The Northern Group of Motoring Writers is the oldest regional group of automotive journalists in the UK. First founded in 1973, the group is open to automotive content creators across the North of England. The membership now tops 30 individuals, including both print and digital journalists as well as a number of videographers.

Our members are domiciled in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, County Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland – one of the largest areas of any regional group.

I was honoured to be chairman of the group from 2019 to 2023 and at our recent Annual General Meeting I was asked to take the helm once again. I was pleased to accept, and I look forward to leading the group through the second half of this decade and possibly beyond if they will have me.

As unlikely as it may sound, the NGMW features a stuffed ferret as its 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 – nothing whatsoever. And its no good with tight trousers mind ye. Little bastards have to be able to move around inside there from ankle to ankle.’

The ferret itself gained further notoriety by biting Richard Whiteley on live television. 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.

So, the ferret returns to the Harris house and though he is most welcome, I am not sure he will take pride of place on the mantlepiece. I wonder if I put him on the front lawn, he would scare off all the rabbits currently chomping on my prize flowers.