search
date/time
Yorkshire Times
A Voice of the Free Press
frontpagebusinessartscarslifestylefamilytravelsportsscitechnaturefictionCartoons
Richard Trinder
Editor
@richardtrinder
5:43 AM 16th June 2019
cars

Northern Group Of Motoring Writers - And Ferret Legging

 
Andy Harris, Julie Marshall and a ferret!
Andy Harris, Julie Marshall and a ferret!
The Northern Group of Motor Writers (NGMW), the oldest regional group of automotive journalists in the UK, has appointed a new Chairman - our very own Motoring Editor Andy Harris.

First founded in 1973, the group is open to professional motoring writers across the North of England. With a membership of almost 40 writers the group includes both print and digital journalists from Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland - one of the largest areas of any regional group.

Unlikely as it may sound, the NGMW features a stuffed ferret as their Group mascot. The ferret belonged to Reg Mellor, whose claim to fame was stuffing the notoriously feisty little critters down his trousers. He was the "king of the ferret-leggers" who explained the rules of this very-English sport, which he came to dominate rather late in life: "no jockstraps allowed. No underpants-- nothin` whatsoever. And it's no good with tight trousers, mind ye. Little bah-stards have to be able to move around inside there from ankle to ankle."

The ferret itself gained further notoriety by biting Richard Whitely on live TV:


Reg was a friend to several group members and the stuffed ferret was one of his favourites.....

... in a crazy old world it sort of makes sense!

The NGMW meets frequently at locations around the territory. These include manufacturer-sponsored driving days, dinners, and other events such as off-road experiences. With regular meetings at at the Thorpe Park Hotel in Leeds, and they also hold their own annual driving day to determine the Northern Car of the Year.

Andy takes over from retiring Chair Julie Marshall. His initiation ceremony could be well-worth attending!


Members

The members are as follows:

Steve Berry - ex Oldham Evening News, now freelance
Malcolm Bobbitt - freelance and author of more than 40 motoring books
Alan Domville - NGMW secretary and North West News journalist
Andrew Evans - Vice Chairman. Motoring Editor of GT Planet
James Fossdyke - Freelance
Derrick Grocock - Freelance
Ben Harrington - Editor of Driving Torque
Andy Harris - Yorkshire Times
Dave Hooper - Freelance and Editor of Wheel World Reviews
Steve Howarth - Ex Manchester Evening News, now freelance
Will Kilner - Live news editor/motoring at Telegraph and Argus
Guy Loveridge - author, commentator and motor sports writer
Frederic Manby - long term Yorkshire Post
Julie Marshall - Johnston Press/Yorkshire Post
Steve Nelson - Motoring Editor for Newsquest in York
Steve Orme - Eurekar and Trinity Mirror regionals
Tom Sharpe - News and features editor at Bauer Media. Also Rotherham Advertiser
Jonathan Smith - Driving Force/ Eurekar
Damian Turner - Runs Mudlife magazine
Steve Teale - Motoring for Yorkshire Post/Evening Post & Johnston Press
Mike Torpey - Editor in chief CarReviewUK, Eurekar and Driving Force
Andrew Walker - Publisher/editor Company Car and Van
Martin Ward - Manufacturer relationship manager at cap hpi, Leeds
David Whinyates - Driving Force for Trinity Mirror
Roy Woodcock - Freelance, Hull Daily Mail
Andrew Wright - AMEX Departures/Centurion, My Car Check