Who We Are / Meet the Teams / Dorset
Dorset
Dorset is where the DocBike charity was born. After immense success and with the support of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, the expansion of the charity across the UK was inevitable. Dorset is also the home of the DocBike Headquarters.
DocBike Dorset joins colleagues across the UK in working to reduce motorcycle deaths and serious injuries through rider engagement, skills development, and road-safety awareness. Based in Dorset, we have initiated DocBike’s nationwide efforts to help motorcyclists become more skilful, better informed, and safer on two wheels.
We have established connections with local partners and helped to raise awareness of motorcycle risk in our communities. If you’re interested in what we’re doing — whether you ride yourself, work with riders, or would like to be involved — we’d be happy to hear from you and explore how you might support our work. Volunteers of all kinds are welcome to get in touch at https://docbike.org/volunteer/
Meet the Team!
DocBike is run entirely by volunteers! Motorcyclists and members of the public like you! All passionate about motorcycling and keeping motorcyclists on two wheels.
We’re a very friendly bunch who are always looking for more help to man stands at bike events or use their specialist skills to help the charity run and therefore help save biker’s lives.
If you’re interested in becoming a DocBike volunteer, please check out our How You Can Help pages.
Director & Trustee
Dr Ian Mew
Dr Ian Mew is a Consultant in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine. Half of his time is spent working at Dorset County Hospital and the other half with Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. He gives his time voluntarily to the DocBike charity, taking time to engage with motorcyclists, talking to them about how to keep a fellow biker alive by attending a BikerDown course and encouraging bikers to become a better and more skilful rider. Having an air ambulance intensive care consultant teach on their local BikerDown course means that it’s an evening of no-nonsense, no-question, how to realistically keep someone alive until the ambulance arrives.
Whilst out on the DocBike, should any patient nearby (not just motorcyclists) require time-critical care, he can be deployed to the incident. Because being tasked to sick and injured people is part of his day job on the air ambulance; the appropriate skills can be rapidly delivered to the patient and then seamlessly integrate with the other emergency services on their arrival – all of whom are used to working with him on a day-to-day basis.
Ian is one of the DocBike Trustees, sits on the National Motorcycle Working Group, has direct liaison with national agencies such as the police & fire chief councils, Highways England and of course the national BikerDown team. He lectures on motorcycle injury prevention around the UK and is a keen supported of research and evidence base to inform the methods and direction of the charity.
For more information on these areas, take a look at What We Do.
Critical Care Paramedic
Mark Williams
Mark is a Specialist Critical Care Paramedic with Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Mark has been flying since the start of their air operations in 2000. In addition to his paramedic qualification, Mark holds the Diploma in Immediate Medical Care and a Master’s Degree in Critical Care. His vast experience means there is little that he hasn’t dealt with over the years and in 2018, he was awarded “Paramedic of the Year” by the Association of Air Ambulances, which is now known as Air Ambulances UK.
As well as engaging with bikers at events and teaching on BikerDown, Mark responds to incidents on the DocBike as part of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. A keen climber, hiker and with an ability to ‘fix’ anything, Mark is a very good pair of hands to have on your side.
Paramedic
DEAN FURNEE
Paramedic
Rob Walker
Rob is a paramedic with 13 years front-line experience, who now works in the primary sector based in the East of Dorset. Rob, who is married to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Critical Care Practitioner Michelle Walker, has had a passion for bikes for many years and frequently represents the DocBike charity at national events at Silverstone.
As well as being a long-serving paramedic for AFC Bournemouth, Rob is a keen advocate of keeping bikers on two wheels and is passionate about teaching on BikerDown courses along with engaging with bikers at the numerous events across the county.
Paramedic and Biker Down tutor
David Thom
Originally training as a Paramedic, David is currently working as an Anaesthesia Associate and Advanced Critical Care Practitioner at Dorset County Hospital. He previously worked as a Specialist Paramedic – Critical Care with the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. As someone who clearly can’t get enough of school, as well as his Paramedic degree he has a BSc(Hons) in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, a Masters in Critical Care and a Post Graduate Diploma in Anaesthesia – as well as a Diploma in Immediate Medical Care.
David has been been riding bikes since the age of 16, and has worked as a track medic for the Isle of Man TT, Manx Grand Prix, Classic TT and Southern 100 Road Races.
He became involved in DocBike after working alongside Dr. Ian Mew on the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Now in his role at Dorset County Hospital he is supported by the trust work one day a week as a Clinical Academic, as part of the team undertaking research at the Wessex Centre for Excellence in Motorcycle Injury Prevention at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in conjunction with the Wessex Health Partnership.
Having dealt with so many motorcycle injuries over the years David is happy to give something back to the community in trying to prevent collisions, as well as getting the chance to engage with the motorcycle community and the amazing volunteers at DocBike.
Rider Training
Chris Smith QPM
Chris hardly needs much introduction! A retired police motorcycle officer with over 20 years as a police motorcyclist and continuing to work as an advanced police motorcycle instructor and examiner, Chris keeps Ian, Mark, Rob, Dean & Dave’s motorcycle riding under close scrutiny.
Chris founded the DocBike project with Ian in 2013, is a trustee and delivers the ‘How to manage the scene of a crash’ and ‘How to avoid being knocked off your bike’ modules on our BikerDown course.
With his years of experience of both crash scene management and advanced motorcycle training, bikers attending a FREE BikerDown course couldn’t be in better hands.
Chris also lends his experience at a national level acting as liaison for the specifications of DocBikes across the country and advising regional police forces on rider training for their local DocBike team.
Regional Lead
Adrian Batstone
Adrian has been messing about with bikes since he was a kid and managed to go ‘road legal’ when 17 on an old Honda 150 Benley…that was 51 years ago! Since then, there have been a succession of bikes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, many of which would be regarded as classics now. Quite a few Japanese, the odd Guzzi and a Beemer too, now on his 9th Harley.
After leaving the Army, Adrian did almost 30 years in the Motor Trade, on both sides of the fence working for the manufacturer then latterly in sales to the business community. Following that, he and his partner Siggi ran a couple of pubs for 8 years, focussing on great cask ale, lovely home cooked grub and live music, it was a way of life!
On leaving the pub trade Adrian joined the Ambulance Service, where he worked in Suffolk and Essex until 3 years ago when we moved to Poole and officially retired. Adrian continues to volunteer as a Community First Responder for South Western Ambulance Service, and fill the odd few hours as Secretary of the local Harley Davidson Owner’s Group, and helping out with DocBike.
Meeting the team at DocBike whilst doing a recce ride for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride a couple of years ago got him hooked. He loves the ethos that Ian and the other trustees have instilled. The objective of preventing death and serious injury to motorcyclists by engagement and sharing best practices on a peer to peer level really strikes a chord; and the drive and passion throughout the whole team, top to ‘bottom’ is inspirational.
Deputy Regional Lead – Logistics
Simon Metcalf
Simon attended a BikerDown course in Dorset and then got talking to Dr Ian one evening at Poole Bike Night when a shout came over the radio for a motorcyclists who had been critically injured a few miles down the road.
Simon was left in charge of the DocBike stand and from that moment on, he has been engaging with motorcyclists, not only locally, but travelling to support national events such as the British Superbikes Championship and MotoGP at Silverstone. This makes Simon our first ever DocBike volunteer!
He co-ordinates the volunteers at a local level, but also acts as the voice of the everyday motorcyclist at board meetings. When so many of the Trustees have an emergency service background, it’s important that we have an independent motorcyclist’s view to balance our decision making.
Deputy Regional Lead – Operations
Jo Lovett
Jo’s interest in bikes started in her fairly adventurous teenage years – riding pillion to upset her dad! However, just a few years later, her (lovely and very patient husband) Mark now spend their weekends and holidays exploring the UK on their BMW.
Her journey with DocBike started at a BikerDown course at The Churchill Arms and she cut her volunteering teeth training on Poole Quay and then went on to support the Weymouth Team at Weymouth Bike Night.
Jo’s background in hospitality and event management led to her assisting with BikerDown courses and then to taking on the mantle of Weymouth Bike Night with husband Mark.
Docbike has an amazing team of volunteers and marshals over in the West and this year have supported the Jurassic Coast Motor Show, The Purbeck Festival and regularly support the West Bay bike night. They are always ready to chat all things DocBike – and have also been known to supply cakes and easter eggs. Why not venture to the west of Dorset and come say hello?
The Churchill Arms – DocBike Liaison & Communications officer
Tanya Wynyard
Tanya is simply a legend!
Publican at the Churchill Arms, mother of a teenager and proud supporter of DocBike and Mental Health Motorbike, Tanya transforms her pub into a Mecca for motorcyclists on a Tuesday evening, but with the charities at the heart of everything that they do. A start point for our annual ride out, the Churchill gives bikers a place to meet and somewhere where they know the DocBike charity will be centrally placed.
Tanya gained her Mental Health First aid qualification online during covid and asked Dr Ian to visit. Meeting Doctor Ian Mew in ‘the Office’, outside the pub during restrictions introduced her to a man who is passionate about the Charity, which he has Championed since the beginning and that enthusiasm rubbed off!
Tanya wanted to be a part of a charity that cares so deeply about what it does, especially as it helps her community of Bikers. Being able to pass on the
knowledge that she has gained through learning what the charity aims to achieve and volunteering at various events means a great deal to Tanya.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to Tanya and her staff for making DocBike such a central part of what they do.
Donate to DocBike Dorset
No matter how big or small, your donation will make a huge difference and enable us to be there for fallen bikers when they need us the most.
Don’t forget Gift Aid! If you are a UK Tax Payer, please do not forget to Gift Aid your donation. Gift Aid enables us to claim back 25p in every £1 donated from HMRC and is one of the easiest ways to make your donation tax effective. The charity reclaims the money and there is no additional cost to you!
How Can You Help?
Below are some of the ways that you can help us. Whether you donate, fundraise for us, volunteer, or follow us on social media, your support really will make a big difference, thank you!
Volunteer
Everyone involved with the charity is a volunteer, we do not employ a single person. We are always looking for new volunteers who can help, so whatever you’re good at and however much time you have, we would be delighted to hear from you!
If you would like to help us by becoming a volunteer, take a look at the different roles on our Volunteer Page.
Fundraise for us
With your commitment, enthusiasm, and support, we can help to save more lives. Whether you are part of business, a group or you would personally like to raise funds for DocBike, there are so many different ways that you can help us. If you would like to fundraise in aid of DocBike in the Dorset area, please visit our campaign page on Just Giving.
Donate
No matter how big or small, we are extremely grateful for all donations received. Your support enables the charity to direct resources to stop bikers from having a collision in the first place and to kit out the response motorcycles with medical equipment, so that we can be there for fallen bikers when they are involved in a collision. You can make a one-off or regular donation to us below.
Get in touch
If you would like to support us or be a part of DocBike Dorset going forward, we would love to hear from you!
Simply get in touch using the contact form at the bottom of this webpage.
Get in Touch
If you would like to support us or be a part of DocBike Dorset going forward, we would love to hear from you!
Latest News in Dorset
Bank Holiday weekend for Dorset
Busy and very very hot day at Mudiki (Mudeford Quay) for the annual RNLI BlueLight day. We were amongst many and various BlueLight and other charities and organisations present, ranging from SWAST and Local St John Ambulance to rescue dogs and swimming teachers! So...
Weymouth bike night team at the community expo
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At Sammy Millers for the end of the BCP Distinguished Gentleman’s ride
Sun 17 May and DocBike were set up, ready and waiting with the other stands in and around Sammy Millers Motorcyvle Museum, the end of this years BCP Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR). DGR organised by Chris Hobson, also of DocBike Dorset of course. At the appointed...