35 mins until the top forms a crust, and the filling is no longer wet but slightly wobbly.

STEP 5 - Leave to cool for 15 mins before removing from the tin if serving warm, or serve at room temperature. Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche, grate some more orange zest over, or arrange some mandarin orange segments on the top, or even arrange some Terry’s chocolate orange segments for a complete chocolate explosion! Did you try this? – Let me know if you did and what it was like! Unkno 4

by Unknown Unknown by Photo This

Editor’s Choice……… CAUGHT MY EYE……. Chorological history of the Royal Automobile Club

Globally recognised as Britain’s home of motoring, the Royal Automobile Club is Britain’s longest-standing and most influential motoring organisation. Founded more than a hundred years ago on a love of motoring, with a dedication to the rights and best interests of motorists, the Club is proud of its motoring history with a heritage listed below, that is important to the present day.

1896: The restrictive ‘Red Flag’ Act, which had required a man to walk in front of every vehicle, was repealed and the maximum speed limit lifted to 14mph ‒ the birth of motoring in the UK.

1896 (14 November): The Emancipation Run, the precursor to the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, was organised to celebrate the passing of the Locomotives on the Highways Act. Thirty pioneer motorists celebrated the first legal journey on English roads and new motoring freedom. 1900: Claude Johnson organised the 1000 Mile Trial, putting British motoring on the map. A large number of cars travelled the length and breadth of the country in a reliability trial, which brought home to ordinary people what a ‘horseless carriage’ was and what it could do. 1903: The Motor Car Act was passed into law. The Club had vigorously campaigned for this, long having had the interests of the private motorist at heart. This act (now held at Bristol Record Office) increased speed limits and removed other restrictive legislation. 1905: The Club organised the first Tourist Trophy (TT) race, today the oldest motoring race to run regularly. In the same year, the Club became the governing body for motor sport in Britain and introduced driving certificates, the responsibility for which would not be taken over by the government for another 30 years. An associate membership of the Club was also established, and guides on bicycles, then motorcycles and vans, were gradually introduced. 1911: Club turnover rose to £970,000, from £385,000 the previous year, because of a huge influx of new members, all paying 25 guineas a head to join and an annual subscription fee of 10 guineas. 1913: Woodcote Park near Epsom racecourse was purchased as the Club’s ‘country headquarters. Located on the site of a twelfth century abbey, it was a mansion built in 1679 by Richard Evelyn (brother of diarist John), and mentioned in his diaries by Samuel Pepys. The picture (seen right) is part of the interior of Woodcote Park in Epsom Surry today. Today, the Woodcote Park clubhouse and estate, set in 350 acres of beautiful Downs countryside in Surrey, features two 18-hole golf courses, four squash courts, six floodlit tennis courts, a modern gym, an indoor swimming pool, treatment rooms, restaurants, bars and accommodation. 1914–18: During World War I, both clubhouses were put at the disposal of the armed services. Pall Mall became practically an officers’ club, and the British Red Cross Society used a part of it. By September 1918, the Club had provided bed, breakfast and baths for 228,125 officers and served around two million meals.

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Motoring Pre-WWII 1903: The Club petitioned councils in Southern Ireland for a repeal of the Locomotives on Highways Act (Ireland). This was achieved in March 1903 which effectively began road racing in the UK and allowed the 1903 Gordon Bennett Race to take place outside Dublin. 1926: The Club organised the first British Grand Prix at Brooklands, and four years later, its first Commemoration Run to Brighton (right) to celebrate the repeal of the ‘Red Flag’ legislation. 1934: Woodcote Park was razed to the ground by fire, reopening 21 months later in May 1936. 1939-45: During World War II, Woodcote Park was used as an army training centre with the grounds ploughed for agricultural purposes. 1943: Lord Mountbatten became the Club’s President. 1944: On 20 February, the Pall Mall clubhouse took a direct hit, but was relatively fortunate compared with other devastation in London during World War II. The 50kg German ‘Flower Pot’ bomb* penetrated the terrace roof of the Great Gallery, starting a fire that took many hours to extinguish. * The bomb was encased in a five-gallon clay flower pot. The explosives were at the very bottom, connected to an egg timer and batteries. Covering the whole mechanism was a several-inch-thick layer of putty.

Motoring Post-WWII 1951: Burgess and MacLean, Russian spies who penetrated the British Foreign office, allegedly plotted their defection to the Soviet Union in the Club Room. 1950s and 60s: These years saw the advent of mass motoring and, in 1959, witnessed the opening of Britain’s first major motorway, the M1 from London to Birmingham. Roads became busier and more dangerous places, with traffic jams ‒ previously unheard of ‒ now commonplace. The British car industry began to suffer from overseas competition and inefficiencies, and the Club’s main rival the AA began to modernise and consolidate its service to members. Despite this, the clubhouse itself continued to prosper. 1970s: ‘Crisis in the Club’ ‒ by now the Club’s motoring services division, and as a result its clubhouses, were suffering. The Chairman called an emergency meeting, in which a working committee was set up to take positive action. The Club entered an ambitious ten-year programme of expansion and refurbishment, leading to the restoration of the interior of the Club in all its magnificence, and an extensive waiting list to join. Corporate membership was introduced at this time, and ran until 1984. 1978: The Torrens Trophy was founded, awarded to an individual or organisation considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the cause of safe and skilful motorcycling in Britain. 1979: After Lord Mountbatten’s assassination by the IRA in 1979, Prince Michael of Kent became President of the Club. (Right: RAC President, HRH Prince Michael of Kent presenting the International Road Safety Award at the Savoy London, in 2019) 1991: The RAC Foundation was formed. Long before this, the Club, through its Public Policy Committee, had become a respected voice in the formulation of government policy for roads and motorised transport. This was recognised and strengthened by the formation, in 1991, of the RAC Foundation for Motoring, a registered charity. Trustees are appointed jointly by the RAC (Aviva) and the Club, with an independent chairman. The Foundation continues to be a strong and independent source of academic research and influence, based on its belief that the growing demand for cars and freight transport has to be accompanied by concern for the environmental effects and impact on road planning, safety and other factors. 1999: RAC Motoring Services Ltd, which offered roadside assistance and many other benefits to over 5.5 million associate members, was sold by the Club to the Lex Group, and later passed to Aviva, the insurance company. This demerger had become necessary to allow the company freer access to capital markets for long-term growth than would have been possible under continued ownership by the members of a London club. 1999: A new era dawned for the Club when ladies were first admitted to full membership. 6

2005: The Tourist Trophy was awarded for the first time since 1988, to Peter Kox and Pedro Lamy. 2006: The Woodcote Trophy was founded, the first new trophy to be created by the Club in 100 years; a series for racing sports cars of the post-war years, up to December 1955.

Present Day Overseen by the Club’s Motoring Committee, the Club continues to own and maintain a unique fleet of veteran and historic vehicles and runs a number of annual events, including the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, which commemorates the Emancipation Run of 1896. It is the longest-running motoring event, with people coming annually from all over the world to view over 500 cars dating from before 1905.

Members can participate in a range of varied motoring-related events, while the Committee continues to foster links and relationships with industry and the wider motoring world. Recent award winners at the Club have included Lewis Hamilton MBE, James Toseland, and the late but legendary Sir Jackie Stewart and Sir Stirling Moss ‒ all famous motoring names in recent decades.

Researched by Jan Burditt with extracts taken from RAC’s History Website

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Slice of Life- written by Terry Heath

Hi folks, at a recent virtual committee meeting we agreed to do our own profile for your information and amusement, In the same edition that you’re reading this in, you will also find Allen Hardman’s profile, so we have christened it “Slice of life”. Feel free to have a laugh, well at least you’ll know who you’re laughing at. Here we go then, I was born and bred in Gainsborough and my interest in advanced driving first started there. Some of you might be aware that my brother Barrie was one of the founder members of the Scunthorpe group. He taught me to drive from the start, followed by advanced driver training and I went onto to pass my IAM test. That test was in Lincoln, because we didn’t have a test route in Scunthorpe in those distant times and it was with examiner Bob Hardisty, on the 1st June 1974 at 11am. That date will stick with me forever, not only because of my test but sadly because in the afternoon, a massive explosion occurred at Nypro chemical works tragically killing 29 people. Following on from my test it wasn’t long before I started some observer training with Barrie, following on from that, I started to take candidates out and help prepare them for the test. Several years later and still going strong, I have trained well over 200 candidates to pass the test successfully and obviously I am still very involved with the group to this day. My work career has been quite varied. I spent many years on the road as a full-time taxi driver, furniture delivery driver and HGV driver. I eventually put full time driving to one side and started a new career on the steel works which lasted for 19 years. I also became a part time chauffeur, a job which I absolutely love and 33 years later am still doing. All the time in between work, I still managed to fit training sessions in and that hardly ever stopped. The main thing in my life is still and always will be SAGAM. I’ve been the chairman for quite some time now and while I feel I can still play a useful part in the group, I will continue. One of my most memorable moments was when we surprised, no shocked our then examiner and good group friend, Roy Hindmarsh. One of our senior observers, who some of you may remember, Gordon Leech, trained Becky Hindmarsh, (Roy’s daughter) and fellow examiner Ken Braithwaite tested her. All of course unbeknown to Roy. One meeting night, when Becky and her mum Lois suddenly decided to come to a social meeting, Roy couldn't understand why. It all became clear when he was asked to present the certificate to his own daughter. It was a brilliant night for all, and one that left poor old Roy feeling a bit shocked to say the least but also immensely proud. One thing I spoke of at the start, was how it all started. What I neglected to say is that we were part of what I believe was then called “Grimsby & South Humberside A.M” We began life as a sub group of Grimsby. They were our guardian 7 or parent group and looked after and guided us through the early days. Once we achieved 50 test passes, we could go it alone which of course we did. I must say now that 42 years later on, Grimsby & Louth group, merged with Scunthorpe group, so we’ve actually come full circle. There are some new faces but together we are now, I believe, a stronger and better functioning group because of the merger. Long may it continue. Even when I step down from the chairman’s position I still want to be involved; it’s still my life, I think it must be in my blood. Thank you. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~ Arctic Quad

Until recently, if you had asked for my opinion of quadracycles, I would have replied with a definite “thumbs down”, as they have neither the comfort of a car nor the versatility of a motorcycle. However, my opinion changed for the better after a recent cruise holiday in the extreme North of Norway.

Our fifteen-night cruise took us from Newcastle to the Arctic island of Spitzbergen, and the town of Longyearbyen. The northbound leg of the cruise started with a full day and a night crossing the North Sea, before the all-day stopovers in the ports of Geiranger and Tromso, as well as Honingsvag on the island of Mageroya, with another full day crossing the Barents Sea to reach the Svalbard archipelago.

It was during the Mageroya stopover that I had my introduction to the world of quadracycles. The first fact that I learned with some surprise was that in Norway, a bike licence does not cover tricycles or quads, as Norway does not have a category B1; consequently, a full UK car licence was required. After a short safety briefing, we were kitted out with helmet, gloves and a bike suit before being introduced to the quads. This brought a second surprising fact to my attention; that vehicles used close to their “home location” do not require number plates. All that is necessary is for the owner to be able to identify each individual vehicle – mine was “Number 7” The journey started with a short drive along the public road, before we turned onto the gravel track that crossed the Tundra. After a Kodak moment overlooking the bay where our ship “Thomson Spirit” could be seen in the distance, the track rose by a total of about 500 metres. Although the quads would not break any speed limits, the 250cc engines proved more than adequate on the steep track. The transmission consisted of a single gear, with automatic clutch and no reverse. In fact, there were no controls at all, except for two bicycle type brake levers on the handlebars and a single thumb operated throttle tab. Another hour brought us to the downhill section, and the engines provided enough compression braking to enable a controlled descent without excessive use of the brakes. We took a tea break with one of the locals, and then all too soon we were back at the quayside ready for up anchor, followed by a night at sea and another adventure in another port. Article very kindly supplied by John Wigmore

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Laughter is still the Best Medicine…….. What do you call a Frenchman wearing sandals? – Phillipe Phillope What do you call a dog that does magic tricks? – A Labracadabrador What did the pirate say when he was 80? – Aye Matey

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Although the lockdown can affect all of us, Samaritans surveyed almost 2,000 men aged 20 to 59 to find out how the pandemic restrictions have affected their mental health and support networks. 42% of the men questioned felt that the restrictions have had a negative impact on their mental health, with loneliness and/or isolation, anxiety, financial worries and separation from loved ones among their concerns. Here is a little something that may help.

Talk about your feelings

Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled. Talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s part of taking charge of your wellbeing and doing what you can to stay healthy. Talking can be a way to cope with a problem you’ve been carrying around in your head for a while. Just being listened to, can help you feel supported and less alone and it works both ways. If you open up, it might encourage others to do the same. It’s not always easy to describe how you’re feeling. If you can’t think of one word, use lots. What does it feel like inside your head? What does it make you feel like doing? You don't need to sit your loved ones down for a big conversation about your wellbeing. Many people feel more comfortable when these conversations develop naturally - maybe when you're doing something together. If it feels awkward at first, give it time. Make talking about your feelings something that you do on a regular basis, especially during these trying times.

Keep active Experts believe exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep and feel better. Exercise also keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy. Exercising doesn’t just mean doing sport or going to the gym, because walks in the garden, or doing some gardening or housework can also keep you active. Most people should do about 30 minutes’ exercise at least five days a week. Try to make physical activity that you enjoy a part of your day.

Eat Well There are strong links between what we eat and how we feel, for example, caffeine and sugar can have an immediate effect, but food can also have a long-lasting effect on your mental health. Your brain needs a mix of nutrients to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body. A diet that’s good for your physical health is also good for your mental health. A healthy balanced diet includes:

• lots of different types of fruit and vegetables • wholegrain cereals or bread • nuts and seeds • dairy products • oily fish • Plenty of water.

Eat at least three meals each day and drink plenty of water. Try to limit how many high-caffeine or sugary drinks you have, and avoid too much alcohol.

Drink sensibly We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary. When the drink wears off, you feel worse because of the way alcohol withdrawal symptoms affect your brain and the rest of your body. Drinking is not a good way to manage difficult feelings. Apart from the damage too much alcohol can do to your body, you would need more and more 9 alcohol each time to feel the same short-term boost. There are healthier ways of coping with tough times. Occasional light drinking is perfectly healthy and enjoyable for most people. Stay within the recommended weekly alcohol limits: 14 units a week for both men and women Many people also smoke or use drugs or other substances to change how they feel. But, again, the effects are short-lived. Just like alcohol, the more you use, the more you crave. Nicotine and drugs don’t deal with the causes of difficult feelings. They don’t solve problems, they create them.

Keep in touch Strong family ties and supportive friends can help you deal with the stresses of life. Friends and family can make you feel included and cared for. They can offer different views from whatever’s going on inside your own head. They can help keep you active, keep you grounded and help you solve practical problems. There’s nothing better than catching up with someone face-to-face. But that’s not always possible. Give them a call, drop them a note or chat to them online instead. Keep the lines of communication open. It’s good for you! It’s worth working at relationships that make you feel loved or valued. But if you think being around someone is damaging your mental health, it may be best to take a break from them or call it a day completely. It’s possible to end a relationship in a way that feels ok for both of you. It can be hard to cope when someone close to you dies or you lose them another way. Counselling for bereavement or loss can help you explore your feelings.

Ask for Help None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things go wrong. If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope, ask for help. Your family or friends may be able to offer practical help or a listening ear. Local services are there to help you too, via phone or virtually. For example, you could join a virtual support group to help you make changes to your life, find a counsellor to help you deal with your feelings or make a fresh start. Call the council about noise nuisance or visit a Citizens Advice Bureau if you want advice on debt. Your GP may be able to refer you to a counsellor. You should consider getting help from your GP if difficult feelings are stopping you getting on with life, having a big impact on the people you live or work with or affecting your mood over several weeks. Over a third of visits to GPs are about mental health. Your GP may suggest ways you or your family can help you, or they may refer you to a specialist or another part of the health service.

Take a break A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health. It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break if you are working from home or a key worker. A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you. Give yourself some ‘me time’. Taking a break may mean being very active or it may mean not doing very much at all. Take a deep breath… and relax. Try yoga or meditation, or just putting your feet up. Listen to your body. If you’re really tired, give yourself time to sleep. Without good sleep, our mental health suffers and our concentration goes downhill. Sometimes the world can wait.

Do something you’re good at What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? What did you love doing in the past? Enjoying yourself helps beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy, probably means you’re good at it and achieving something boosts your self-esteem. Concentrating on a hobby like gardening or the crossword can help you forget your worries for a while and change your mood. It can be good to have an interest where you’re not seen as someone’s mum or dad, partner or employee. You’re just you. An hour of sketching lets you express yourself creatively.

Accept who you are Some of us make people laugh, some are good at maths whilst others cook fantastic meals like my husband. Some of us share our lifestyle with the people who live close to us, others live very differently. We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like 10 someone else. Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends. Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn. Be proud of who you are. Recognise and accept what you are not good at, but focus on what you can do well. Work out if there’s anything about yourself that you still want to change. Are your expectations realistic? If they are, work towards the change in small steps.

Care for others Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together. Why not share your skills with those who live with you. Helping out can make us feel needed and valued and that boosts our self-esteem. It also helps us see the world from another angle. That can help to put our own problems in perspective.

Caring for a pet, like my beautiful baby girl Betty, (left) can improve your wellbeing too. The bond between you and your pet can be as strong as between people. Looking after a pet can bring structure to your day and act as a link to other people. Lots of people can make friends by chatting to fellow dog walkers when they take their permitted exercise.

Taken from Slim & Shape Up Newsletter November 2020

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Slice of Life – written by Allen Hardman

I have always been interested in machinery and how things work. As a child my bedroom was filled with Meccano, Airfix kits and model railways. I recall being given a large model Cadillac by my Grandad when I was about 10 years old. It was unusual at the time as it was made in plastic and had a toolkit with which it was possible to take it apart. Of course, the difficult bit was putting it back together. It was around this time that I first drove a car. I used to go fishing with a friend of my Dads and the last mile to the river was along a farm track. He used to let me sit in the driver’s seat and steer the car and operate the gears while he pressed the pedals for me as I couldn’t reach them. I lived in a small village and some of my friends were the sons of farmers. When we were tall enough, we would drive tractors and other farm machinery around until told to clear off by the farm hands. Eventually we managed to get an old van and in this we learned how to control the vehicle and change gears while driving around the farm. When I left school, it was obvious that I would do something in engineering and I became an apprentice Fitter and Turner at Courtaulds in Preston. A 5-year apprenticeship in those days. One of the highlights was helping to overhaul one of the factory steam locomotives, Caliban, an 0-4-0 Peckett saddle tank. The driver taught me how to operate it and he would let me bring in the coal waggons from the BR sidings to the factory power station. This locomotive still exists and is located at a heritage railway on Preston docks. As soon as I was old enough, I passed my driving test and was fortunate enough to be able to borrow the family car. I also shared cars with a friend of mine. In the days before the MOT test cars were cheap and could be dangerous, but I remember we once bought a mechanic maintained 1959 Ford Anglia for £15 on a Thursday evening and, on the next day, loaded it up and went off to Cornwall for a week. It did boil over on Porlock Hill but we had enough tools with us for a repair to get us home.

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The first car of my own was a Minivan at a cost of £25 with insurance at £30 and there followed a string of various Minis with a Singer Gazelle in the mix. My final Mini at this time was a Mark 1 Cooper but it had to be sold as I needed a larger family car. The Cooper still exists and I would like to get it back. I have a name and area but no address at the moment but will keep on trying. There followed many cars, usually mid-range saloons with bigger engines including a Vauxhall Magnum, fast Fords and an Alfa Romeo. I bought this Alfa because I was told every petrolhead had to try one and it is the worst car I have ever owned. The cam belt snapped and it cost a fortune to rebuild the engine. I also had a couple of MG Maestros, very fast but very rusty. Over the years I have rebuilt three classic cars a 1974 MG Midget, 1973 MGB GT and a 1932 Austin 10. I still have the Midget and have owned it for over 35 years. Because I am able to carry out most of the maintenance and repairs on a car, I decided to buy a Porsche 911. It was a 1990 air cooled model and was absolutely brilliant. I used it as my daily driver for 7 years and it never let me down. I am now on my third 911 and would recommend them to anyone. During my time with the first Porsche, I joined the IAM and became a member of the Grimsby & Louth Group. At that time there was a healthy turnover of new members but, as the price of the course and test increased, numbers fell and recruitment became increasingly difficult. I was now the Treasurer and it was soul destroying to see the efforts of the Committee come to nothing. The suggestion by the IAM Area Manager to join together with the Scunthorpe Group was met with some scepticism at first but turned out to be the best option for the two groups making us both stronger. I am now the Chief Observer for SAGAM and my target is to ensure that we have the best trained and motivated observers once the current pandemic allows us. In the meantime, I enjoy reading, playing the piano and gardening.

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Are you as old as you feel some days? Well, you just might be!

I found this on a Facebook site I belong to. I think it was aimed toward the younger members of society but as someone who can remember quite a lot of what is written below, I thought you might be interested in it too. Please note, the picture to the left is NOT me….honest…..

Oh dear....I remember far too many of those listed below, I must be ancient! The thing is today’s generation may think they’re rather primitive but if truth be told I wish I had a time machine and could go back to those simpler and yes happier days! Someone asked the other day, 'What was your favourite 'fast food' when you were growing up?' 'We didn't have fast food when I was growing up,' I informed him. 'All the food was slow. ‘C’mon, seriously? Where did you eat? ‘It was a place called home’ I explained! 'Mum cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table and if I didn't like what she put on my plate, I was allowed to sit there until I did like it’. By this time, the lad was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn't tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table. But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I'd figured his system could have handled it: Some parents NEVER owned their own house, wore jeans, set foot on a golf course, travelled out of the country or had a credit card. My parents never drove me to school... I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds and only had one speed (slow). We didn't have a television in our house until I was 10. It was, of course, black and white and the station went off the air at 10 PM, after playing the national anthem and epilogue; it came back on the air at about 6 am. And there was usually a locally produced news and farm show on, featuring local people... 12

Pizzas were not delivered to our home... but milk was. All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers. My brother delivered newspapers seven days a week. He got up at 6 every morning. Film stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the films. There were no movie ratings because all movies were responsibly produced for everyone to enjoy viewing, without profanity or violence or almost anything offensive. When North Sea Gas was introduced to our homes for the first time, as a family we sat in front of the gas fire, waited for dad to light it and looked intently at the flames expecting something very different. It looked exactly the same. We got a colour telly when they first came out and was fascinated by the way everything looked; well, it was just……….so colourful! If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren. Just don't blame me if they bust a gut laughing. Growing up isn't what it used to be, is it?

Here are some MEMORIES from a friend: My Dad is cleaning out my grandmother's house and he brought me an old lemonade bottle. In the bottle top was a stopper with a bunch of holes in it. I knew immediately what it was, but my daughter had no idea. She thought they had tried to make it a salt shaker or something. I knew it as the bottle that sat on the end of the ironing board to 'sprinkle' clothes with because we didn't have steam irons. Oh gosh, I am old.

How many do you remember? • Headlight dip-switches on the floor of the car. • Ignition switches on the dashboard. • Trouser leg clips for bicycles without chain guards. • Soldering irons you heated on a gas burner. • Using hand signals for cars without turn indicators.

Older Than Grandmas Mouldy Bread!

Count all the ones that you remember below, not the ones you were told about. The ratings are at the side.

1. Sweet cigarettes 2. Coffee shops with juke boxes 3. Home milk delivery in glass bottles 4. Party lines on the telephone 5. Newsreels before the movie 6. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the morning. (There were only 2 channels [if you were fortunate]) 7. Peashooters 8. 33 rpm records 9. 45 RPM records If you remembered 0-3 = You're still young 10. Hi-fi's If you remembered 3-6 = You are getting older 11. Metal ice trays with levers If you remembered 7-10 = Don't tell your age 12. Blue flashbulb If you remembered 11-15 = You're positively ancient! 13. Cork popguns 14. Wash tub wringers 15. 78 RPM records

I’m keeping my age to myself but those memories are some of the best parts of my life. Don't forget to pass this along, especially to all your really OLD friends....I just did!

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Whatever The Weather, Tyres Could Be A Life Saver This Winter

With winter upon us and the promise of Artic conditions on the way, TyreSafe is urging drivers to check their tyres are in roadworthy condition. Whether it’s snow, wintery showers, persistent rain or a mixture of them all that will be the dominant weather condition, adequate tread depth is going to be a primary safety requirement for all vehicles on the roads. It is the tyre’s tread that clears water from the road surface to keep a vehicle in contact with the road and provides at least some grip on snow and ice. The lower the tread depth, the lower that grip might be, especially as the tyre approaches the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm. Driving with air pressures below the recommended settings can also significantly affect a tyre’s ability to grip. This is because an underinflated or overinflated tyre loses its shape, which in turn lowers the amount of contact it has with the road. While expert drivers may alter tyre pressures under extreme off-road conditions, it’s dangerous to do so on a vehicle which is primarily to be driven on the roads and pressures should remain at the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended settings. While most tyres on the road are primarily designed for summer, they are not dangerous to use in winter and in fact, advances in technology mean they now perform better than ever before at low temperatures. However, they must be thoroughly inspected for roadworthiness and the driver must pay particular attention to road conditions and adjust their driving accordingly. Winter tyres are the optimal choice for a vehicle during prolonged periods of cold weather. Even at extremely low temperatures, their rubber stays supple and, combined with an increased number of ‘sipes’ or grooves in the tread, they provide the highest levels of grip under these conditions. As the name implies, they are not best suited to year-round driving. All-season tyres, however, are an increasingly popular option as they provide near winter tyre performance but have the benefit of also having been designed to be driven all year-round. They also feature many more sipes than summer tyres, again increasing physical grip. However, they will not always offer the optimal performance of summer tyres in warm weather or winter tyres in the cold. When deciding whether winter or all-season tyres are their best option, TyreSafe recommends owners consider their own driving requirements and the conditions they are likely to face. Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe chairman, said: “Tyres are put to their ultimate test during winter and more than ever we depend on them to stay safe while driving. Regardless or whatever technological systems are fitted to the vehicle, it is only the tyres which are in contact with the road and provide the grip to turn braking, acceleration and steering adjustments into a change in speed or direction. If tyres are unroadworthy, the best driver in the world will be unable to stay in control of the vehicle in wintery conditions. No matter which type of tyre your vehicle is equipped with, during winter it’s essential you check they are all in good condition and you adjust your driving to the conditions.”

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Checklist: tread depth If your tyres are below 2mm, consider whether it is worth risking waiting rather than replacing them If you don’t have a tread depth gauge, use a 20p coin as a guide – insert the coin at three points across the tread pattern and at various point around the circumference. If you can see the border at any point, have a professional check them The legal limit for cars, vans and all vehicles below 3.5 tons is 1.6mm; 1mm for motorcycles over 50cc. A potential £2500 fine and three penalty points can be applied on each tyre found to be below those limits

Checklist – air pressure Are all tyres at the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended settings? Settings can be found in the owner’s handbook, in the door shut or fuel filler cap Download the TyreSafe Tyre Checker from the Apple Store or Google Play to help guide you and record the correct settings

Checklist – condition Tyres should be free of lumps, bumps, cuts and cracking – if you see these, have them checked by a professional If you slide and the tyres hit an object like a kerb, check it before your next journeys to ensure it has not been damaged, which may result in a bulge, for example

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE CAR TYRES Check, Check then Check again to stay Tyre Safe TyreSafe Award winners 2020 announced Don’t get out of your depth with Judge Tread Done in 60 Seconds – Are your tyres ready for ACTion?

Taken from TyreSafe Website

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We got Mail!

You can email, tweet or post a letter to the following addresses;

Terry Heath, 48, Vicarage Ave, Wrawby, Brigg, North Lincs. DN20 8RY Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ANDGRIMSBY

20% Discount on Advanced Driver & Rider courses with: Lincoln IAM, Lincolnshire Advanced Motorcyclists & Scunthorpe & Grimsby Advanced Motorists.

When rider and driver groups are permitted to resume, as a current member of any of the above groups, you will receive a 20% discount when you sign up to an Advanced Driver or Rider Course in Lincolnshire. 15

HOW TO CLAIM

Contact us on the details below, quoting the group name of your choice and we’ll sign you up. A.D. Course with Lincoln IAM Tel:0300 365 0152 or [email protected]

A.R. Course with Lincolnshire Advanced motorcyclists Tel: 01427 616864 or [email protected]

A.D. Course with Scunthorpe & Grimsby Advanced Motorists Tel: 01652 655601 or [email protected]

SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO BECOME AN ADVANCED DRIVER

To receive your application form please send your name and contact details along with your payment to:

Mr M Gothard Cheques should be made payable to: 7, West Green The Institute of Advanced Motorists Messingham For more information contact: Terry Heath on: North Lincs 01652 655601 or visit our website DN17 3QT www.scunthorpegrimsbyadvancedmotorists.org

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Advertising in our Newsletter

If anyone would like to advertise in our newsletters please contact Jan Burditt on 07834 170678 or email: [email protected]

The cost of advertising is: Full page - £40.00 Half page - £20.00 Costs are per annum and will there will be 12 monthly issues

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In Response to an article in January’s Newsletter…..

Rusty Old Petrol Pumps

Following on from my request for information regarding the overhead fuel lines on the old petrol pumps I saw, I received an email from Mike Mason with the following explanation:

1) In the beginning most pumps were placed against a wall, yet car manufacturers built cars with refuelling caps on either side of a vehicle depending on make also many cars had a rear fuel tank with a central fuel cap. Another point its only in recent times last 40yrs maybe that service stations have adopted the one-way system and prior to this, cars would pull in from whatever direction they were travelling.

2) The technology wasn't there for the pumps to have an internal reel.

Mike says, ‘Even though I have used and seen this type of pump my offering Jan, is guess work.

The photo to the right is of a garage at the then junction of the A18 A161 at Ealand/Crowle circa 1940/50. These pumps have neither gantry's or reel, just fixed very long hoses.

Personally, I think this is a very plausible explanation but if you know more, then please let me know!

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Sudoku! Well, this month, I thought something a bit different might go down well so here we are! If like me, you’re rubbish at it, then this might help. Sudoku is a logic-based, combinatorial number-placement puzzle. In classic sudoku, the objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row and each of the nine 3×3 sub-grids that compose the grid contain all of the digits from 1 to 9 Print this page off and have a go - Good Luck!

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How well do you remember 2020?

1. What car was crowned Auto Express Car of the Year 2. In August 2020, BMW announced that it was adding what new model to its iconic M3 range? 3. In September, Renault unveiled a new coupe-SUV that will hit the UK this year. What will it be called? 4. In the first episode of the Great British Bake Off, what kind of vehicle did contestant Linda attempt to make from cake? 5. Rolls-Royce revealed details of its limited-edition Dawn Silver Bullet in August. How many will be made? 6. What automotive newcomer called time on its electric car project in June? 7. What classic American SUV received a striking reboot in July? 8. In June, automotive publisher Haynes revealed that sales of one particular workshop manual had increased by 1,600% during 2020. What subject did it cover? 9. In May, Tobias Moers took over as CEO of what automotive brand? 10. In April, Volvo announced that it would limit the top speed of its new models to what figure? 11. Formula One celebrated which milestone in 2020? 12. Why is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway known as the ‘Brickyard’? 13. In 2021, which former Formula One world champion will return to drive for the Alpine F1 team? 14. The 2020 Formula E Championship concluded with six rounds at which venue? 15. Which manufacturer won the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours? 16. What will the Racing Point Formula One team be rebranded as in 2021? 17. What event appeared on the World Rally Championship calendar for the first time in 2020? 18. How many times has Sebastian Vettel won the Formula One Worlds Driver’s Championship? 19. Which MotoGP star broke his arm at the first race of the 2020 season in Spain?

20. The Ford RS200, MG Metro 6R4 and Lancia Delta S4 competed in which rally category of the eighties?

B Group 20. Marquez. Marc

Airport, Germany. 15. Toyota. 16. Aston Martin Racing. 17. Rally Estonia. 18. Four times. 19. 19. times. Four 18. Estonia. Rally 17. Racing. Martin Aston 16. Toyota. 15. Germany. Airport,

. Fernando Alonso. 14. Tempelhof Tempelhof 14. Alonso. Fernando .

13 1909. in bricks with paved was It 12. race Championship

first World World first the of Anniversary 70th The 11. 112mph. 10. Martin. Aston 9. . Keeping Chicken 8.

Bronco. 7.Ford Dyson. 6. 50. 5. Ambulance. 4. Arkana. 3. Version. Touring A 2. Octavia. Skoda 1.

And finally,……don’t forget to look us up on the links below and have a go at the quiz on our website too!! www.scunthorpegrimsbyadvancedmotorists.org Facebook: @SGAMG1 Twitter: @ANDGRIMSBY

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