MEMORIES OF BRIAN HODGES “THE CAMERA MAN”

MEMORIES OF BRIAN HODGES “THE CAMERA MAN”

 By TONY ROUT

What can we say against Brian Hodges ”Tich” to his friends. Generous, industrious, always willing to help others at his own expense, husband, father and grandfather, but most of all a trials enthusiast. A lifelong motorcycle devotee, he had a reputation as a good mechanic and he helped the local lads repair their bikes, including me.

Then call up to the Army for two years. Here he honed his skills in “taking the mick” out of the Corporals and Sergeants. One year was spent in Aden, which is a very hot country and I remember going into the Bull at Brenchley one Christmas and seeing a tiny dark skinned Indian like man crouched over the fire. It was Tich! Back home he soon put all his weight back on.

By then his younger brother Robin “Minnow”had started riding Trials and we went off to Trials in the winter and Grasstrack in summer.

One ambitious trip was in 1962 to the Intercentre Grasstrack Championships on his old, ridged, Triumph tiger 100 outfit with Robin in the chair and me pillion. The destination was from Brenchley to Pershore in Gloucestershire, about 140miles.

We set out at 7am, got there at 1pm and back at midnight frozen to the marrow and very saddle sore! Only one breakdown to adjust a slipping clutch.

Then married life took over for many years.

Late seventies, when Robin started riding again, Brian and I joined the Owls and got involved with organizing events etc.

In the eighties Brian got the video bug. Instead of just walking round, following his brother, Brian started filming the Trials riders. The early ones were not as good as he only got the riders feet!

They quickly improved and video nights at the clubhouse were very popular. This soon expanded to a regular Tuesday night showing in each of our houses with drinks and snacks provided.

Tich, Robin and I had a pencherant of giving the hundreds of riders nicknames. They only had to vaguely resemble someone well known to be lumbered with names like Gene Hickman, Captain Mannering, Kojak, and Max Wall etc. etc.

Brian also had a habit of calling out “Well done” to a rider just before they fell off in the mud!

Another ruse we had concerned cousin Wally Hodges. He was living in a cottage by the old Seven Mile lane near the church. When we drove slowly past early on Sunday morning we would all lean out of the window and shout out as loudly as possible WALLY! Always wonder if he knew who it was!!

Brian also hated bureaucracy of any kind, but came up against it many times in his career as a plumber.

One funny story is the time he and peter were called out to a public building in the middle of winter to repair the water system. This called for a key to unlock the door to the roof. They were told the woman dealing with job applications had the key, so Brian approached her in his working clothes and she says “yes what sort of job would you like my man?” Instantly he replied “Yours will do very nicely and you can go up on the roof and fix the plumbing”

We had many a good long weekend away following the South East Team in the national Team Trials competition. This took us from Cornwall to Northumberland, Hampshire to Lancashire, Devon to Yorkshire and East Sussex to Mid Wales.

I always did the hotel/ doss house bookings and made certain if we shared a room we had separate beds, just to put Bobs mind at rest.

Brilliant events, sadly gone now.

The list of happy times is a long one and Brian would always say “we had the best years ever” and I know he was right

Goodbye old Mate

Tony Rout

 

Brian was often at Tenterden centre events beavering away with his video camera, whilst giving a running commentary to those within earshot.

He will be missed by us all. Another character gone and fondly remembered.

Dunlop Trial Sunday 26th January 2020 -Start list and Regs

Please click the attached documents to see the start list and Regs for Sundays trial. Don’t forget the start time for this trial will be 10am 

The club are also looking for a number of observers so any volunteers please report the the secretary on the day or call Marc Taylor beforehand so that he can allocate you a section. 

The success of any trial is dependent on having all sections observed, 13 sections are being set out so a few more than normal are needed. 

Dunlop Trial entry list Jan 20

Dunlop Trial Jan 20

Mrs Orpin

It is with great sadness that we have announce that Mrs Val Orpin, wife of John Orpin, has passed away. The Orpin family allow us to use their land for the “Weald of Kent” trial at the Harbourne Venue.
The funeral service will take place on Monday 23rd December at the Charing Crematoreum at 1pm.
Our thoughts extend to the family during this time.

Youth Series – 2019 championship results

Following the last event of the championship on Saturday the final championship results have been calculated and can be found attached.

Well done to all the class award winners and to everyone that took part. The presentation of theses awards will be at our Presentation night which will be held early in the new year. All are welcome to come along and details of the event will be made available shortly.

As this is now the end of this series on behalf of the club I would like to say how much everyone has appreciated the work and effort that Mike Nutbrown and Tim Taylor has put in the run this series for the last few years when youth only events were scarce, due to the increasing popularity of the sport and the amount of events the youth only clubs are now running the forum that we provided is no longer necessary.  Needless to say that all our events are open to youth riders so please feel free to come along and ride in the future. 

Well done guys and enjoy your well earned rest. 

Youth Trials 2019

 

UPCOMING EVENTS – 28th and 29th September

Over the weekend of 28th and 28th September we will be running the last 2 events of the year at the Harbourne land site opposite the London Beach Golf Club on the A28 at St Michaels.
Firstly on Saturday 28th at 1.00pm there will be a youth only trial, all welcome, various routes available that will cater for all abilities.
This will also qualify as the last round of the Tenterden and Barham youth series.
Then on Sunday we will be running the “Murray Brush” memorial trial, there will be 4 routes including a yellow sportsman route which will also be suitable for beginners. This event is also open to youth riders.
Entries will be taken on the day at this popular event but pre entries would help the congestion on the day. If you can bring along a completed entry form and the correct money. £15 entry and £10 for youth riders.
Observers also welcome.
Thank you

 

Tenterden / Barham Youth series – Results to date for 2019

Following the latest round of the youth series held on Saturday in Woodchurch please see attached the results to date.

All to play for in the last round which will now be held at the Harbourne Land which is opposite the London Beach Golf course in St Michaels. This will take place on Saturday 28th September starting at 1pm. The next round which was originally being hosted by the Barham club has been cancelled due to a clash of dates with KYTC. 

Youth Trials 2019