Sadly I have to report that Graham Bell is standing down as our Director at the end of this year.

Graham has served on our committee for some 9 years and has been Director since 2015. Throughout this time, he has worked tirelessly for Deva Legion and has been generous in every way. He found the Llangollen International Pavilion as a unique site for our Rally, and in his role as Director has worked to make Circus Maximus the fantastic event that it is – including probably the best rally ride-out, well organised and perfectly executed.

We thank Graham for his long service and wish him well going forward

We will announce our new Director in due course.

Steve Hopwood
Assistant Director

Chester Harley Davidson are hosting our 20^th birthday party on the weekend that was to be Circus Maximus 2021 – Saturday 4^th/Sunday 5^th September 2021.

We will have all the usual things you would expect bikes, bands, food & drinks, tattooist, barber etc and would love to see you there.

While the party will be in their usual opening hours, we at Deva wanted to make it that bit more special so have arranged camping just a 5 minute walk from the dealers. It will be in an area just for us and we will continue the party through the Saturday evening with a fire pit and music … and of course you could bring a little something to drink 😉 or there’s a pub just 2 minutes away.

Tents, motorhomes or caravans are all welcome at just £15 per night – the site is basic (toilets but no showers) – but we’ll make it a good night!

Just email our Director Graham Bell director@devalegionhog.co.uk to say you’re coming (numbers will be limited) and then turn up.

We have to cancel this year’s Circus Maximus rally. We heard from our contact at the venue that the county council who own and run Llangollen Pavilion have decided that there won’t be any events there this year.

We at Deva Legion thought that we would be able to go ahead if national restrictions lifted in August as planned, and had been working on how we could make it as safe as possible. We know many of you have been hoping with us and we appreciate all your messages of support but the decision was out of our hands. We were gutted at the news and speaking with local business there they can’t believe the decision, saying ‘its bonkers!’

We hope that you will join us next year for Circus Maximus 2022 and we will be happy to honour the tickets that you have already bought for 2021 and roll them over for next year (including any Early Bird draw entries). If you’re happy to roll them over then you don’t need to do anything – we will do it automatically.

For anyone wishing a refund please email treasurer@devalegionhog.co.uk before 31st August 2021 and we will gladly reimburse – but please note that the booking fee is not reimbursable. Also please bear with us a while as we initiate the refunds but we’re on to it.

Circus Maximus 2022 will be from Thursday 1^st to Sunday 4^th September 2022 and hopefully will be the biggest and best in our new world of ‘normal’.

On a brighter note our dealer – Chester Harley Davidson – is now going to support us in hosting our 20^th Birthday Party on what would have been the rally weekend (September 4^th and 5^th 2021) and you’d all be very welcome!
As you can imagine we’re very early in the planning but we have already booked some of the rally bands to play there.
If anyone is planning on just holidaying in the accommodation they’d booked for the rally we will meet you on the Saturday morning and ride with you to the party! If you’re there earlier and want to ride we’d be happy to help with route suggestions or maybe even ride with you.

Thank you all for your patience and continued support – hope to see you at our birthday party and Circus Maximus 2022

In our February AGM e-zine we noted that Charles Dick did over 10,000 miles. He’s been beaten – last year Steven Leys did 12,050 covid compliant miles! Congratulations to Steven.

We are now taking registrations for this year’s mileage competition proper. Please email your starting mileage (a photo of your odometer is ideal) to our treasurer before the end of April at: treasurer@devalegionhog.co.uk

All members should have had the first e-magazine Deva Despatches by now.

This is our AGM communication during Covid restrictions keeping you up to date with all things Deva.

Please contact secretary@devalegionhog.co.uk if you haven’t received your copy by email.

Our Chapter was formed in January 2001 with Centurion Harley Davidson being the sponsoring dealership.

The first club Director was the Service Manager at the sponsoring dealer – Red Upton. His wife Helen was the first Secretary, with Ean Lewin (a shareholder of the dealership) being Assistant Director and Alvin (Ace) Myatt was the original Treasurer. The first Deva Legion meeting is pictured below:

This set-up only lasted a few months as Red (and his wife) both left the club and the dealership.

Martin Lucas then took over the Directorship with Ade Nicholson as Assistant and Mike Buchan became Secretary.

In 2002 Ade Nicholson became Director for a 10 year stint with Mike Buchan remaining Secretary. Kenny Crosbie was the new Assistant Director and Richard Nott took over as Treasurer.

Ade was followed in the Director role by Jon Twigg in 2012, with George Day as Assistant Director and later Debbie Singleton as Secretary.

In 2013 the present incumbent Ian (Windy) Miller became Treasurer

In February 2016 Graham Bell took over as Director with Vince Verzijl as Assistant Director and Mike Buchan returned as Secretary.

2017/18  saw both Vince and Dave Black doing service as Assistant Director, and then Keith Davies took over in 2019.

Keith Davies then took over as Assistant Director. Mike Buchan resigned to relocate back to Scotland in March 2019 and Don McKinsley took over as Secretary. Our latest change from our Feb AGM is that David James has taken over as Assistant Director.

Which takes us to our current Primary Officers.

As stated on the Membership Renewal Form, in order to be a member of Deva Legion you must be a full member of HOG.

I know how easy it is to forget to renew memberships so please check your HOG membership is up to date.

There is also mandatory requirement from HOG that all chapter members complete and sign a Membership Renewal & Release Form each year. This is for insurance purposes.

So please take the time to read the form and complete all sections, as all the information is needed. Existing memberships from 2020 will automatically be renewed without cost for those who return completed and signed forms. Should anyone need assistance with this please contact me via email on secretary@devalegionhog.co.uk

I have sent out an email with the forms attached to make this easier.

Please note: memberships will not be renewed without these forms being returned by
3rd March 2021 at the latest.

Thanks …. Don Mckinsley (Secretary)

TICKETS NOW ON SALE!!!

As mentioned in our cancellation post and emails, we hope that you will join us next year for Circus Maximus 2021 and we will be happy to honour the tickets that you have already bought for 2020 and roll them over for next year.

If you’re happy to roll them over then you don’t need to do anything – we will do it automatically, and for every ticket rolled over we would like to thank you with a £5 drinks voucher to spend at Circus Maximus 2021.

All Early Bird tickets carried over will automatically be entered into a draw for a £100 voucher to spend at Chester Harley Davidson. This draw will take place in the first week of September 2020 and posted on Facebook. Early Bird tickets carried over will also be entered into the usual draw at Circus Maximus 2021

For anyone wishing a refund please email treasurer@devalegionhog.co.uk BEFORE THE END OF AUGUST 2020. If you have already requested a refund to our treasurer then you don’t need to do anything more.

It is with heavy heart that we must cancel this year’s Circus Maximus rally. We heard from our contact at the venue today, that “unfortunately Welsh Government guidance does not allow for any major gatherings in any indoor event venues across the country, and as such, until the guidance changes and restrictions lifted, Llangollen Pavilion will not be open for major events until at least 31^st October 2020.”

We at Deva Legion were hoping against the odds that we would  be able to go ahead and had been working on how we could make it as safe as possible. We know many of you have been hoping with us and we appreciate all your messages of support but the decision was out of our hands.

We hope that you will join us next year for Circus Maximus 2021 and we will be happy to honour the tickets that you have already bought for 2020 and roll them over for next year (including any Early Bird draw entries).

For anyone wishing a refund please email treasurer@devalegionhog.co.uk and we will gladly reimburse – but please note that the booking fee is not reimbursable.

So a date for your diary: Circus Maximus 2021 will be from Thursday 2^nd to Sunday 5^th September 2021

Thank you all for your patience and continued support.