England VIII committee members

President Al "Gunner Morris Gunner gets his name from being in the Artillary before he joined the Police. He is a PC and has only a few years left before he retires. Gunner works 24/7 in our Control room manning telephones and radios. He rides a Pan Euro ST1100. His wife Jill also rides her own bike a HD 1200 Sportster.			Secretary Dougie Marshall Dougie is Scottish and is a beat officer working in the rural areas of a Market Town. He works 24/7 & rides a Kawasaki VN1600 to rallies with his wife Sandra, but also has a kawasaki 900 for himself.
Vice-President Trev Rose Trevor has sadly left the Leics police and transferred to Staffs. He is a 24/7 patrol Sgt. He has ridden bikes for a while and wants to get another Triumph Speed triple an old favourite of his. His current bike is a HD Road King classic			Treasurer Stu Bates Stu is a general duty officer 24/7 and is a very hands on man. He enjoys the thrills and spills of washing up when he's not on his bike a suzuki 1200. He enjoys the social side of the chapter with his partner Lynn.
Quartermaster Al Wright Al Wright retired from the police in 2005. He was part of the motorcycle unit and is now a self employed motorcycle instructor. He has recently instructed the armed forces in Germany and members of the Fire Service. He has several bikes of his choice to ride and due to the high mileage he does he changes them frequently.

In the spring of 1974, Ed Gallant from the Bangor, Maine (USA) Police Department, and Chuck Shuman from the Brewer, Maine Police Department, met with five other officers from the area and formed a small, local recreational motorcycle club. We wear blue vests so that we can distance ourselves from any association with the Hells Angel motorcycle clubs that were giving groups of motorcyclists a bad name, afterall, we are the good guys. Soon Blue Knights chapters were being formed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and beyond. With the addition of the UK, Canada, Europe and later Australia, the Blue Knights became an International organisation within a mere two years.
Today the club can boast members in countries all around the world. In addition to hosting rides for members and their families to enjoy, the Blue Knights are active fund-raisers.We proudly can boast as of 30 June 2007 Blue Knights have donated to numerous charities; contributing time in the amount of 159,880 man hours (@ $20 per hour), goods with an estimated value of $536,166.37 and $5,025,191.10 in cash for a total of $ 8,758,957.40 (USD) That in excess of £4 million that we know of. Yee Har bring it on..........................

The Blue Knights also join law enforcement personnel from all over the world in promoting a positive image for motorcyclists, motorcycle safety and riding as a family recreation.

So what are the aims of the Blue Knights? Our purposes and goals are to:
1. Provide for the mutual assistance, enjoyment, entertainment, education, physical, mental and social benefit of its members and the general public.
2. To promote and advance the sport of motorcycling and motorcycling safety.
3. To serve the interests of motorcycle owners and users.
4. To promote by example and any other acceptable means, safe use, operation and enjoyment of motorcycles.
5. To develop a fraternal spirit between law enforcement personnel and the general public.

To qualify for membership you must:
1. Be member of a Police Service with statutory power of arrest. Or from one of the following disciplines; prison service, Customs and Excise or Royal Military Police.
2. Be employed by a governmental agency and receive monetary compensation, or be a retired or disabled law enforcement officer.
3. Posses a valid licence to operate a motorcycle.
4. Own a motorcycle, any motorcycle, or plan to purchase one within six months.
.
How much does it cost and what do I get for my money?
There is a £20 annual fee for England VIII, $20 is paid to Blue Knights International per annum, payable in December of each year. The fee entitles all members to 4 Newsletters from the USA mailed to home address, a cloth badge, lapel pin, bike decals the remainder helps pay for the chapter website. We organise monthly meetings and ride outs to various locations. There is also, should the worst prevail and International approve, the chance of benevolent funds to assist with recovery of your bike or yourself when attending or returning from rallies.