The 2023 winner of the Leslie Harris Trophy for South Midlands New Marshal of the Year was Catherine Smart. Before she returned the trophy to be  passed to the new recipient, she took the opportunity to show the trophy the whole Harris family, all of whom are now marshals at Hunts Kart Racing Club at Kimbolton. In the photo are Catherine and Paul Harris (centre), with (L to R) Annija, Dominic, Matt and Summer Harris.

(Photo by Jon Smart)

South Midlands Region BMMC have been looking to recruit some new members to our Regional Committee. The Regional Committee is responsible for planning and delivering all the BMMC events in our region, including Training days, Recruitment events and Taster Days. Committee members also manage the regional entries in the volunteering database, advise on and co-ordinate upgrade applications, support members who have questions and queries, manage club regalia sales, edit the bi-monthly newsletter and manage both the region?s pages in the national website and the regional social media. We would be particularly interested to include anyone who has an interest in environmental and sustainability matters as it affects our sport. As you can see, we have a lot of jobs to do so there is role to suit everyone. This time there were Committee vacancies from earlier in the year and, as each Committee member can only serve for a 3-year term before standing aside and seeking re-election, we had a total of 6 vacancies at the beginning of August when nominations opened.
Nominations for the Regional Committee closed on September 14th at 5pm. At that time 4 nominations had been received, and all nominations fully complied with all the requirements of the Club Rules. In accordance with Rule K.3.11, as the number of candidates does not exceed the number of vacancies, I can confirm that the following have been elected to the South Midlands Committee without the need for an electronic vote:

• Nina Fountain
• Emile Naus
• Kaz Topping
• Chris Whitlock

I am sure you will join me in congratulating them on their success and look forward to their work on the Committee.

Since this nomination period was opened we have had a further vacancy on the Committee, as Ian Whiting has been elected as South Midlands Regional Chair and so has to resign as a Committee Member. As there are now 3 vacancies on the Committee, under Rule K.3.6 the nomination period is being re-opened so that more people can apply. Candidates for the South Midlands Regional Committee must be Full or Life BMMC members, affiliated to the South Midlands Region and be active marshals. Each candidate must be proposed and seconded by two other Full or Life BMMC members who are also affiliated to the South Midlands Region. Completed application forms must be submitted by email to sm.secretary@marshals.co.uk by Saturday October 5th at 5pm. All emails will be acknowledged. The new committee will take effect from the Regional AGM in October, with the first committee meeting taking place at the beginning of November.

The nomination form can be found here.

Marion Quarrington
South Midlands Regional Secretary
sm.secretary@marshals.co.uk
September 22nd 2024

As you will have read, our Regional Chair, Chris Whitlock, has decided to retire from
his Chair role at the AGM in October 2024. I am sure that you will join with me in
thanking Chris for all his hard work as South Midlands Regional Chair since he took
on the role in 2019, and wish him all good wishes for the future.

Nominations for the next South Midlands Regional Chair role closed on 17th August
at 5 pm. At that time one nomination had been received for the role. That
nomination fully complied with all the requirements of the Club Rules, and
specifically Rule J.3.3, and the candidate had had the relevant discussions with Club
Directors about the nature of the role. In accordance with Rule J.3.6, which states
that in the event there is only one candidate for the vacancy then that person is
deemed to be elected if they are eligible, I can confirm that Ian Whiting is duly
elected as the next South Midlands Regional Chair without the need for an
electronic vote.

Ian has been on the South Midlands Regional Committee since December 2021,
when he took over the role of Grading Co-Ordinator recently vacated by the
retirement of Malcom Flippance. Those of you who have upgraded through BMMC
South Midlands since that time would have benefited from Ian’s now
comprehensive knowledge of the New Marshals Pathway, and his quick and efficient
processing of your upgrade paperwork.

Ian will continue in the Grading Co-Ordinator role in the short-term and will shadow
Chris until he takes up the full role at the AGM in October 2024. I am sure you will all
join me in wishing Ian every success in his new role.

Marion Quarrington
South Midlands Regional Secretary
21 August 2024

UPDATE: NOMINATIONS CLOSE ON SATURDAY

South Midlands Region BMMC are looking to recruit some new members to our Regional Committee. The Regional Committee is responsible for planning and delivering all the BMMC events in our region, including Training days, Recruitment events and Taster Days. Committee members also manage the regional entries in the volunteering database, advise on and co-ordinate upgrade applications, support members who have questions and queries, manage club regalia sales, edit the bi-monthly newsletter and manage both the region’s pages in the national website and the regional social media. We would be particularly interested to include anyone who has an interest in environmental and sustainability matters as it affects our sport. As you can see, we have a lot of jobs to do so there is role to suit everyone.

The Committee meets six times a year, mostly virtually by Zoom, and only occasionally in person.  Each committee member is elected for a 3-year term after which they must stand aside and seek re-election if they wish to continue. Each member can stand for three consecutive terms, after which they must stand aside from the committee for at least a year. People are elected to the committee as a whole, not to a role, and the various jobs and roles are agreed at the first committee meeting of the new session. This year we have a vacancy carried over from last year, some committee members who are standing aside plus we have some committee members reaching the end of their 3-year term, so in all we have six vacancies to fill. If you would like some more information on what the committee does, or to discuss how you could use your skills to benefit your fellow marshals, please contact either Chris Whitlock (Regional Chair) on sm.chair@marshals.co.uk, or myself as the Regional Secretary (details below) and we would be delighted to have a chat with you.

Candidates for the South Midlands Regional Committee must be Full or Life BMMC members, affiliated to the South Midlands Region and be active marshals. Each candidate must be proposed and seconded by two other Full or Life BMMC members who are also affiliated to the South Midlands Region. Completed application forms must be submitted by email to sm.secretary@marshals.co.uk by 14^th September at 5pm. All emails will be acknowledged. The new committee will take effect from the Regional AGM in October, with the first committee meeting taking place at the beginning of November.

The nomination form can be found here: South Midlands Committee Nomination Form August 2024

If the number of candidates does not exceed the number of vacancies then all candidates will be deemed to be elected to the committee. If there are more candidates than vacancies then, in accordance with Rule K.3.12, an electronic ballot will be held by a simple majority, with the candidates with the most votes being declared elected. Each candidate will have the opportunity to prepare a statement of not more than 200 words to be circulated to the members at the time of the election. If any regional member does not have an email registered on the database postal voting forms will be issued to these members only. Polling will be open for a 2-week period.

Marion Quarrington
South Midlands Regional Secretary
sm.secretary@marshals.co.uk
August 14th 2024

We have started making the arrangements for our Annual End of Season Get-Together, which this year is planned to be held on Saturday October 26^th.

The location is yet to be finalised, but it will be somewhere close to Silverstone so those of you marshalling at the Birkett Relay Race will be able to join us after the racing finishes. Members’ Guests are also welcome, and as usual BMMC will be offering a contribution against the cost of the meal for members.

We are also planning to hold our Annual Regional AGM immediately before the meal. Further information will be available soon.

We are delighted to hear that Jon Smart won the the Vernon Clarke award for marshalling at the recent Hunts Kart Racing Club Awards Presentation.

Congratulations to Marion Quarrington, winner of the British Women Racing Driver’s Club Volunteer Gold Star!

Her nomination shows her commitment to marshalling:

“Marion marshalled for over 70 days in 2023, including Race, Rally, Speed and Kart events, as well as sitting on the Motorsport UK Marshals Advisory Group as the Kart representative, and being a Regional Secretary for BMMC! She added three new “firsts” to her marshalling career; her first Rally including a night stage, her first International Kart event and her first Kart Grand Prix.”

Fantastic recognition!!

We are delighted to hear that Malcolm Flippance has been awarded the Lalique Trophy, for Marshal of the Year, by Prescott Marshals Club. Malcolm has been a long time marshal in our region, and only recenly retired after many years from the South Midlands committee.

Well deserved, and congratulations to Malcolm!

1950 – 2023

It is with great sadness that we have to announce that John Newman passed away on Thursday 2^nd November 2023 after a short illness.

For those of you that did not know John, he and Mike Abbott will probably be best remembered as the flag marshalling team at Silverstone. Those were the days when we could always have at least two marshals on a flag post!

Sadly our records do not show when John joined BMMC (formerly BMRMC) but judging by his membership number it was prior to 1984.  John could not sit and do nothing, so it was not long before he got more involved.  In 1992 he was listed as Assistant Training Officer on the South Midlands committee. John produced and kept up to date an online set of flag training notes; probably the first online training module.

Mike first met John when he was the BRDC Chief Pits marshal and John was considered a highly rated member of the pits team. When the RAC de Belgique invited Mike to take a team of Pit Marshals to help out at the Spa 24 hours John was a key member. When Mike retired as BRDC Chief Pits John taught him how to flag. Eventually advancing years forced Mike to give up flagging and the team dissolved.

That does not mean John abandoned marshalling. John continued as a Post Chief and in 2002 qualified as an Examining Post Chief (Race on Track Assessor). Eventually John also retired from marshalling on the bank and started to qualify as a Steward and very recently he was seen stewarding from his wheel chair.

John always gave BMMC his full support. He and Cath could always be found at our Noggin & Natters and annual dinners. He enjoyed a pint, and a good chat about motorsport. He was a larger than life character who will be sorely missed.

John’s funeral will be held on Tuesday 28^th November at 3.15pm at Northampton Crematorium (NN4 0JF).

Cath, Sarah Middleton and Sam Newman welcome you to join them at Peggotty’s Lounge, Fosters Booth (NN12 8LB) to reminisce and remember him.

The family request no flowers please but donations to Macmillan in his memory would be gratefully accepted: https://tributefunds.macmillan.org.uk/In-Memory/John-Newman

RIP John

Glynn Ellis is our 2023 Marshal of the Year.

Catherine Smart is our 2023 New Marshal of the Year.

Congratulation on your well deserved recognition!