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BMMC Chair Nadine Lewis pays tribute to former BMMC President Murray Walker OBE

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Murray Walker OBE (1923 – 2021)

BMMC Club President (1978 – 1998)

Current BMMC Chair Nadine Lewis’ earliest childhood memories are of watching Formula One on a Sunday afternoon with her Dad from the iconic first notes of the BBC theme tune, to the roar of the engines……to the unmistakable voice of Murray Walker.

Murray’s commentating career started at Shelsley Walsh in 1948 and spanned a number of decades and motorsport genres – Hillclimbs, Touring Cars and of course Formula 1 on the BBC and ITV.  His commentating style was infectious as well as knowledgeable and included the occasional faux pas which made him endearing.

Murray became our Club President in 1978 when Lord Hesketh dropped out of motor racing.  When he took on the role he felt he needed to find out more and attended many training sessions, getting involved and genuinely taking an interest in our contribution.  

He was honoured to be our President and was always keen to point out whenever he could that without the marshals the sport would not exist.  He would emphasise how vital our role is and how the multi-million pound drivers couldn’t earn a penny if it wasn’t for our bravery, skill and dedication.

In 1996 my parents met Murray and Martin Brundle in the lobby of a hotel heading to breakfast on the morning of the Canadian Grand Prix.  It had just been announced that he had been awarded the OBE.  Humble and self-effacing as ever he quickly turned the conversation from himself to the upcoming race.

Murray continued to be our President until he retired from full time commentating.  Though he continued to show an interest in the club and even wrote us a letter on the occasion of our Diamond anniversary in 2017 (https://www.marshals.co.uk/blog/murray-walker-says-congratulations/)

Current President Ben Edwards remembers: “Like so many of us, I grew up listening to Murray’s commentary on motorsport across the board, from F1 to rallycross and his exceptional BTCC highlights programmes. His enthusiasm was dynamic and shone through in his voice, yet he had the ability to slow it all down and reinforce some of the key elements of what we were watching before lighting it up once again to make sure we hadn’t disengaged. 

“I met him when I started commentating for Eurosport on F1 in 1995 and sometimes we would be in neighbouring commentary booths at the track. He was welcoming and friendly, and I remember being amazed at the level of paperwork he would stick on the walls around him to have key references visible. He encouraged me at various times in my career, saying some kind words which gave me a sense that I was following the right path. 

“One of my most special memories was commentating at Silverstone at the British Grand Prix when I was with the BBC, and he joined me in the booth on-air to talk about both the present and the past. He had a razor sharp mind, despite the Murrayisms that became so famous, and I feel so honoured to have known him.”

Murray – we will miss your effervescent and enthusiastic commentary, your knowledge and your dedication.  We thank you for your long stint as our Club President – a true gentleman, legend and friend.

And in his own words “I’ve got to stop because I’ve got a lump in my throat” #RIPMurrayWalker

Start your engines……!

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Daffodils and crocuses are showing us that Spring is upon us and the news of the roadmap out of lockdown from the government is giving us optimism for Summer.

Motorsport UK have confirmed that the racing season can start in England from 29 March and tentatively in Scotland by May and the other devolved powers hopefully too will announce start dates soon.  A daily changing picture is making it hard to keep up but we will update you as soon as we have further information.

We will be starting how we finished before entering the last lockdown with the same PPE measures and limitation on numbers.  A reminder of what this means will appear on Motorsport UK website shortly (https://www.motorsportuk.org/covid-19/).  However it is hoped that as government restrictions lift Motorsport UK will also allow us to return to some normality and allow trainees and newbies to join the orange family in full.

Unfortunately a few race events will be cancelled and some postponed and we will update the volunteering database accordingly.  Rally dates have been shuffled around but hopefully we can get to hear some engines burbling along forest roads soon too.

Training too has taken a bit of a knock but the North West region and BRMC are planning some virtual sessions later this month to which anyone can attend as a refresher before the season starts.  So keep your eyes peeled for registration information and log on details.

Our ambassadors are sharing their thoughts on 2020 and looking forward to this year.  We are making these available on all our social media platforms including our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzHb_BsGhaNI4TL5XD2C8Uw) so subscribe and see what they have to say!

I was positively stunned earlier in February to receive the BWRDC Non-competing Gold Star award – what an honour.  Thanks to National Council who sneakily put me forward for this award without my knowledge and thanks to all of you who sent me messages of congratulations.

So now is the time to dig out your overalls and check they fit – those wardrobe fairies have tightened my seams.  And check out your kit – hopefully you don’t find any food you left behind from last season.

But if you do find you are in need of replacement overalls Lille racewear are available to meet your needs.  And of course thanks to all our sponsors who despite the previous 12 months’ difficulties have all confirmed their continued support through 2021 which means despite an increase in costs we are able to fully subsidise the cost of overalls.

Thanks to Ginetta, Polyflor, NGK, CSCC, MGCC, Tiga cars and Cataclean.

See you at an event soon!

February already!?

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So January is over and didn’t that go fast?  Or was that just me as work was crazy busy and I didn’t even know what day of the week it was most of the time.  Hopefully things will calm down a bit – can’t get any worse – right?  

Our regional volunteering coordinators are in the process of updating the database with dates for 2021.  There’s already been some changes so we held off launching until now.  However there’s likely possible changes to come and is therefore still provisional.  

It is as yet unclear what Government restrictions we will be running under when we do start – numbers per post / event to be confirmed etc.  So please bear this in mind when you volunteer.  And obviously we will keep you updated as and when we know ourselves.  What worked last year maybe how we start this year but all subject to change.

Here’s hoping we get a British Grand Prix again this year but as yet we don’t know if it will be behind closed doors again.  Your applications have been reviewed in the last month (a little later than normal process) so those who are successful will hear in due course.

Also as a reminder if you have volunteered direct to the organising club please ONLY volunteer through our database as “Insurance only”.  Remember our insurance covers you from home to event as long as you volunteer through our database – so it is always worth ticking the box to ensure you are covered.

For rally events Jon Cordery is again keeping the calendar up to date (https://www.brmc.org.uk/images/pdfs/Calender/Rally_Dates_in_2021_Combined_Update_3_250121.pdf) and please follow the BRMC Facebook page for updates (https://www.facebook.com/groups/109840512523716/?ref=share) – thanks Jon!

BRMC are working on multiple training events covering the modules outlined in the PRC on various dates in the coming months. These are being prepared now following the survey we carried out over Christmas and New Year. This was conducted to ensure we provide the training required. We aim to make the sessions around 45 minutes to an hour long and each session available on more than one date.  As soon as final details are available, it will be put on to the training page of our website (https://www.brmc.org.uk/training)

Our regions are also planning training days for race / speed marshals but many of these will not be face-to-face.  Zoom is probably the way we will go and regional updates will be forthcoming – we hope to enable some National training sessions so that you don’t just need to attend your local event if other dates are more suitable.

Our 50% renewal offer came to an end in January – you can still renew but it will now be at the full rate.  Thank you to all of you who continue your membership with us.

Looking forward we have our first Marshals Advisory Group and Race Committee meetings this month to make sure marshals are kept at the top of Motorsport UK agenda.

If there’s any topics or issues that you would like me to raise to Motorsport UK or address in a future blog please do not hesitate to get in touch by replying to this MailChimp.

2021 Update

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In light of the news of a revised BTCC calendar starting now in May, we are working to populate the BMMC volunteering calendar for the coming season. 

However, following the BTCC announcement there may well be a knock-on effect to other organising clubs so we must await further updates.

We also advise at this time that training plans are being put in place to enable online sessions to be available.  Currently all permits for face-to-face training have been suspended by Motorsport UK due to COVID.  

We will keep you updated in due course as soon as we have further confirmed details to be able to share with everyone.

2021 – Happy New Year

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Most of us are starting the year in Tier 3 or Tier 4 with immense pressure on our NHS.  This time last year we always thought they did a great job – with a step-daughter as a nurse and clapping for carers raising their profile further in 2020 – I hope you raised a glass in their honour on New Years Eve.  We need them more than ever but we also need everyone to continue to follow the rules – even with a vaccine available we still need to adhere to the restrictions.  According to the clinical trials it takes time to be effective as with any vaccination and we will need to wait our turn on the priority list.

Masks are here for some time yet – so don’t forget that we still have Face masks available via our National Regalia Officer Eric Ridler.  And there’s new snoods available too.  When restrictions allow we will make these available to the regional regalia officers but until then please purchase direct from Eric.

All regions managed to hold their AGMs and the National AGM was equally well attended.  Thanks to Paul for his technological perseverance (with some support from Derek Murphy) in ensuring the agenda was followed and completed accordingly.  I will take this opportunity to thank Colin Barnes for his sterling efforts in the position of National Treasurer and welcome Steve Woolfe in to this important role.  Colin has taken on the role of bookkeeper so he is still involved in the running of the club.

If you are on direct debit your membership will be taken shortly.  For everyone else please renew before end of January to take advantage of the 50% reduction in your subscription.  The discount will end in February and you will need to pay full price thereafter.  And a reminder that there is no need to renew your Motorsport UK accreditation for 2021 as your grade is maintained from 2019 (there being no assessments in 2020 limited upgrades were processed).

Unfortunately we won’t be making the annual trip to Autosport in January with a virtual trade event running in March instead.  There will be no club dinner dances and awards nights to attend but we can virtually celebrate a British 7-time World Champion and newly knighted Sir Lewis Hamilton.  Love him or loathe him in or out of the car his achievement is undeniable and I expect he will continue his winning ways for some time to come.  And you may have seen him rise up the ranks to Formula One in other formulas who all need volunteers to support them.  So who will be the next Lewis Hamilton?  We will probably be the first to see him or her race in other championships first.

So there are many plans for 2021 with championship dates being published.  We will release the volunteering calendar as soon as practicable but I guess like me you are already pencilling in dates.  We don’t know yet what restrictions will be in place when racing resumes in March but have fingers crossed that rallies planned earlier in the year can go ahead with some easing of restrictions.  We also don’t know what marshalling numbers will be allowed on our return to venues.  Hopefully by the time I (virtually) attend Motorsport UK Race Committee meeting at the end of February we will have some good news!  Our first Council meeting is planned beginning of March and your regional committee meetings start in January.  

Before then there will be training sessions taking place – many online with limited face-to-face sessions where necessary.  So please keep an eye on your regional updates for further information.

And finally BREXIT – who would have thought that we would look forward to news about BREXIT rather than the C word (C-19)!  So we have a deal (1246 pages – and yes I have read it all for work purposes!).  If you are considering marshalling in the EU don’t forget to check your travel insurance, your expiry date on your passport, your car documentation and driving licence, your health insurance…….and of course not forgetting our club repatriation insurance is still £20 for the year (multi-trip cover).

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year – I am off to my next online Zoom-Zumba class!

2020 – end of a year…

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I am not normally one for wishing my life away but I think I am not alone to be glad once this year is finally over.  To all those who have suffered this year: personally, physically, financially, psychologically – my heart goes out to you.  If you need support don’t forget your regional committees but also our Employee Assistance Programme is available.

I think more than ever this year we all recognize what is important to us – and who is important to us!  For me – my family (they don’t live close by), my friends and my orange family have all been missed immeasurably.  Strangely I have seen more of my work colleagues – via TEAMs meetings – than before as some of them are not based in my office location.  But it has still been odd not to actually have a coffee with a colleague or a chat by the photocopier.  

I just hope everyone can enjoy the festivities to some extent.  Let’s follow the rules but let’s hope it allows us to meet with our nearest and dearest even if for a short while.  Then I’m off in to hibernation – eating myself in to a food coma and promising myself that I will diet in 2021!!

The weekend of 28 and 29 November was FIA Volunteers Weekend, celebrating those who dedicate their time to make motor sport possible around the world and Saturday 5 December is International Volunteer Day.  Thank you to each and everyone of you!  Volunteers ARE Motorsport and this year I am so proud of what each and every one of you has achieved – your dedication, professionalism and adaptability has been outstanding!

We have our National Council and AGM next week but this will be my last blog of the year – so I will take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to both Neil Stretton who has retired as SE Chair and Colin Barnes who is stepping down as our National Treasurer (but becoming our Bookkeeper) for their support and dedication to the club over a number of years.  

Every single member of Regional Committees and National Council put in extra volunteering hours to support the running of the club.  This year has been no exception – even if you maybe haven’t seen them as much at events – I can assure you that everyone has continued to dedicate time to the club to ensure its future, our members well-being and  Motorsport future as a whole.  They deserve recognition and thanks from us all – as well as support and will welcome more committee members!  You don’t have to wait until next years’ AGM to step forward either – please contact your local committee Secretary or Chair for details

Renewals are open – and the 50% deduction valid until 31 January 2021.  Direct Debits will be taken in the first week of January.

Don’t forget that we still have Face masks available via our National Regalia Officer Eric Ridler – the requirement to wear one will be with us for some time yet.

I am in the middle of putting up our Christmas decorations – yes I know it’s early but friends and neighbours are well ahead!  And it’s certainly never too early for a mince pie or two.

I sincerely wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year