HISTORY ON THE HISTORIAN
Welcome to the Aire Valley UK History section of the website.
The first Chapter Historian position was held by Gordon MacFarlane. Unfortunately, the role was vacant for a few years until Sue Weston took over from Gordon MacFarlane in 2026. Gordon collected and has passed on a HUGE archive of our Chapter’s history for which we should be eternally grateful – thanks Mac.
Aire Valley UK’s history is a fantastic read which I am sure those of you who have been part of it will agree. I have pulled this together for you to reflect on the times of our early Chapter membership and enable our newer members to appreciate where we’ve come from.
HOW AIRE VALLEY UK STARTED
In the Northwestern area of Leeds in West Yorkshire and immediately to the left of Leeds City Centre, is a suburb called Kirkstall. Kirkstall Road runs through this suburb and acts as a major artery connecting the city centre to the west and near to the River Aire. It’s a busy commercial and leisure stretch which is probably why Eddy Wright chose to open the first Leeds Harley Davidson store there in 1997.
During this time, the dealership was very successful, and working with Harley Davidson UK HOG, it made sense to start a Harley Owners Group. In Summer 1997, our 9 founding members; Bob Elliott, Steve Hedley, Julian Marshall, Paul Moody, Frank Quinlan, John Sanders, Mary Thorn, Ian Towler and Eddy Wright recruited another 17 members; Alan Bailey, Julian Bullock, Ross Calverley, Mike Clark, Peter Clark, Gill Elliott, John Gibson, Peter Guest, , David Holden, Phil McDonald, Mick Maw, Jonnie Swallow, Roger Widdup, Mark Williamson, Richard Wilton, Lynda Wilton and Gilbert Wright. Many of these members remain active members today. Thank you for your loyalty and commitment to the Chapter.
After consultation with Harley-Davidson UK, HOG UK it was agreed that the name of the Chapter would be Aire Valley UK 9695. The name was chosen by Eddy Wright after a 70’s Scooter Club he liked. It perfectly reflected the geographic proximity to the River Aire, symbolising a significant geographical corridor combining industrial heritage and green infrastructure extending through to towns like Keighley, Bingley, and Shipley.
On opening day it was reported that around 500 people attended. Eddy recalls that he sold 5 bikes with Billy Clubb (who later became editor of Screamin’ Views a forerunner to what we now call AV Torque) purchasing a FLSTC Heritage Softail. Within three years of opening Leeds was at the top of the UK sales charts; it sold over 300 bikes in 2006.
AIRE VALLEY UK CHAPTER HISTORY TIMELINE
Here’s a timeline of our history – Please feel free to suggest anything that’s missing or incorrect…
1997
Director: Eddy Wright
Assistant Director: Peter Grimshaw
Eddy Wright opened the Kirkstall Road shop in January 1997. The main ride in the first year was to Trig Point at Staithes near Whitby. Eddy says he will forever remember it as the ‘Best ride ever’. Chapter is officially set up and has a patch designed. c160 members – Officially fastest growing chapter in the UK
First attendance at Thunder in the Glens & Baildon Rally
First issue of Chapter newsletter, Screamin’ Eagles, published June 97.
1998
Director: Eddy Wright/ Paul ‘Tooty’ Moody
Assistant Director: Gary Loundis
First Road Captains appointed.
Aire Valley UK organises the UK Rally at York racecourse and it is voted ‘Best HOG Rally in the UK’ for 1998.
1998 Best Rally Entertainment awarded to Mark Price for shunning up the Marquee pole wearing false boobs & carrying a blow up doll.
c170 members
1999
Director: Paul ‘Tooty’ Moody
Assistant Director: Mark Hemingway
Road General: Dean Dwan
New position of Road General introduced at the November AGM.
Monthly meetings held at the Fisherman’s Hut, LS9
2000
Director: Mark Hemingway
Assistant Director: Gary Lowndes
Road General: Dean Dwan
Millennium Calendar published – we wouldn’t get away with the pics nowadays – ask Sue if you want to see it.
Muscular Dystrophy Dinner Dance in Feb raises £2,500.
Monthly meetings held at The Faversham
Chapter Newsletter changes name to Aire Valley Times
2001 –
El Presidente: Andrew Jones
Assistant Director: Jonnie ‘No – Bike’ Swallow
Road General: Dean Dwan
Eddy Wright’s on-the-road price for a Sportster 883 is £4,995 and the Ultra Classic Electra Glide £15,495 (you could splash out £200 for Two Tone paint if you really wanted to push the boat out 😆)
Inaugural AVUK Rally – The Odd Ball Rally – held at Sandal Rugby Club.
2002
El Presidente: Andrew Jones
Assistant Director: Jonnie ‘No – Bike’ Swallow
Road General: Dean Dwan
Odd Ball Rally held with Peak Riders Chapter
2003
EL Presidente: Andrew Jones
Assistant Director: Jonnie ‘No – Bike’ Swallow
Road General: Dean Dwan
The inaugural Hog on the Humber charity ride titled ‘Hoggin The Humber’ run was held on the 15th June. All bikes and riders were welcomed. Registration was required and a payment of £10 per bike was requested to include free disco and camping the night before.
Monthly meetings move to The Manor, Farsley.
The AVUK Committee share at the AGM they have one of the highest memberships in the UK. Just under 500 members!!!!!!!
2004
El Presidente: Andrew Jones
Assistant Director: Jonnie ‘No – Bike’ Swallow
Head Road Captain: Tony Burns
Hog On the Humber has 517 bikes attending and raises £5,650 for Children’s Charities
Sandra Gaunt becomes Membership Secretary
2005
Director: Jonnie ‘No – Bike’ Swallow
Assistant Director – Pavlo ‘Big Pav’ Andrusiak
Head Road Captain: Tony Burns
c.445 members with 100 attendees at monthly meetings!!!!
Over 40!!!! deposits taken for the new 2006 model Street Bob at Eddy Wright’s.
Membership year end changes to 31st Dec.
2006
Director: Jonnie ‘No – Bike’ Swallow
Assistant Director – Pavlo ‘Big Pav’ Andrusiak
Head Road Captain: Mick Pierce
Chapter merchandise is introduced.
Following serious illness long standing HRC, Tony Burns, hands the baton to Mick Pierce
140 bikes attend the opening of Hard Rock Cafe, Leeds
HOG on the Humber breaks the 1,000 bike barrier
AVUK HOG website live.
Harley launched the new look and spec Dyna range.
Odd Ball rally sees a decline in numbers.
2007
Director: Jonnie ‘No – Bike’ Swallow
Assistant Director – Pavlo ‘Big Pav’ Andrusiak
Head Road Captain: Mick Pierce
c.436 members
Monthly meetings move to Yarnbury Rugby Club, Horsforth.
Leeds Harley dealership and AV UK is 10 years old!!!!
No AVUK rally is held
2008
Director: Rob Mitchelmore
Assistant Director: Gary Gazza Grundy
Head Road Captain: Dave Faz Farrand
c.153 members
2011
Director: Mike Gaunt
Assistant Director: Andie Hanam & Richard Wilton
Head Road Captain: Allan Ward
Summer Trading puts the dealership into administration and it is acquired by Legend Motorcycles
2012
Director: Mike Gaunt
Assistant Director: Andie Hanam & Richard Wilton
Head Road Captain: Allan Ward
Legend Motorcycles, managed by Sohail Khan, takes over the dealership
2013
Director: Mike Gaunt
Assistant Director: Andie Hannam & Richard Wilton
Head Road Captain: Allan Ward
2014
Director: Mike Gaunt
Assistant Director: Andie Hannam & Richard Wilton
Head Road Captain: Allan Ward
2015
Director: Mike Gaunt
Assistant Director: Andie Hannam & Richard Wilton
Head Road Captain: Allan Ward
2016
Director: Mike Gaunt
Assistant Director: Andie Hannam & Richard Wilton
Head Road Captain: Allan Ward
North East based Jennings Motor Group acquire the dealership and keep the Leeds Harley Davidson name. Please click on the following link to know more about the history of the Jennings group.
AVUK’s support of the very first Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) in Leeds begins by initially doing the recce rides with Kevin McGonnel and marshalling the ride.
The Eddy Wright dealership ceases and is handed over to Summer Trading with John at the helm and confirms plans to relocate the dealership. The name of the dealership is changed to Leeds Harley-Davidson
AVUK annual rally returns as the Ridings Rally, Wetherby Racecourse
2009
Director: Rob Mitchelmore
Assistant Director: Gary Gazza Grundy / Mike Gaunt
Head Road Captain: Dave Faz Farrand
Directors are elected to serve a minimum of two years. Plans to relocate the dealership to the current Wellington Road site are completed.
A LOH calendar goes on sale. Funds raised supporting Leeds Women’s Aid.
c.284 members
2010
Director: Mike Gaunt
Assistant Director: Richard Wilton / Andie Hanam
Head Road Captain: Allan Ward
25 of our 1997 members still on our records
2017
Director: Mike Gaunt
Assistant Director: Andie Hannam & Richard Wilton
Head Road Captain: Allan Ward
2018
Director: Mike Gaunt
Assistant Director: Andie Hannam & Richard Wilton
Head Road Captain: Allan Ward
2019
Director: Andie Hannan
Assistant Director: Rob Hammerton
Head Road Captain: Allan Ward
Mike Gaunt passes the directorship over to Andie Hannam on the 6th March after ten years as Director, and twenty years as a Primary officer of Aire Valley UK
2020
Director: Andie Hannan
Assistant Director: Rob Hammerton
Rideout Coordinator: Neil Walmsley
2021
Director: Andie Hannam
Assistant Director: Rob Hammerton
Head Road Captain: Neil Walmsley
2022
Director: Andie Hannam
Assistant Director: Rob Hammerton
Head Road Captain: Neil Walmsley
AVUK is 25 years old.
AV UK’s members attend the Leeds DGR for the first time.
15 bikes support opening night of the Bat Out Of Hell stage show at Bradford Alhambra with a drive by.
2023
Director: Andie Hannam
Assistant Director: Rob Hammerton
Head Road Captain: Neil Walmsley
AVUK hosts a very wet visit from our friends from the Cote de Nacre Chapter, France.
Andy McHale, is invited to plan the route and AVUK members marshall the annual charitable ride in support of male charitable causes for the first time.
The newsletter is relaunched as Aire Valley Torque, copies of the newsletter can be read here
2024
Director: Rob Hammerton
Assistant Director: Mick Crossland
Head Road Captain: Mark Hickey
Members join an inter-chapter visit to Northern France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D Day Landings. Hosted by Cote de Nacre Chapter, Caen their Director, Jean-Pierre Postal, welcomes ourselves, the Sherwood and 1066 Chapters for a fantastic 5 day tour.
AVUK supports the Wrecking Crew in marshalling the 45th Baildon rally.
Aire Valley UK members join 45,000 other bikers travelling in convoy to Barrow in Furness to celebrate the life of Dave Myers, celebrity chef and Harley enthusiast, who died of cancer in February this year.
2025
Director: Rob Hammerton
Assistant Director: Mick Crossland
Head Road Captain: Mark Hickey
A successful inter-chapter Scottish Border Bash takes place between AVUK and the Dunedin Chapter.
After a number of years of absence, AVUK appoints a Chapter Historian again.
c.113 members
2026
Director: Rob Hammerton
Assistant Director: Mick Crossland
Head Road Captain: Mark Hickey
AVUK commence work to achieve Chrome Chapter status