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The launch of Quadrophenia and the resurgence of the Mod scene in the late 70s saw me enter in to the world of scootering. I was only 11/12 then but always mixed in older circles in Govan, Glasgow. On a weekend Mods and Skins would meet at what was the Bandstand on the River Clyde embankment from all over Glasgow and outlying areas. It was there that I met up with friends to

be from the Glasgow Globetrotters SC. Even though I was still underage I attended as many Do's that I could sneak into.

1983 saw me joining up and for those 2 yrs of Apprentice training, I kept my Mod/Skin interests going and would go into London on a weekly/fortnightly basis. I used to buy loads of gear in Carnaby Street etc and then take it to mates in Glasgow who couldn't get the gear.

When I left training in 1985, I was posted to Ripon, where I joined the Swamp Rats SC, who had an average membership of 20 Run attending members. 2 of which were Paul Stannard and Yorkie Stout, both stokers in the RN. It was then that I suppose that our first forces and scootering affiliation started, as we knew scootering mates in the forces , who knew others etc. There was nothing formal at that point, just mates, with 2 common links, who would informally meet at rallies and send the odd bluey to each other when we were on Ops etc.

I was then posted to Harrogate, where I met up with the Harrogate In Crowd, but still attended rallies with the Swamp Rats. It was then that I joined the British Forces SC, this was coordinated by an RAF lad up in Lossiemouth, I won' t go into the BFSC in great depth as there was a bit of a cloud regarding irregularities with funds etc. Enough said.

I was then posted to Aldershot with the family, and enjoying my scootering, well I had a married a Scooterist, so I didn't have to bluff my way to get to rallies. We were involved in the National Scooter Riders Association with Jeff and Jane Smith, in respects that we both done the doors at a lot of the rallies etc, Tracy helped with the odd Little Devils SC events etc, which was the NSRA children's club. Our children picking up awards at quite a few for being furthest traveled to custom shows etc.

Then one day I found God, well not exactly the Big Man with the beard, but the next thing to him in the Scootering World, the MAD BISH, the Rev Mike Brotherton RN, who was at HMS Nelson in Portsmouth. To you in the Navy and Scootering world, who know Mike, you will know the bloke is a diamond. The Cheesy Hammy Eggy SC was born, with the membership criteria being any forces

involvement, from serving members etc to civilian support staff at bases etc. Me and Tracy dealt with the membership etc as Mike coordinated newsletters etc. Membership was £6.00. All mail was sent in civilian post etc, due to security reasons, communication was a nightmare, no internet, no mobiles etc, but we plodded on. Membership was healthy as scootering interest in general

was starting to decline. We would meet informally in Portsmouth and Aldershot etc and meet up on the Rallies. We organized a few night do's , which always ended in the remake of Gunfight at the OK corral, but in a nice fighting way, lot of drunken swung punches , but no real malice, and all mates in the sober light of day.

Due to personal commitments, I had to step back from the CHE and when I transferred to the MCTC in 92, I lost all links with the club. I was now riding with the London Vikings SC who I had joined the year before. I tried to communicate and keep interest with forces scootering mates, but the rank structure mentality of the MPSC at the MCTC, soon tried to put a stop to that. Pity they failed. Well I haven't bored you to tears or sleep. Keep scootering.

Gary