How the Branch started:
After watching a television documentary on the Australian Ulysses Club early in 1988, Maurice James, Phil Anker, Murray Fairhurst and Allan Barnes joined Ulysses as affiliated Australian members. Later that year, Allan Edgar joined the New Zealand Club and became the first New Zealand member in Blenheim. (Prior to this, these guys were all members of the Marlborough Road Riders Club).
The inaugural meeting of the Blenheim Branch was held at the home of Phil Anker (late in 1988) in Blenheim with the above 5 members present and Phil elected as the first Blenheim Branch Coordinator.
Committee members; Maurice James, Allan Barnes, Murray Fairhurst and Allan Edgar. By early 1989 membership numbers had risen to twelve and In 1989 there were 20 members counted in the whole ‘top of the south zone’.
Coordinators since the Marlborough Branch was formed:
1989 – 1991 Phil Anker
1991 – 1995 Sherrin Edgar
1995 – 2001 John Mears
2001 – 2006 Don Best
2006 – 2009 Dave Gill
2009 - 2011 Jane Laing
2011 - current Kevin Bright
2011 - current Kevin Bright
The main events we run at this branch annually are:
Annual Beavertown Rally:
The Rally has been held since 1990 and is popular with Ulysses members from all over NZ.
Annual Rescue/Ambulance Ride
Annual Toy Run
Anniversary weekend double overnighter to Pohara Beach
The camp at Pohara is booked and the riders head out from Blenheim for the Friday and Saturday nights at the camp. A shared BBQ meal is enjoyed along with tall tales told over liquid refreshments, followed by rides during the day to spots of local interest including some gravel rides (for the hardy types) to the West Coast of Golden Bay.
Annual mid-year dinner
Annual Christmas Party:
This is held locally with some dubious looking "Santa's" over the years and is generally well attended by the membership.
Annual Westport Overnighter
Annual Hanmer Springs overnighter
1988 - 4 members
1989 - 12 members
1990 - 24 members
1992 - 52 members
1996 - 78 members
2005 - 100 members
2010 - 160 members
2011 - 162 members
2012 - 167 members
2013 - 157 members
Memorable / notable events in the history of the Branch:
• 1988, the first meeting of what was to become the’Blenheim’ branch of Ulysses was held at the home of Phil Anker. 4 affiliated Australian members and one New Zealand member were present.
• 1989, The first ever Blenheim Branch overnighter was to Motueka and all 12 local members attended.
• 1989, In February, Nelson members rode over the hill for a weekend with the Blenheim members. On the Saturday an organised ride took them to the top of Mount Patriarch in the Richmond ranges and the following day they all rode to Port Underwood along the Queen Charlotte scenic routes (these were all gravel roads at that time) before the Nelson members departed for home.
• 1989, the first Beavertown Rally was held at Canvastown. This was moved to Spring Creek a few years later (about 1993 or 4?), then moved again in 2008 to the current venue at Central Rugby Club rooms in Blenheim.
• 1991, The Blenheim Branch convened the very first ‘Top of the South’ Challenge/Overnighter on the weekend of 27 – 29 November 1992 at the Hanmer Springs Forestry Camp. Other Branches were invited to attend. Cost; $12 per head for the ‘cabin type’ accommodation. This was so successful it was held again the following year at the same place.
• 1992, A picnic ride to the seal colony on the Kaikoura peninsula included wives, children and grandchildren. There were two women riding their own bikes. About 30 people took part. A reporter from the Marlborough Express rode pillion on Allan Edgar’s bike – this later resulted in two very positive articles about Ulysses Club, (with photographs) in the local newspaper.
• 1995, the Ambulance ride in April raised $168 towards a new Ambi Bag for the Air Ambulance service.
• 1995, A ‘shark & tater’ night was held at the home of John and Jenny King. The fish and chip night at John Kings home was so popular, became an annual branch event for about 10 years.
• 1995, The mid-winter dinner on 1st July was held at ‘Top Spot’ restaurant in Blenheim.
• 1995 -1999, Our Branch used to do the catering deliveries for all the early Marlborough wine festivals. We would have members and partners working alongside all day feeding all the workers/marshalls/security etc . The food was supplied to us by the festival committee in food packs and we had a large covered area where those that could were able to come and sit down give us their passes to get their boxed lunch and tea or coffee. The workers who could not leave their stations had their food delivered by members on loan 4 wheel motor bikes etc.which Ken Anderson had borrowed. We were` suppiled with radios so if any out station needed water etc we would shoot out to supply. We were all supplied with yellow shirts and caps by the wine festival committee. For memory we did 3 or 4 years and earned quite big money which basically funded our branch each year. Chief organiser was Wendy Anderson, in those days Wendy was a member of our Branch in her own right. Wendy wore a blue shirt as chief. Husband Ken of course, ably assisted her with the organising. During the early evening our members would run a BBq for the festival workers. A source of amusement to our members ( particularly males ) was to see many of the opposite sex hurry into the vines to to relieve themselves oblivious to us males having a ring side view. At least 20 members/wives worked onsite some doing it in shifts
• 1996, on the 1st weekend in February, Marlborough Branch members enjoyed an overnighter to Christchurch, staying at the Addington camping ground, they all had dinner at Valentines on the Saturday evening.
• 1996, The Ambulance ride in April raised $450 for the Picton Ambulance service. 103 bikes took part.
• 1996, The mid-year Christmas party was held at the Woodbourne Tavern on 22 June. About 80 members and partners attended.
• 1996, on 31 March there was a Branch ride to Lake Rotoiti to meet up with Nelson Branch members.
• 2004, Instigated by committee member of the day - Susy Pouwhare; Shelly’s Café at ‘The Village’ on Rapaura Road was adopted as our permanent Saturday morning meeting place for members. This is very popular with the members and has resulted in a great ongoing relationship between Shelly’s and Marlborough Ulysses. A 10% discount is in place for Ulysses members and a regular income during the quiet winter months for Shelly with up to 50+ members purchasing food and/or refreshments every Saturday morning.
• 2006, National AGM was held in Blenheim, Marlborough (note; there was no Beavertown Rally this year)
• 2006, The Ambulance ride in April raised $2100 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. 120 bikes took part.
• 2008, Marlborough anniversary weekend was the inaugural Branch double overnighter to Pohara Beach. It was a big success and this is now an annual event on the branch calendar.
• 2009, The inaugural Marlborough Branch Toy Run was organised by Jane Laing, Al Harper and Pete Rickerby and held in December. 150 bikes took part.
• 2010, The 20th anniversary Beavertown Rally was a huge success. 94 people registered. The Poker run went to Moa Brewery for lunch.
• 2011, the inaugural Beavertown Scooter ramble was organised by Jeff and Wendy Champion. It was so successful, Committee decided to leave it on the branch calendar as another annual event. Unfortunately this event has been withdrawn from our Annual events calendar for now, but may be reinstated in the future.
Notable Branch Members:
Phil Anker; After the death of his wife 18 months previously, it was his passion for motorbikes that kept him going and then Phil’s enthusiasm for the philosophy behind the Australian Ulysses club which resulted in his joining the Club in 1988 and calling the first official meeting of the Blenheim Branch later that same year.
A newspaper article in 1989 listed his age as 70+.
As the first Blenheim Branch Coordinator, Phil saw little point in spending too much time on administration, - “most effort goes into social and practical motorcycling at both National and Local levels. National and regional rallies draw members away for weekends and locally members gather for a day or weekend get-together, combining social times with day trips to points of interest”. In these early years, while the local membership numbers were low Phil encouraged combined rides and weekend get-togethers with Nelson, Westcoast and Christchurch Branches. As a founding member of the Blenheim branch, Phil was a well respected and enthusiastic motorcyclist who, up until his death in 1997, was listed as the second oldest active Ulysses member in New Zealand.
Doug Simpson #991; Doug joined the Blenheim branch in 1989 and in 1990 he joined the local branch committee. He served 10 years on this committee during which time he held various roles including Secretary/Treasurer and Publicity officer. After he stood down from this committee in 2000, Doug remained a very active and involved supporter of Branch rides and events for the next two years until he was diagnosed with cancer. For several years he helped deliver the local monthly newsletter by hand to save the Branch a bit of money on postage. Doug and his wife Sharon had a natural affinity with people, they were very highly thought of and well liked by all who came in contact with them. Doug passed away in 2003.
Allan Edgar #505; Allan was a founding member of the Blenheim branch having joined the Ulysses club in 1988. Allan was (and still is) the first New Zealand member in Blenheim.
John Mears #2927; John joined the Blenheim branch in November 1994 and at the following AGM in 1995 he was voted in as Branch Coordinator, taking over the role from Sherrin Edgar. John served as Coordinator for five years, during this time he was an extremely enthusiastic and active member encouraging Branch group rides to National AGM’s and many local rides and events. John was also the Branch newsletter Editor for 10 years (1996 – 2006). The booklet format that John introduced for the branch newsletter continued to be used until 2011 when the committee of the day changed it to a format that was cheaper to produce. John donated the ‘John Mears mileage Trophy” which is still awarded each year to the member who has clocked up the highest mileage on their motorbike.
Murray Brooks #3161; Murray joined the Marlborough branch in 1995 and in 1996 was elected to the branch committee. Murray served on this committee for the next 10 years, taking over the role of Publicity officer from Doug Simpson in 2000. It was largely due to these early efforts of both Doug and Murray that this Branch enjoys very positive high profile in the Marlborough community today. Murray’s enthusiasm and energy for all things Ulysses was a great example to other members, for many years he was a driving force in getting groups of members to attend National AGM’s and neighbouring rallies and events ( he would also organise the accommodation for everyone). In 2009 Murray rejoined the branch committee for one year so that he could support the new Coordinator as she got to know her new role. At this time he also took on the role of Branch quartermaster, he is still doing this job today. He still does occasional publicity for branch events and supports the committee in any way he can. Murray and his wife Eila enjoy getting out on their Goldwing ‘Simply Magic’ when they can, and it is rare for Murray to miss a good catch up with his fellow Ulyssians at the weekly branch coffee mornings. In 2011 Murray was awarded the Odyssey Medal for meritorious service at branch level.
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| Bob Tanner, Don Best and 'Grumpy' |
Since the early 1990’s, Annual Branch rider training days have always been seen as an important event on the Marlborough Branch calendar. For many years, free rider training sessions were generously organised and run by ex Traffic officer and Marlborough member Wayne Brock, who was assisted by several other experienced members. These were popular with the members and in good weather the courses were often full. In latter years the trainings have been run by approved Motorcycle Rider Trainers – sadly, these training days are no longer ‘free’ and numbers of members attending have decreased.
