Arden MG Club - Newsletters 2018

Newsletters from 2018

Newsletter December 2018

Reports:

Club Night: You all must like having the Xmas Meal not on the Club night as it was another packed night at the Golden Cross with 49 enjoying the last meeting of the year. This gave me a chance to announce the winner of the 'Caption Competition', more on this later, however the winner was Caroline Phipp, despite the fact it was her idea. It was all fair and above board, the judging was done by my daughter (yes the recently married one), who was visiting and Caroline, with all the entries unnamed. They were unanimous in their choice with the second best from Stephanie.

Xmas Meal: Matt and his team at the Golden Cross did us proud with an excellent meal which was enjoyed by everyone, the only complaint I heard was "there was too much to eat". With 58 of us dining we had spread into the bar area but they had their own table tucked away in the corner, so they were still part of our festivities. It was great to see that everyone got into the Xmas spirit and dressed up with their festive or 'formal' wear. I hope everyone enjoyed their 'Prize Draw' present and the MGB themed postcard tickets. There was of course the Xmas Quiz and this year it was anagrams based on 10 local villages and 10 Shakespeare plays, most people got on well with the lowest score being 12 and 2 teams had full marks, so well done. This, however meant we had a tie break to decide the winner, fortunately Caroline had thought up a question (pinched from a pub quiz last week) of how many books are there in the bible, this proved a little tricky but the number is also a well known Highway in the USA, Graham was fastest so won the box of After Eight Mints, which they kindly shared around the room. Mike Green entered into the spirit of Christmas by bringing song sheets for us all to have a 'rendition' of 'The12 Days of Christmas', he had also brought for every table a pack of 'Glow Sticks' (he must be Poundland's best customer) to brighten the festive costumes. Well done thanks Mike. A great evening, however I do need to apologise again to Diane for not changing her dessert order to cheese and biscuits, I will try and do better next year!!!!

Future Club Events:

Tuesday 1^st January - Chilly Willy Run: I have 47 people booked in for the run and there are no real frosts predicted in the long range weather forecast, so hopefully we should be OK to bring out our MGs. To confirm we are meeting at Singletons Nurseries 600 Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, B61 0HT inside the Potting Shed Cafe where coffee, tea and breakfast will be available to purchase. We will aim to leave there around 11.30/11.45 for the 28 mile scenic drive to the Golden Cross for our lunch. As the restaurant will be fully booked I will draw up a table plan and yes I will bring a list of all your menu choices.

Tuesday 8^th January - Club Night & AGM:

Please note this is a change from our normal Tuesday to miss New Years Day, so for this month ONLY we are meeting on the second Tuesday of the Month but it is an important evening as it is the Club's AGM. This is your chance to comment on the running of the Club or even offer your services to keep the Club functioning. If you would like to volunteer or would like to add something to the agenda please let me know and don't worry the meeting will not take long (usually about 15 mins).

Tuesday 5^th February - Club Night:

Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 5^th March - Club Night:

Guest speaker: 'My Life Flying Hercules'

Sunday 24^th March - March Madness Run:

Alan and the 'Team' will come up with another exciting run out, more details soon, put the date on your calendar.

Tuesday 2^nd April - Club Night:

Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Sunday 28^th April - Drive-it-Day Run:

Details soon.

Tuesday 7^th May - Club Night:

Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 4^th June - Club Night:

Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Friday 7^th to Monday 10^th June 2019 - Weekend Away to Devon Valley Holiday Village:

This is all booked and deposits paid, we are just waiting for the winter to be gone and the sun to shine.

Other Events:

Advanced planning for 2019 - The Peaks to Lakes Run, 7 & 8^th September 2019:

The Cat & Fiddle, Peak District to Wrynoes Pass, Lake District. Details from Norman Verona, email: norman@frenchblat.com.

Other Matters:

Eva Brick: You may remember the article in last months Newsletter about Eva Brick and I said we needed to see the original artwork by Stephanie and good as gold she has given me a copy to share with you all. It's amazing what one can do with what appears to be an insignificant item but it turns out to be of great relevance to someone.. Some of you may have noticed Eva made an appearance at the Xmas Meal and fully dressed for the Festive Spirit!!

Club 30^th Anniversary Coasters: I did mention this in an email but I have some of the Coasters from the Club birthday celebration and can offer the 'Generic' photo (outside the Golden Cross) as a pack of 6 for the giveaway price of £5 per set. Norman has also offered to produce additional copies of anyone's individual photo at a cost of £1 each, however he has put a deadline for orders of these as 31^st December. If you are interested in either, please let me know.

MGCC Midland Centre Newsletter: The Centre has resurrected its periodic email newsletter, the first of which was issued a couple of months back, and another will be coming out in December so please keep an eye on your emails for that. We saw a reasonably good take-up of the previous issue, with more than 60% of 1450 Centre members successfully receiving and opening the newsletter. Unfortunately, the reports we got back also indicated that many members either have incorrect email addresses registered at Kimber House, or have no email addresses at all, which is why we couldn't reach 100% of the members. So we would ask you to mention this to your MGCC members and ask them to amend or add their email addresses to their membership records at Kimber House, or risk missing out on useful information. Members can also update their email addresses themselves via the main MGCC website by using the following link -

https://www.mgcc.co.uk/membership/add-email-address/

1993 Heritage Run: I had the chance to trawl through the Archive at the Museum the other day and came across this article written by Lech in Enjoying MG Magazine, about the first Heritage Run. The MGOC were kind enough to scan the original magazine and email it over to me. Lech tells me he also sent reports in for the following years, so when the opportunity presents itself I will investigate those further. If anyone would like a copy of the article please let me know (I can email the scanned document).

Norman Large's Website Photos:

Norman is happy to share his photos taken on Club Events and the links to this year's events are as follows:

Show Night July18 http://normanlarge.com/Show18

St Audries Bay June18 http://normanlarge.com/StAudries2018

Chilly Willy Warmer June18 http://normanlarge.com/AMGCWW

Stratford Races May18 http://normanlarge.com/AMGCRaces2018

Heritage Run 25th Ann May18 http://normanlarge.com/25Heritage

Drive It Day Apr18 http://normanlarge.com/DriveIt

MGC Malvern Apr18 http://normanlarge.com/MalvernMG18

To download a viewable size: Click on the image and wait for it to enlarge. Once enlarged this can be copied, saved or dragged to your desktop (usually by right click but not always). These images are good for iPads, iPhones, desktop use and small prints. If anyone would like a high resolution (HiRes) for large print or commercial print then I am happy to oblige. Just drop him an email with the photo ref (norman.large@btinternet.com).

What Have You Done With Your MG This Month:

You may remember from last month that I had 'swapped' my MGB with my daughter's Toyota MR2, I did the necessary service and got it through the MoT test. Then I spent hours underneath it painting waxoyl onto anything that looked like it would benefit from it. We had a 'gardening day' booked at Jen's house (yes we do the gardening as well!!!), so an ideal time to swap the cars back and the MGB is now tucked up in the garage awaiting the forecast to see if she will be out for the Chilly Willy Run.

I know it is winter time but someone must go out in their MG, let me know what you did.

My MG:

A great story this month from Dusty:

My MG Story

I don't know how but somehow the Chairman convinced me that I had an MG story hidden inside somewhere.

[Everyone has one - Ed]

I suppose the interest started way back. I took the morning off art school to pass my driving test in a Standard 8 after 7 hours of lessons - I think they were 7/6 a lesson! At the time I had a couple of friends killed on motor bikes so my parents were keen that I didn't have one and my 17^th birthday present was the lessons. It may be also be due to the fact that they didn't drive and needed a chauffeur. At this time I had a Saturday job earning 5/- as the local butcher's boy, pushing a bike around South London piled high with meat and eggs so I couldn't afford to get a motor bike anyway.

Enter MGs. The butcher's nephew was restoring a 1932 F type and I was taken to inspect the half rebuilt car by one of our older scouts in his beautiful MG PA. Despite my best efforts I was unable to convince my parents that an open F type was a suitable family vehicle so we ended up with an E93A Ford Prefect which was OK till it rained and the vacuum wipers gave up on every hill.

After art school I started work in a London Advertising studio and about this time another older member of our scout group crashed his J2, took it apart, then I believe he took a greater interest in girls than cars, so gave me a chassis and numerous boxes of battered bits which I put together with the help of a mate who was an apprentice at Aston Martin. Unfortunately being under 21 nobody would economically insure me so the car sat in the shed and I continued to drive the family Ford followed by a side valve Morris Minor.

I duly managed to purchase another J2 on which I did a running restoration job, hand coach painting the bodywork, fitting new shiny ally mudguards, new interior and hood and re-chroming the windscreen and lights, using the other car for spares especially when the two bearing crankshaft decided to snap. After a couple of years getting fed up with replacing the clutch thrust bearing (a quite easy job,- lift out the seats together with the floor, the securing bolts had long since disappeared, take off the bonnet and rad, a few bricks under the gearbox and undo the bolts. Then stand on the dumb iron with a substantial rope around the shoulders and lift out the engine) I sold it to a chap at our local jazz club and after seeing Tony Lanfranchi at Brands Hatch, doing wonderful things with a Hillman Imp, bought one of those. The chassis and remains of OY6765 was buried in what remained of the air-raid shelter in the back garden. I have been informed that it is still possibly there. If anyone has a metal detector and is interested I can give them the address!

Then a series of family cars but I almost convinced myself to buy an MGBGT but as I had a wife, two children and a dog and at the time I lived across two fields, over a rickety canal bridge and down a very rough towpath, I bought a Citroen GS with pump up suspension instead. Other cars owned at various times are a 1948 Daimler which used to carry our "Gang" to jazz clubs around London (petrol fund box taped to the dash), a couple of Capris ( my unknown claim to fame is, I did some initial drawings for that car when working on the Ford advertising account) and a Probe.

Then in 2003 I was thinking of buying a Honda S2000 when a friend who worked at Longbridge told me of special offers for staff and their friends so for the price of the Honda we came back to the MG fold with the MGTF160 and a ZR which we still own. A friend and myself did get a MG Metro fitted with a ford XR3 engine where the rear seats once were with the intention of hill climbing but them realising it would be classed as modified we would be up against some exotic and powerful machinery so that went. The TF was putting on some so a used ZS was purchased as a daily driver and followed by an MG6 BTCC limited edition and the current GS.

There are no more stories waiting to be printed, so why don't you put pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard and let us all marvel at your MG story, it doesn't matter how long or short the story is but it is better with a few photos!!

Caption Competition:

The winning caption from Caroline:

Nigel. "Here puss puss" Steph. "Nigel you've forgotten your glasses again."

The runner up was Stephanie:

This Duck keeps looking at me, That's because he is a Peking Duck. - He is not a Peking Duck he is a Pecking Duck!

Here are the rest of the entries:

- "Hook-a-Duck"

- 'Hey Steph, help me with this one, we'll get it to Mr Chan's for a discount off our next Chinky'

'Come on you lot , give me a hand, I need to get all my ducks in a row '

- "Hello Duck, what are you doing tonight"

- "Now I'm down here, could somebody help me up?"

- "Hook a duck and win a prize"

- "My hat is modelled on your bill"

- "Nigel picks up the bill"

- "Bourton on the Water? Where the duck's hat!"

- "Was Nigel after another feather in his cap ?"

- "One wonders, had Nigel finally gone quackers? "

- "Nigel, "love a duck" shouldn't be taken literally!"

- "Nigel getting instruction on how to follow Chuck Berry's duck-walk routine."

- "Now turnaround and face the jump you silly Mare", Oh Dear......Should've gone to Specsavers.

- Steph, not sure how I will train this to jump the hurdles!

- Nigel tells Duck-Duck-Duck a 'true' story of his early childhood.

There was also the longest caption in history from Norman:

Once upon a time there was a family of ducks: Daddy - called Duck, Mummy - called Duck-Duck and baby called Duck-Duck-Duck.

One day Duck-Duck came down from Duck-Duck-Duck's bedroom and said "Duck-Duck-Duck isn't feeling too well today". So Duck said to Duck-Duck "what can we do to make Duck-Duck-Duck better". "I don't really know" said Duck-Duck. "Perhaps we could give Duck-Duck-Duck some Calpol" said Duck. "Perhaps not" said Duck-Duck. "I will go and have a look at Duck-Duck-Duck and see if he is any better" said Duck. Duck was followed up the stairs by Duck-Duck and they both went into Duck-Duck-Duck's room. He was so poorly! So Duck-Duck said to Duck "I think Duck we had better call a doctor for Duck-Duck-Duck don't you Duck?" Duck-Duck said "I guess so Duck because Duck-Duck-Duck is getting worse by the minute". So, Duck phoned the doctors' surgery and all three Duck, Duck-Duck and Duck-Duck-Duck waited patiently for the doctor. An hour went by and the doorbell rang. Duck, very relieved, said to Duck-Duck "Duck-Duck-Duck will be okay now". So Duck-Duck ran down the stairs and opened the door and there stood - a QUACK!

Thanks to everyone for joining in with your entries.

To close this month we have a seasonal poem from Nigel:

SANTA'S LITTLE HELPERS

(A CHRISTMAS POEM BY NIGEL HOOK)

WE ARE SANTA'S LITTLE HELPERS

AND ARE BUSY MAKING TOYS

WE HOPE WE ARE APPRECIATED

BY ALL YOU GIRLS AND BOYS.

WE TOIL AWAY FROM DUSK TILL DAWN

NO TIME TO GO TO BED

YOU SEE ANOTHER STIFLED YAWN

FROM ANOTHER SLEEPY HEAD.

EACH EVENING SANTA CHECKS OUR WORK

THERE IS A THING WE'D LIKE TO SAY

SANTA WHY DONT YOU JUST SOD OFF

AND CHECK YOUR RUDDY SLEIGH.

HALF THE YEAR WE'RE ON SHORT TIME

AND NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR

IT'S ONLY COMING CHRISTMAS

SANTA HAS AN ACTIVE EAR.

BUT SANTA COME NEXT CHRISTMAS

YOUR REALLY AT A LOSS

CAUSE WE'VE ALL JOINED THE UNION

AND COULD NOT GIVE A TOSS.

ALL THOSE LITTLE PEOPLE

YOU LIKE TO CALL YOUR ELVES

HAVE ALL APPLIED TO TESCO'S

NEXT YEAR FOR STACKING SHELVES.

Can I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year.

Paul

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsletter October 2018

Reports:

30^th Anniversary of the Arden MG Club:

The Arden MG Club had it's first meeting around October 1988, so this month we have celebrated the 30th Anniversary. There was a cake, a free prize draw, a film of Club events and everyone received a memento of a coaster with their car featured. Over 60 people turned up for the celebration including 3 people who were there at the very first one. It was great to see John, Eddie & Steve. Some time ago I asked John if he could give me an accurate idea of when the first Club meeting was and this is what he sent me:

"I can only tell you my version of events leading to the first meeting, bit long but hope you can take out what you need! Julie & I were having a meal at the Cross, we had parked our MG next to a very smart GT . Over dinner & ear wigging, the couple at the next table owned it, it was newly restored and the couple were Steve & Carol. We had a very pleasant chat, I went for drinks & Roger was wearing an MG T shirt so I said "we ought to start a meet up here", Roger agreed I called back to ask if we could arrange & Sept / October was agreed and Roger would mention in the right places, 6 turned up! Richard, Eddie, Steve! Gordon, myself. Roger welcomed us and let us use the snug. I put forward all the things we needed, all was agreed & I ran for 3/4 years, it all seemed simpler then, £1 in the jar, no committee, or licences. Julie & I say it's 1987/88? October 1988 would be my guess. The Arden was my suggestion so much hinged on the name it just seem to fit."

This was confirmed by David Witham (who attended the second meeting) and Fred Bury who joined in the very early days. What I found out at this meeting from Steve Farr was that the reason John & Julie were having a meal was to celebrate John' 40^th birthday and he has just had another 'special' birthday, which confirms that the first meeting was 1988.

A lot of work went into the preparation of the evening, the coasters were produced by Norman who spent many hours on photoshop to ensure all the photos were suitable for use and he printed and assembled them, a very big thank you to Norman. You may have noticed the film running in the background, this was put together by Graham, under a bit of stress I might add. Due to theatre comittments it became a last minute job, so I think some 'midnight oil' was burnt, many thanks Graham. The film was based on the early Heritage Run film and photos as well as lots of photos from the more recent events. If anyone would like a copy of the film just bring me a memory stick with at least 5 GigaBytes of space and I will down load and return to you. You can also have the shortened version of John Horn's video of the first Heritage Runs.

Heritage Run Revisited:

It was a damp start at the Golden Cross for the Heritage Run Re-visited and therefore half the cars were not MGs but as you can see in the photos the skies cleared for a sunny afternoon. The rain had actually stopped by the time we were leaving the Cross and as we drove over the Cotswolds you could see the line of cloud passing by to leave blue sky. It meant it was easy to choose the 8 cars to park in front of the Museum as there were only 8 MGs, however it was a tight squeeze to get them in but Fred did a grand job marshalling everyone into place. The rest of us, with me in my MGB, carried onto the Cotswold Cricket Club and once we got the gate open had lots of space to spread out. That's my car in front of the Club House. We all had a good look around the Museum, with everyone saying how interesting it was, not so much the cars but all the memorabilia attached to the walls, in the cars and cabinets. It turned out to be an enjoyable day. This was the run from 2001, which one should we do next year?

For those who didn't have time to stop in Adlestrop here is the poem that was written about the station:

Adlestrop

Yes. I remember Adlestrop

The name, because one afternoon

Of heat, the express-train drew up there

Unwontedly. It was late June.

The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat.

No one left and no one came

On the bare platform. What I saw

Was Adlestrop-only the name

And willows, willow-herb, and grass,

And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,

No whit less still and lonely fair

Than the high cloudlets in the sky.

And for that minute a blackbird sang

Close by, and round him, mistier,

Farther and farther, all the birds

Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

(Nigel) Hook Norton Brewery Visit:

As I was not at this vsit I need to rely on others for a report and Andy Bourne is the only one to send some words as follows: We had a very good Brewery Tour at Hook Norton and the food in the re vamped Restaurant is excellent (as of course the beer tasting was!). The shop was too tempting too, had to fill the boot with beers!! Another good day from Nigel then. Those in their MGs at least made a display!

Future Club Events:

Tuesday 6^th November - Club Night:

Guest speaker with a talk titled "Vintage Bentleys in the Roaring Twenties"

Tuesday 4^th December - Club Night:

Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 11^th December - Xmas Meal:

The Menu and Booking form is now available and was emailed earlier in the month but can be downloaded from the Club Website. Bookings are coming in quickly, however there is still plenty of space in the pub but don't wait too long to book. I will not present the cheques until the end of November/early December. It will be the usual tried and tested formula of a short quiz and a free prize draw with a prize for every couple, Matt's food has always been good.

Tuesday 1^st January - Chilly Willy Run:

Finish at the Golden Cross for lunch.

Tuesday 8^th January - Club Night & AGM:

A change from the 1^st Tuesday to miss New Years Day.

Friday 7^th to Monday 10^th June 2019 - Weekend Away to Devon Valley Holiday Village:

This is where Nigel has booked us in for next year and as I understand it 48 people have reserved places, however if you have not already paid the £20 per person deposit to Nigel he needs it before the END of October.

If you have not reserved a place and would like to join in for the trip please contact Nigel or let me know, I'm sure he will be able to find a space for you but the longer you leave it the less chance there will be.

To explain further we are going to the Devon Valley Holiday Village in Shaldon, South Devon and the format will be the same as the last 2 years with 3 nights. There will be a run out on the Saturday, which will be to Slapton Sands, with Sunday free to explore yourselves, just be back in time for dinner. The cost is £190 per person to include dinner, bed & breakfast and the 'Show' on the Saturday evening. The previous years have been very entertaining with everyone having a great time.

Other Events:

Advanced planning for 2019 - The Peaks to Lakes Run, 7 & 8^th September 2019:

The Cat & Fiddle, Peak District to Wrynoes Pass, Lake District. Details from Norman Verona, email: norman@frenchblat.com.

Other Matters:

Norman Large's Website Photos:

Norman is happy to share his photos taken on Club Events and the links to this year's events are as follows:

Show Night July18 http://normanlarge.com/Show18

St Audries Bay June18 http://normanlarge.com/StAudries2018

Chilly Willy Warmer June18 http://normanlarge.com/AMGCWW

Stratford Races May18 http://normanlarge.com/AMGCRaces2018

Heritage Run 25th Ann May18 http://normanlarge.com/25Heritage

Drive It Day Apr18 http://normanlarge.com/DriveIt

MGC Malvern Apr18 http://normanlarge.com/MalvernMG18

Enjoying MG Binders: Helen has 10 of these (donated by members), if you are interested in having any, please let me know and Helen will bring to the Club Night.

What Have You Done With Your MG This Month:

Some of you have been busy this month but Graham Robson had some amusing experiences:

"Well, the main thing I did with mine this month was leave it in the garage because the great summer meant I was treacherously close [30 miles] to exceeding my annual insurance limit".

He followed this up with:

"I also had a grand picture under the heading of "What I did with my MG" . . . . I ran out of petrol, [oops, embarrassing] . . . about twenty feet from the pumps at Tescos. Just a case of finding it . . . ."

There is a bit of a theme running through the Club of running out of petrol in your MG, who else is going to own up!!! I'm still waiting for the photo though Graham.

Next was from Peter Maxwell who was on holiday in Puerto Pollenca in Majorca and saw this lovely MGA one evening. Lovely car.

Andy Bourne has been busy in his many sheds and sent the following message:

"Just thought you may like to see how spoilt my (now clean) MG is,- apart from her main garage ,her bits and bobs occupy two additional sheds! I'm sure that's not why I cant attract a girlfriend!!"

Answers on a postcard to.....

Phil Bawn sent me this write-up some time ago and I must admit I forgot to include in the Newsletter, thanks for the reminder Phil, so please read on, especially if you own an MGF or TF and even more so if the Hood needs replacing:

"Hampton Ferry Evesham June 23^rd 2018 was the 10^th anniversary of this lovely classic show, it certainly has grown in size over the years and if you think your car or bike is a classic then you drive straight in or if not pay £2.00 to park all day in the adjacent car park. Some most interesting vehicles were there this year including the 'fastest shed on wheels' which you may have seen on TV and a wonderful oily rag condition Brough Superior motor cycle as used by Lawrence of Arabia, you won't see any of those in your Tesco car park. As well as a big variety of other vehicles.

Now it was fortuitous for me since some members of the Cotswold Classic Club were there and I met a couple with what I think was a Mulberry red MG F 75 LE with lovely special badges both inside and out, unfortunately I didn't take a photo, so I rely on my very old memory, in fact I didn't take any photo's at all at that stage since I didn't think about doing this write up then. Now the nub of the matter was that this couple were having a new hood fitted to their car and I expressed interest since I needed one as well but I had been told by my dealer I could only have black and I wanted green as was my present hood to set off the British racing green car colour. I got the details of the company in Glossop and rang them to find that yes they did have a green hood and could fit it in about half an hour because it was a complete new hood and frame, so it was a straight change over without waiting a few days for the fabric to stretch.

The price seemed very reasonable with just a bit extra for wiring up the heated glass rear window (another bonus) and it looks so much better than my scratched perspex one and yes it was well worth driving up to Glossop to have this fitted by the experts who gave me instructions about loosening off the front catches after a few days to stretch the hood forward a bit, also written instructions on lubricating the pivots say twice a year and how to adjust the door window glass if necessary due to the rubbers being new.

This hood was one of a load of MG parts which got sent over to China when MG Rover failed and then were brought back again unused. It was suggested I spray it with water when I got home to help remove the dust and to help it stretch a bit, which I did leave until next morning only to find it covered in white spots and the boot lid, {Paul please blank out my expletives, done} although I did manage to wash off most of it and I'm well pleased with it."

Thanks Phil, although we hope you won't need to use the hood much, it's much better going 'Topless'!!

That's great, thanks Phil.

My MG:

Steve Farr - My MG Story (Part 2):

Last month we left Steve having to buy Vauxhall cars due to the discounts his father (a Vauxhall dealer MD) could get, so let's continue from there {I have repeated the last paragraph):

The Mini served well for a few years but with a mortgage to fund I was finding that I had to be frugal with my car fund. To this end and with my Dad being the MD of a Vauxhall Main dealer I decided to buy Vauxhall cars because of the huge discount I could get through my Dad.

Mortgage now settling down and earning a few more pennies I managed to persuade Carol that we needed another MG. In 1976 I bought MUY 1D a 1966 Mk II in need of TLC. I used and enjoyed this car for a few years till deciding it was time for an MGB

In 1982 I bought GAB 35S a 1978 MGB GT in black and silver, I paid £900 for it and used it daily for 8 years before deciding to restore it at a cost of £2900. I sold it after 9 years of ownership for £4500 (not a bad investment being used daily for almost 9 years).

It was about this time that Carol and I went to the Golden Cross for a birthday meal and met John Saunders who was dining at the next table. We got chatting and found that we both lived in Alcester and both had an interest in MG's. The landlord Roger Vardy Smith overheard our conversation and shortly after that the Arden MG Club was formed.

A short break from MG's as we decided to spend more time using our caravan. I was hankering for an old car again and decided to go pre war. CVE 414 was bought, a 1938 Morris Eight series 2 which was a fantastic little car and we used it regularly when we were not away in the caravan. My dad also loved the Morris and used to come with us for outings in it after my Mum passed away. My Dad then passed away and while I was going through some old Photos I found the picture of the P type again and thought it was time I had another MG!

I was finding the Morris to be a bit slow in modern traffic and thought that a P type would not be that much better so I started looking for a T Type. In March 1997 I bought GJY 181, a 1952 MG TD first registered in Feb 1952. I still own this car after 21 years!

I now had the trusty Vauxhall for towing the caravan, the Morris and the TD. I wasn't using the Morris now so decided to sell it and after 8 years of ownership I sold it and I was able to source an MGB GT with the proceeds of the Morris.

We are now in the Millennium year and after moving house disaster struck, I had to have major heart surgery at 50 years old. I came out of surgery in Feb 2001 and thought I need to get rid of a car or two as I didn't feel much like working on cars at that time. but fortunately I only sold the MGB GT. I had six months off work and gradually with the help of family and one dear friend, Graham Heally, who I had met while a member of the Morris Register, who literally walked me back to health, by taking me on 1 then 2 then 3 mile walks every day for 5 months. I returned to full time work in August 2001

I was feeling fit and healthy again so back to some serious MG owning. I bought and enjoyed the following over the next 17 years:

1973 MGB GT YWY407L

1961 MGA Fixed Head Coupe NAS 911

1966 Austin Healey Sprite (couldn't find a Midget)

1963 MGB Pull Handle KGW 482A (Now residing in Japan)

1972 MGB Roadster (Great every day car)

1966 998 cc Mini Cooper 924 BRX (trying to find my teenage years again but sadly didn't work)

1964 Singer Gazelle EEV 480B (Great car)

1999 BMW Z3 roadster (Fantastic run around)

1972 Triumph Stag (Nuff said)

So after 51 years of motoring I now own the TD, the Z3, the Stag and our VW Tiguan which we use for our other passion, caravanning and through the various clubs that I have been a member of over the years we have met a great bunch of people within the MG fraternity.

Hopefully I still have a good few years motoring left in me so who knows what lies ahead, maybe an MGB GT V8 but that still needs petticoat approval.

Fantastic story Steve, thanks for sharing it with us and confirming the 30^th Anniversary of the Arden MG Club, I hope you have enjoyed all those years with the Club.

This is the last MG story that I have got but someone must be able to write a few words about their MG history, why did you buy your first MG, what MGs have you owned, how many MGs do you have now, what other interesting cars have you owned and why. Please jot me a few words down and add some photos and send to me to share. Don't leave it to someone else.

Caption Competition:

Caroline Phipp sent me this photo of Nigel, from the Heritage Run Revisited and suggested we have a competition for the best caption. As ever the prize will be a bottle of Old Speckled Hen for the best caption received by email before 5^th November. My Caroline will be the judge, I look forward to receiving all your entries (no limit per person).

Safe MGing

Paul

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsletter September 2018

I'm going to break with tradition this month and start with a recent event, although not strictly an Arden MG Club event but one several of you were kind enough to take part. This of course is my daughter's Wedding Day and I would like to say a very big thank you on behalf of Jennifer to Lech, Chris, David Rayner, John Hale, Richard Avery, Phil Bawn, Mick Walker, Graham Smith, Graham Robson and the star of the convoy Alan Cleobury for turning up and helping to make the day run perfectly and it will be memorable.

The convoy worked well and how lucky were we to have no cars parked in the way at the Maypole in Welford for the photo shoot (Jen was the May Queen back in 1991). The day all went well and we even had typical Arden MG Club weather with the sun shining.

Reports:

Brailes Show:

The weather forecast the day was accurate for our visit to Brailes Show. We all arrived in sunshine which soon gave way to light cloud and was getting ready for the rain to come later in the evening but I think we were all home before the rain arrived. The show was as busy as ever with lots of stalls, the marquee with the village competitions and the Gymkhana in the adjacent field. We also had a very good turnout, I was getting concerned with the bookings a few days before but we had 15 MGs in a long curve (which looked very good), some of whom were new folks and may come and join us for future Club Nights. Some of us even drove into the parade ring for a show to the gathered crowds. Another good day, thanks to Fred for arranging the pitch.

Birthdays Run to Nuffield Place:

We Celebrated the birthdays of 3 MGs, Helen's TC is 70 this year, Fred's Magnette is 60 and my B is 50 years old this year. To help celebrate this event we had a run out starting at the Artyard Café in Enstone and ending at Nuffield Place, the home of Lord Nuffield, who was previously known as William Morris and was the founder of The Morris Garages. At Nuffield Place we were allowed to line our cars up outside the House entrance, just in time for the sun to appear and ready for us to cut the cake. I much appreciate that no one was rude enough to point out my error on the cake but that didn't stop everyone enjoying it (I didn't bring any home!!). Another good day and the house is also very interesting to look round.

Pershore Plum Festival:

I think everyone enjoyed the day out at Pershore but we were a little disapointed with the organisation in the 'MG Field', as no allocated spaces were marked out and when the advance party arrived the other Clubs were already set-up, leaving us to squash up into the corner. I think the concensus is that we should give the show a miss in the future and look for an alternative over that weekend, any suggestions? Despite the crush we all managed to have a good time, with lots going on in the town and I could see bags and bags of plums going into cars.

Future Club Events:

Sunday 23^rd September - Heritage Run Revisited:

As the 'Heritage Run' is no more, I thought it would be good to re-visit some of the original runs. We are going to start this with the 9^th Run from 2001, which visited the Bourton-on-the- Water Motor Museum (now re-named Cotswold Motoring Museum). I will change the start to the Golden Cross where the usual Bacon Rolls, tea & coffee will be available. At the Museum we will be allowed to park 8 cars in front of the Museum, with the remainder at the Cricket Club. The route is around 50/60 miles so again I would like to start earlier for the Cross, so lets meet at 10am and aim to leave around 10.30. Please let me know if you would like to join in the fun and can I please have the £6.50 per person payment in advance.

Saturday 29^th September - Hook Norton Brewery Visit:

The Tour will be starting on Saturday morning at 10.30. For the breakfast (full English with tea or coffee at £10 or Bacon Bap/Sausage/egg... at £4.99) you should aim to arrive around 9am, it will be another good day.

Tuesday 2^nd October - Club Night:

The Arden MG Club 30^th Anniversary Celebration. This is a celebration of 30 years of the Arden MG Club and I hope some of the early members will be joining and we can live through some of the highlights of the last 30 years. Graham is putting together a film to show through the evening and we will also be able to view the 'edited' version of the early Heritage Run video that John Horn took. There will be a cake, a free prize draw and everyone gets a 30^th Anniversary memento, not to be missed.

Tuesday 6^th November - Club Night:

Guest speaker with a talk titled "Vintage Bentleys in the Roaring Twenties"

Tuesday 4^th December - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 11^th December - Xmas Meal:

At the Golden Cross. Put the date in your diary. The menu and booking form will be available soon.

Friday 7^th to Monday 10^th June 2019 - Weekend Away:

For next year's weekend away Nigel has booked us into the Devon Valley Holiday Village which is in Shaldon, South Devon. The format will be the same as the last 2 years with 3 nights and a run out on the Saturday, which will be to Slapton Sands. The cost is £190 per person to include dinner, bed & breakfast and the 'Show' on the Saturday evening. The deposit of £20 pp is now required and Nigel needs to have these funds before the END of October, so bring your cheques to the Club Night to be sure to be in time!!

Other Events:

Classic Car Pub Meet -The Bell, Alderminster: I've been sent details of this new classic car pub meet to be held every second Thursday from May through to September, 6-8pm. Admission is free and there will be an outside bar and BBQ in the garden. They would love to see some MGs there, so if you are free on any of the dates please drive over to the Bell, I might see you there.

Sunday 16^th September - Fun Run for Cancer Research UK:

The run will start from the Dog Inn at Harvington at 10.00, the run is some 80 miles, with a coffee stop and will return to the Dog Inn for a Sunday lunch.

Lunch will be booked for 14.00 hrs and the pub will be open for us until 18.00 hours. Price of the lunch is

£ 12.50 per/person for a main & sweet, the additional price of the run is be £ 5.00 per/person giving a total of £ 17.50 for run and lunch p/p.

The Run can be done in an MG or in your 'everyday' car, it is not a classic car run but a 'Fun Run' and all profits from the run will go to Cancer Research. Lunch needs to be booked and the menu is as follows:

MAINS: Top side of Beef , Leg of Lamb, Half Chicken, Veg meal, Courgette & Butter nut Squash Frittata.

SWEETS: Chocolate fudge cake, Orange & passion fruit tartlett, Summer fruit cheesecake, Rhubarb & custard tart, Sticky toffee pudding, Jam roly poly, Apple & pear crumble, Praline chocolate tart, Simply delicious ice cream (3 scoops), Chocolate fudge cake sundae, Eton mess sundae.

Please contact Bob Hall by email a s a p at robertahall2d@outlook.com

He hopes to get around 100 cars on the run and the dog inn can take 120 for the meal so first come first served.

Sunday 16^th September - Dorridge Day: I have received the following updated invitation:

We have now finalised proceedings for the Round Table Dorridge Day Classic Car Show.

The plan is to meet at the Blackboy Pub in Knowle on 16th September 2018, between 11- 11:30 AM for registration, and then set off for a drive through Knowle & Dorridge to join the main procession into Dorridge Park, circa 11:45.

The procession will be led by our very Gordon Harvey in his beautiful1966 MG.

Alternativley, you can drive straight to the display area in Dorridge Park before 11:30 AM.

As a token of our appreciation, on registration you will receive a voucher for light refreshments (a hot drink and a piece of cake) at the Ladies Circle stall, for yourself and a passenger.

In order to facilitate planning, please let me know if you intend to attend on the day. I would require the following information for Registration: Name, Make, Model & Year of Car and Email Address. Alternatively registration can be done on the day. Contact: Amit Sinha at arsinha72@gmail.com.

Please note that owners participate and display their vehicles at Dorridge Day at their own risk.

Saturday and Sunday 29^th& 30^th September - Cotswold Airport Revival Festival: They say lots of things will be going on over the week-end at the airport, check out their website if you are interested.

Advanced planning for 2019 - The Peaks to Lakes Run, 7 & 8^th September 2019:

The Cat & Fiddle, Peak District to Wrynoes Pass, Lake District. Details from Norman Verona, email: norman@frenchblat.com.

Other Matters:

Norman Large's Website Photos:

Norman is happy to share his photos taken on Club Events and the links to this year's events are as follows:

Show Night July18 http://normanlarge.com/Show18

St Audries Bay June18 http://normanlarge.com/StAudries2018

Chilly Willy Warmer June18 http://normanlarge.com/AMGCWW

Stratford Races May18 http://normanlarge.com/AMGCRaces2018

Heritage Run 25th Ann May18 http://normanlarge.com/25Heritage

Drive It Day Apr18 http://normanlarge.com/DriveIt

MGC Malvern Apr18 http://normanlarge.com/MalvernMG18

Enjoying MG Binders: Helen has 10 of these (donated by members), if you are interested in having any, please let me know and Helen will bring to the Club Night.

What Have You Done With Your MG This Month:

As you all know my MGB celebrated it's 50^th birthday this year and the date of registration was during August, so I had to go out for a drive on that day but before I did I had a photo taken with the 'Birthday Portraits' painted by Stephanie, thanks again Stephanie.

Andy Bourne visited the Toddington Classic Car Show at the GWR Station and sent these pics, the first showing that 'our' Memorial Retreat is getting good use and it look like John D'Oyly has found a new friend!

My daughter's wedding was not the only wedding day my MGB took part in. Earlier in the year I was contacted by an MG owner in South Wales who wanted a Red MG (ideally an 'A') to attend his daughter's wedding in Stow-on-the-Wold as his car was not on the road but like mine his daughter had grown up with his MG and wanted a photo at her wedding. I put them in touch with a potential car owner with the comment "as a back-up I could bring my MGB. A medical issue meant the MGA could not attend, so I duly drove down to Stow to not disappoint a Bride on her 'Special Day'. The second photo is of the bride & groom and replicates the photo used on the wedding invitations.

My MG:

Steve Farr - My MG Story (Part 1):

Well where to begin :- My Dad I guess,he started work in 1933 at T&M Dixons in Redditch who at the time were Austin dealers and in 1936 was poached by Graham Hill at Studley Garage and Engineering works ( Now Aldi in Studley)

At the outbreak of war in 1939. he joined the RAF as a mechanic.

After Demob he returned to Studley Garage and very quickly bought his first (and only) MG a 1930's PA Midget in which he and his friend toured all over Europe and even competed in the Blue Hills Trial in Cornwall.

While growing up I was spending a lot of time with my Dad at the Garage and was soon driving anything I could reach the pedals on and before school every morning I used to get the Bedford OB coaches out of the sheds and line them up for the drivers so they could just jump in them and go off on the school runs for Studley High School.

During my school years my friends and I had the use of a large field in Sambourne and because of the introduction of the 10 year test in 1963 I had access to some very cheap cars that had failed the MOT and were beyond economical repair.

We scrounged some and bought others and took them to the field in Sambourne.

We spent all our pocket money on petrol and often used paraffin to race these cars around the field. Paraffin was much cheaper than petrol and we found if we warmed the cars up on petrol then switched to paraffin they ran fine, just produced more vapour.

So my first cars were:-

1936 Morris Eight

1937 Austin Ruby

1945 Morris Eight Series E

1956 Morris Minor and a Jowett Javelin. Great Fun for three 13 year old boys.

In 1966 aged 16 my Dad bought me an almost new but written off 1965 850 Mini from the insurance company for £65

A new body shell was sourced and the car rebuilt over many months using the facilities of the body shop at the Garage, HXC858C cost just over £200 to rebuild and was made ready for me to take my driving test in just 8 days after my 17^th birthday.

During these first few months of driving I came across the picture of My Dads P type and my MG Journey began

ATK 951B a 1964 Midget Mk II was bought and was a fantastic little car

I then joined the Redditch and District Car Club and got very interested in Rallying for a while.

Didn't fancy rallying the midget so I bought a 1966 998 Mini Cooper in which we had a lot of success over quite a few years at club level before getting it stuck in a snow drift and ramming it through a hedge during a special stage one weekend.

Got the car back home and decided I should sell it and buy another Midget.

LHA 988F came next 1275cc in Basillica Blue

YAC 856H was next Bronze Yellow with rostyles and black screen surround (still on DVLA website but now red) This car developed a fault with the gearbox at a few weeks old and after many hours of arguing with the factory my Dad eventually got the car replaced at no cost and

EUY 556J was next a 1275cc in Teal Blue

In December 1971 I got married and bought our first house but unfortunately the midget had to go and was straight swapped for a new Mini Clubman.

The Mini served well for a few years but with a mortgage to fund I was finding that I had to be frugal with my car fund.

To this end and with my Dad being the MD of a Vauxhall Main dealer I decided to buy Vauxhall cars because of the huge discount I could get through my Dad.

This is great Steve, thanks for sharing your MG story, part 2 next month. I need more of these stories, so if you could spare a few moments to put some words on paper or tap on the keyboard, then please let me have them along with a few photos.

Safe MGing

Paul

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsletter August 2018

Reports:

A busy Club Night and the fine weather brought out the MGs with nearly 20 in the car park, well done, although it was getting a bit warm in the Cross restaurant, so I was coming under some pressure to get on with the notices!!

Badsey Flower Show: This started off very well, although the number of stalls was lower than previous years but the dark clouds in the distance looked ominous. I put my hood up and was soon followed by others, who were pleased they took the action because it was not too long before the heavens opened and we used the 'Storm Shelter' for it's intended purpose, mind you with the drips coming through I'm not sure you would want to ride out a long storm! It didn't stop us squashing together to sample the scones and cream that Alan & Julia had brought along and I think most people managed two of them, very nice. Steve even turned up half way through the afternoon, despite being one of the show organisers, he said something about a wedding, in the rain I think they would have prefered to have stayed there!!

Chairman's Picnic: This was the day after the Badsey Show and rain continued from then. It was time to look for a 'Plan B' and the nice folk at Buzzards Valley said we could set up our picnic in the winery itself. Leon said it might be a bit of a squash and he wasn't wrong but everyone entered into the spirit of the day and in good British fashion we made the best of it. Leon was great explaining the operation of the winery and handing round the samples to try. When the rain abated a bit we walked up to the vineyard, by which time it was raining again and Leon explained the start of the vineyard and some of the trials and tribulations of growing vines, such as the day the farmer next door weed sprayed his fields only for the overspray to engulf the newly planted vines, most of which didn't survive. The insurance company dragged their feet as always and the only solution was to apply for a 'new kitchen' loan to finance the planting of new vines!!! I think everyone enjoyed the day out despite the rain and we had a run from the Golden Cross, which had it's own adventures when we found one of the roads had been closed in the week since we had recceed the route. It would have helped if Lech had phoned me 30 seconds earlier with the best diversion, so I knew before I got to the road closure, however many thanks for his continued assistance in setting these routes we use on all our runs and his quick thinking of the diversion.

Future Club Events:

Tuesday 4^th September - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Sunday 23^rd September - Heritage Run Revisited: As the 'Heritage Run' is no more, I thought it would be good to re-visit some of the original runs. We are going to start this with the 9^th Run from 2001, which visited the Bourton on the Water Motor Museum (now re-named Cotswold Motoring Museum). I will change the start to the Golden Cross where the usual Bacon Rolls, tea & coffee will be available. At the Museum we will be allowed to park 8 cars in front of the Museum The route is around 50/60 miles so again I would like to start earlier for the Cross, so lets meet at 10am and aim to leave around 10.30. Please let me know if you would like to join in the fun and can I please have the payment in advance, the September Club Night will work OK.

Saturday 29^th September - Hook Norton Brewery Visit, - Saturday morning at 10.30. £12 per person to include beer tasting and souvenir glass. They are now offering breakfast (full English with tea or coffee at £10 or Bacon Bap/Sausage/egg... at £4.99), however they do need to be booked, so get there early. If you have booked for the Tour and have not paid please contact Nigel as soon as you can (01789 841 656).

Tuesday 2^nd October - Club Night: Arden MG Club 30^th Anniversary Celebration. This is a celebration of 30 years of the Arden MG Club and I hope some of the early members will be joining and we can live through some of the highlights of the last 30 years.

Tuesday 6^th November - Club Night: Guest speaker with a talk titled "Vintage Bentleys in the Roaring Twenties"

Tuesday 4^th December - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 11^th December - Xmas Meal: At the Golden Cross. Put the date in your diary.

Friday 7^th to Monday 10^th June 2019 - Weekend Away: Nigel is busy with the planning for this event and has booked us into Devon Valley Holiday Village which is in Shaldon, South Devon. The format will be the same as the last 2 years with 3 nights and a run out on the Saturday, which will be to Slapton Sands. The cost will be £190 per person to include dinner, bed & breakfast and the 'Show' on the Saturday evening. A deposit of £20 pp is required on or before the November Club Night but in the mean time Nigel is collecting 'expressions of interest', so if you would like to take part and have not let Nigel know (01789 841 656), then now is the time so he can reserve the correct number of Chalets.

Other Events:

Monday 27^th August - Stafford Classic Car Show: Riverway, Stafford, ST16 3WB from 10an to 4pm. Contact: cshw@aol.com 07771 615 140.

Sunday 16^th September - Fun Run for Cancer Research UK:

The run will start from the dog inn at Harvington at 10.00 ,the run is some 80 miles, with coffee stop and will return to the Dog Inn for a Sunday lunch.

Lunch will be booked for 14.00 hrs and the pub will be for us till 18.00 hrs ,Price of the lunch is £ 12.50 per/person for main& sweet, the price of the run will be £ 5.00 per/person = £ 17.50 for run and lunch p/p.

We hope to have around 100 for the lunch , The Run can be done in MGs or any day to day car ,it is not a classic car run but a fun run and all profits from the run will go to Cancer Research.

Lunch will need to be booked so here is the menu .

MAINS

Top side of Beef ,

Leg of Lamb,

Half Chicken,

Veg meal ,Courgette & Butter nut Squash Frittata,

SWEETS

a/ chocolate fudge cake,

b/ orange & passion fruit tartlet,

c/ summer fruit cheesecake,

d/ rhubarb & custard tart,

e/ sticky toffee pudding,

f/ jam roly poly,

g/ apple & pear crumble,

h/ praline chocolate tart,

j/ simply delicious ice cream /3 scoops,

k/ chocolate fudge cake sundae,

l/ eton mess sundae ,

Please contact Bob Hall by email a s a p at robertahall2d@outlook.com

I hope to get around 100 cars on the run and the dog inn can take 120 for the meal so first come first served.

So far I have my members from Bromsgrove MGOC, the MG Car Club, and also some from the Black Country Club. Bob Hall, Bromsgrove MGOC.

Sunday 16^th September - Dorridge Day: I have received the following updated invitation:

We have now finalised proceedings for the Round Table Dorridge Day Classic Car Show.

The plan is to meet at the Blackboy Pub in Knowle on 16th September 2018, between 11- 11:30 AM for registration, and then set off for a drive through Knowle & Dorridge to join the main procession into Dorridge Park, circa 11:45.

The procession will be led by our very Gordon Harvey in his beautiful1966 MG.

Alternativley, you can drive straight to the display area in Dorridge Park before 11:30 AM.

As a token of our appreciation, on registration you will receive a voucher for light refreshments (a hot drink and a piece of cake) at the Ladies Circle stall, for yourself and a passenger.

In order to facilitate planning, please let me know if you intend to attend on the day.

I would require the following information for Registration:

Name
Make
Model
Year
Email Address

Contact: Amit Sinha at arsinha72@gmail.com . Alternatively registration can be done on the day.

Please note that owners participate and display their vehicles at Dorridge Day at their own risk..

Other Matters:

Guess the Car Competition: Was this too difficult for you all, I only received 2 entries for this competition, however Graham Robson took it on as a challenge to identify the car, which he eventually did but Alan Cleobury had got there long before him. Alan had seen the car on a visit to see his son in Japan he had visited the Toyota Museum and there he had seen the first Toyoda (as it was called in the beginning) production car called the AA, so Alan was awarded the prize of a bottle of Old Speckled Hen. The car was produced from 1936 until 1943 when it was replaced by the AC model. Well done and thank you both for taking part.

St Audries Sunset Photo Competition: Thanks everyone I had a good few entries for this. I removed all identity of the images and at a later date reduced them to a short list, the final selection was done by Caroline and fortunately she didn't choose mine. The winner was Norman. Ah but did he take the photo or was it one of the ones taken by Chris after he had left on his mercy mission! Either way he was awarded the bottle of 'OSH'.

Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs Survey: I have received an email requesting as many people to fill out this survey to help the FBHVC to lobby the Government about the addition of Ethanol to pump fuel. It only takes a few minutes and all this information helps them help us but note it closes on 31^st August. The survey can be found at:

https://paulc1.typeform.com/to/Bt7HKS

Enjoying MG Binders: Helen has 10 of these (donated by members), if you are interested in having any, please let me know and Helen will bring to the Club Night.

Norman Large's Website Photos:

Norman is happy to share his photos taken on Club Events and the links to this year's events are as follows:

Show Night July18 http://normanlarge.com/Show18

St Audries Bay June18 http://normanlarge.com/StAudries2018

Chilly Willy Warmer June18 http://normanlarge.com/AMGCWW

Stratford Races May18 http://normanlarge.com/AMGCRaces2018

Heritage Run 25th Ann May18 http://normanlarge.com/25Heritage

Drive It Day Apr18 http://normanlarge.com/DriveIt

MGC Malvern Apr18 http://normanlarge.com/MalvernMG18

To download a viewable size: Click on the image and wait for it to enlarge. Once enlarged this can be copied, saved or dragged to your desktop (usually by right click but not always). Please see attached. These images are good for iPads, iPhones, desktop use and small prints. If anyone would like a high resolution (HiRes) for large print or commercial print then I am happy to oblige. Just drop him an email with the photo ref (norman.large@btinternet.com).

What Have You Done With Your MG This Month:

Lots of good stuff this month, many thanks, keep them coming. Lets start with Mike Green, not really an MG but a good story:

Mike Green - Bentley Ride:

A Client and Pal of mine has just bought 2 "old"Bentleys and I navigated on a 55 mile Bentley Drivers Club run on Friday in the attached ex Race 4.9 Special, with plenty of history. It needs sorting, having just had 15 years in semi retirement in Guernsey and my Pal will get it just right.

These Bentley drivers are very spirited - quite mad in fact and at one point we had real trouble keeping pace with 2 ladies through the back lanes of beyond, to be told over lunch that they had been well placed in the Flying Scotsman 5 day rally in recent years!

Next Graham Robson used 'Bumble' as transport for a 'Hot Air Balloon' flight and this is his story:

Here's what we did . . . . hope it's not too long . . .

I rather like the overhead shot showing the Vulcan. [That's actually the house where some friends live . . . they proudly claim they have a Vulcan bomber at the end of their garden] . . . it's painted in camouflage colours . . . and, frankly, is not even slightly camouflaged and probably visible from Space.

Fig 1 Unravelling Fig 2 Inflating

Fig 3 Bumble from above Fig 4 Fiona on board

Fig 5 Call that camouflage

Last but not least, Richard Avery was getting his MG into the groove for 7^th September (my daughter's wedding day convoy) and sent me this lovely story:

MGB - the star car of the Wedding:

On June 23^rd my son, Thomas married his lovely bride, Becky. The wedding took place on the Sandon Hall Estate in Staffordshire. We decided to take our MGB for the weekend - the weather was just perfect for it.

After the wedding at the beautiful little church, the bride & groom headed off through the estates parklands to the Hall in their wedding car, a 1930's drop head Rolls Royce, followed by all the guests.

At the hall, the photographer took a few more pictures of them and the car in front of the Hall.

The photographer then noticed our MG, and asked them whose the MGB is? "My Dad's", replies Thomas. All excited, the photographer said he'd always wanted to take some wedding photos with an MGB - would he let you drive it?

Later in the afternoon, we head out to the MG and I explain the differences between the modern cars to Thomas (has never driven the 'B'), like the choke, lack of power steering, braking effort and the unbiased 4 speed box gear lever.

Away they go along the private road, with the photographer shooting loads of photos for the next 20 minutes.

We were delighted and very proud that our MGB became the star car of the wedding. Just take a look at the smile, driving an MGB put on his face! - Or is it having Becky at his side?

My MG:

No MG historys this month, someone must be able to put pen to paper or keys to computer to write their MG Story, short or long we are all interested, don't forget to include some photos.

In Closing:

In discussions with David Rayner about Diane's health (I hope the op went well and was successful) the ironic topic of 'The Joys of Getting Old' came up and this was extended to include Graham Robson and it went something like this:

David Rayner:

An interesting thought, how about

1/ you get a free bus pass

2/ you don't have to give up your seat

3/ Less peer pressure

4/ I can blame my grey hair, to get a bit more attention

5/ I can say "I don't do computers" and insist it's done on paper or done for me

6/ I often ask for seniors discount

7/ free prescriptions

8/ free TV (over 75)

Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative

Growing old is something you do if you're lucky

I've given up eating healthy foods, I need all the preservatives I can get

You know you're getting old when everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt, doesn't work

Graham Robson:

The major joy I discovered about getting old is that you don't have to prove anything to anyone any more . . . it's too bloody late.

The other joy I've found is rather akin to the joy a classic car driver occasionally experiences: when the unpleasant noise you can hear . . . . is the car behind you. I class the personal version of this as being: you get something wrong with you . . . and you think "this is it, I'm going to be like this for the rest of my life". Then it goes away and you realise you're perfectly OK again.

A final joy is seeing all the pressure there is on young people today, socially, stylistically and technically. Bloody glad I'm out of it.

That's their contribution what do you think, please let me know. We all know about the 'challenges' of getting old, so lets not dwell on those but consider the good stuff, there must be something!!!

Safe MGing

Paul

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsletter July 2018

Reports:

St Audries Bay, Weekend away: There were 43 of us making our way down to Somerset for the weekend away and I think it would be safe to say everyone had a thoroughly good time. The weather helped of course but the gin was flowing and it was a very sociable weekend. The run out on Saturday gave us all a reason to wander along the Lorna Doone Valley (some of us even walked down to the old village, after the lunch stop). Most went on to Lynton & Lynmouth and rode on the funicular. Each evening Nigel had prepared a quiz ranging from 'seaside items' to Lorna Doone, he even used Alan's feely bag idea. When everyone came back on the Sunday we again assembled the cars on the putting green for a photo shoot, with Norman in charge and a fine set of photos he took as well. Although Sunday was a bit of a difficult day for some and the beach and mud claimed a few casualties, notably Clive who managed to fracture a little finger to join the 'Mud Bothers'. Fortunately Norman had only had one drink (I think he was joking when he said it was half a bottle of gin!!!) and performed the mercy mission taking Clive to the nearest A&E in Taunton. Many thanks to Nigel from all of us. He was rewarded at the Club Night with a framed photo of the event (another thank you to Norman). I have not yet finalised the 'Sunset Photo' Competition and have therefore extended the deadline to the 30^th July. If you were at St Audries Bay and want to include a sunset photo from the weekend now is the time to send it to me.

Quiz on Wheelz: Again the weather was kind to us and Graham & Fiona devised an amusing quiz to test our powers of observation and knowledge of all sorts of things. Some of us took longer than others and we were a bit concerned when we got to the Moat in Coughton to find only a few scraps of food left but not to worry they brought more out and that was only the first course. The pizzas were very good with plenty to choose from. Graham had also cribbed a quiz of 'Ding-bats' to test everyone's imagination. Awards time and Graham was in his element on the 'stage' to go through the answers and give out the prizes. Fortunately for Alan & Liz we had not brought the 'Wooden Spoon' but they did get the chocolates, I hope it will not dampen their enthusiasm. At the end of the list it was a tie between Lech & Pam with myself & Caroline, the tie-breaker was evil (how are we to know what number Fiona lived at when she was in Bleachfield Rd), so Lech & Pam gave the closest guess. They were also included in the team for the 'Ding-bats' with David & Diane'. Well done to everyone and a big thank you to Graham & Fiona for an amusing evening.

Chilly Willy WARMER Run: Well this was definitely 'warmer' than New Year's Day with good clear views over the beautiful countryside. Numbers were a little bit down on those who came to the original run but no matter the run was enjoyable and the food was verygood at the Oak in Upton Snodsbury.

Mercia MS Therapy Centre, Coventry: As you will all know by now when we make a donation to a worthy cause I like to give them an opportunity to generate further publicity by making a presentation to them and this is what we did at the Centre in Coventry. We had 6 MGs carefully arranged with an MGF on the outsides, next to an MGB and a Magnette and Midget placed in the middle. The Centre were over the moon with the donation of £500 and were even more pleased to see the cars, such that a few of the staff went for a short ride around the local area in an MG. This donation was made from The Heritage Run Funds and was chosen to recognise the efforts Allen Smith had put into the Heritage Run over most of the years of it's existence, as he has benefited from the services the Centre have to offer. I have invited them to come to a Club Night next year to give us a short talk about what they do. A funny thing happened to Clive on the way home (and he made the mistake of telling me) he ran out of petrol!!! I think every Club Event should come with a fuel gauge checklist!!

BMC& British Leyland Show, Gaydon: I managed to persuade Tom (the Shows manager at the British Motor Museum) to let us have the same display area that we had for the Gaydon festival of Motoring last year, so we were situated between the Museum and the 'new' Collections Centre - a prime position! We didn't let Tom down with a good selection of cars ranging from a TD & TF Midget to MG TFs, including MGBs, MGC GT and a Magnette, not forgetting the Midgets. Again the sun was beating down on us, so the storm shelter was put to good use, sheltering from the sunshine. There were some interesting talks going on in the Museum to 'celebrate' (is that the right word?) 50 years since the founding of British Leyland in May 1968!! The talk about the archive material was especially interesting.

Show Night: We were a bit down on numbers this year, which was a shame as it was probably the best weather we have had for the Show Night, apparently there was something else going on, something about football?? those that needed to know could keep up on the TV in the bar. It was still a good evening and as ever there were prizes to be awarded (for the full set of photos see Facebook or the website) and the winners were:

Best MG Overall: Trevor Smith in a borrowed MG TD Midget

Runner-up: Clive Edgington - MG Midget

2^nd Runner-up: Mike Brown - MG YT

Best Open MG: Helen Lobb-Jones - MG TC Midget

Runner-up: Nigel Hook - MGB

Best Closed MG: Roger Phipp - MGC GT

Runner-up: Fred Bury - MG Magnette

Best MG Seats: Alan Cleobury - MG Magnette

Runner-up: John Hale - MGRV8

There was an additional award of 'Furthest Travelled' and Doug Freeman had travelled from his new home in Hay-on-Wye to join us, so foregone conclusion for the prize.

Well done everyone, thanks to you all for voting, to the Girls for collecting and counting the votes and to Norman as official photographer for the evening.

Future Club Events:

Saturday 28^th July - Badsey Flower Show: Please note change of date for this show. There is no entry fee for this show just be there before 12 noon and join in the Club display. There is lots of stuff going on during the afternoon, not to mention the beer tent (which Steve runs). Alan passed a booking sheet around at the Club night for bookings, which include a booking for scones with jam & cream at a cost of £2.50 per person (there is the option to purchase a glass of Prossecco from the beer tent on the day). I'm sure Alan will still accept bookings and you can book with me although Alan needs the payment for scones in advance. The question we are all asking is: has Steve been able to book a flypast by one of the BBMF aeroplanes, as in previous years?

Sunday 29^th July - Chairman's Picnic: I now know the full plan for the day. We will meet at the Golden Cross for the usual bacon rolls (£2.50) and coffee or tea (£1.00) from 10.30 to be ready to leave at 11am. Lech and I have mapped out an interesting scenic route for us. It is a little longer than our normal runs at ~45 miles but there will be some roads not used before. On arrival at Buzzards Valley Vineyard we will line up our cars in a dedicated parking area at the side of the vineyard. The team will be waiting with the storm shelters erected ready to accept the plates of food you have all brought. After the first round of picnic the first Vineyard tour will take place and the tours include tasting of 3 wines, the cost is £8 per person (I will collect the money on the day, so please bring some change). Other things to do are to walk around the vines in the next field, over 8000 have been planted and should be in full growth by the end of July. There are walks around the lakes, which are used by fishermen. There is a bistro on site if anyone needs to purchase a drink but please remember to bring all you drink requirements with you. There is also a shop which sells the gin produced in the Vineyard and there is tasting before to buy. Please let me know as soon as you can if you would like to join the day and what plate of food to share you are going to bring, there are some ideas on the club website but please don't be limited by that and check the list to reduce the amount of duplication.

Tuesday 7^th August - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Saturday 11^th August - Brailes Show: Fred has booked us in for this show, which is always well attended by the Club with our own display area. There is no charge for entry, all they ask is that we are on site by 12.00 noon to be settled before the show starts. The show always has lots going on with the main marquee full of competitions (produce, cakes, flowers, paintings, photos etc), beer tent, afternoon teas, stalls and a horse gymkhana at the far end.

Sunday 19^th August - MG TC 70^th, Magnette 60^th& MGB 50^th Birthday Celebration: To celebrate Helen's TC's 70^th birthday, Fred's Magnette 60^th and my MGB's 50^th birthday we are going to have a run to Nuffield Place. For those who are not NT members there will be a group rate price of £7.75. Please book this date on your calendars, I will have more details arranged by the August Club Night.

Tuesday 4^th September - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Sunday 23^rd September - Heritage Run Revisited: To replace our annual run I'm going to use one of the previous Heritage Run routes for a day out. Have you got the date in your calendar?

Saturday 29^th September - Hook Norton Brewery Visit, - Saturday morning at 10.30.. Please book early as limited to 20 places. £12 per person to include beer tasting and souvenir glass. They are now offering breakfast (full English with tea or coffee at £10 or Bacon Bap/Sausage/egg... at £4.99), however they do need to be booked, so get there early but book with Nigel or I will pass on a message.

Tuesday 2^nd October - Club Night: Arden MG Club 30^th Anniversary Celebration. Graham Robson is going to make up a montage video to show on the night, so it would be good if everyone could send me their favourite photo of their car to include in this video, not many of you have responded to this request, please send me your favourite photo as soon as you can..

Tuesday 6^th November - Club Night: Guest speaker with a talk titled "Vintage Bentleys in the Roaring Twenties"

Tuesday 4^th December - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 11^th December - Xmas Meal: At the Golden Cross.

Other Events:

Sunday 29^th July - Midland Centre Summer Day Out: Being held at the Midland Automobile Club's 'Classic Nostalgia' weekend at the Shelsley Walsh hillclimb venue. They have arranged discounted tickets. A good event if you are not going on the Chairman's Picnic.

Sunday 5^th August - Classic Vehicle Event: This year follows the huge success in 2017, from 11.00 onwards at Wootton Wawen Social Club B95 6AY. You would be most welcome if you have not already committed, and entry is FREE. Last year we had 40 plus vehicles and around a dozen motorcycles, so we are hoping for another good turnout again.

Sunday 12^th August - Harrogate MGOC, Northern National: Pateley Bridge, entry fee £5.

Saturday 18^th August 2018 - Coast to Coast. If anyone is interested in this event I can email a flyer, there are only 6 places left, so a quick response would be required.

Monday 27^th August - Stafford Classic Car Show: Riverway, Stafford, ST16 3WB from 10an to 4pm. Contact: cshw@aol.com 07771 615 140.

Sunday 16^th September - Fun Run for Cancer Research UK:

The run will start from the dog inn at Harvington at 10.00 ,the run is some 80 miles, with coffee stop and will return to the Dog Inn for a Sunday lunch.

We hope to have around 100 for the lunch , The Run can be done in MGs or any day to day car ,it is not a classic car run but a fun run and all profits from the run will go to Cancer Research.

Lunch will need to be booked so here is the menu .

MAINS

Top side of Beef ,

Leg of Lamb,

Half Chicken,

Veg meal ,Courgette & Butter nut Squash Frittata,

SWEETS

a/ chocolate fudge cake,

b/ orange & passion fruit tartlet,

c/ summer fruit cheesecake,

d/ rhubarb & custard tart,

e/ sticky toffee pudding,

f/ jam roly poly,

g/ apple & pear crumble,

h/ praline chocolate tart,

j/ simply delicious ice cream /3 scoops,

k/ chocolate fudge cake sundae,

l/ eton mess sundae ,

Please contact Bob Hall by email a s a p at robertahall2d@outlook.com

I hope to get around 100 cars on the run and the dog inn can take 120 for the meal so first come first served.

So far I have my members from Bromsgrove MGOC, the MG Car Club, and also some from the Black Country Club. Bob Hall, Bromsgrove MGOC.

Sunday 16^th September - Dorridge Day: I have received the following invitation via a Club member: "We intend to build on last year's success ( despite the terrible weather), the feedback was fantastic, thanks to you and your wonderful cars.

We are looking to run the Classic Car Show again, we would like to double our attendance, so would appreciate your support by letting your friends know and inviting them along.

We took onboard last year's feedback, so will modify the format, starting points etc.

I will send you details on how to register and the actual format of the day shortly.

Meanwhile, please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Amit Sinha Mob : 07775 647 914"

Other Matters:

Enjoying MG Binders: Helen has 10 of these (donated by members), if you are interested in having any, please let me know and Helen will bring to the Club Night.

Norman Large's Website Photos:

Norman is happy to share his photos taken on Club Events and the links to this year's events are as follows:

Show Night July18 http://normanlarge.com/Show18

St Audries Bay June18 http://normanlarge.com/StAudries2018

Chilly Willy Warmer June18 http://normanlarge.com/AMGCWW

Stratford Races May18 http://normanlarge.com/AMGCRaces2018

Heritage Run 25th Ann May18 http://normanlarge.com/25Heritage

Drive It Day Apr18 http://normanlarge.com/DriveIt

MGC Malvern Apr18 http://normanlarge.com/MalvernMG18

To download a viewable size: Click on the image and wait for it to enlarge. Once enlarged this can be copied, saved or dragged to your desktop (usually by right click but not always). Please see attached. These images are good for iPads, iPhones, desktop use and small prints. If anyone would like a high resolution (HiRes) for large print or commercial print then I am happy to oblige. Just drop him an email with the photo ref (norman.large@btinternet.com).

Guess the Car Competition: Phil Bawn gave me this photo with the challenge to identify the car. I was struggling, so a prize to the first person to correctly name the car (we might need the year as well).

Boot Rack for Sale: I have received this message: Would any of your fellow members be interested in a Paddy Hopkirk boot wooden slatted rack, never been used looking for an offer in the region of £45. We live in Rugby which is fairly close you all. John& Sue Thomas, home 01788 843 611 or mobile 07816 408 795. Please contact direct if interested.

Wedding Car Request: I have also received this request, I don't usually follow up this sort of thing but someone may want to help them out. Please let me know if you do.

This may be a little unusual, or you may get this all the time! I'm after a wedding car or two, and a friend suggested that I try a local car club rather than a company doing it purely for weddings. We would like someone that loves their car and would love it to show it off at our wedding. Instead of paying a wedding car company we would love to donate some money to your car club or to a charity of the owners choice. This would make my fiancé and I a lot happier knowing our money was going to a good cause.
Our wedding is Monday 22nd April next year. We're not really sure what we want. Something that ideally seats 4 along with the driver to take bridesmaids first, then my Dad and I to the Church and then take my husband and I to the reception.

It would be going from 5 minutes outside Solihull town centre to St Alphege church in the centre with my bridesmaids, then my Dad and I. Then from St Alphege church to the Charlecote Pheasant near Wellesbourne with my husband to be and I.

Claire Fooks

What Have You Done With Your MG This Month:

Nothing this month, however new member John Deeley has sent me this poem which might 'strike a cord' with a few of us!!

A- Z of Life with an MG …..

For my sins I had a very early MGA in the late 60's , an MGB GT in the 70's

and finally just 3 weeks ago an MGTF that actually starts first time, but this poem was a reflection of some of those earlier, fraught, but happy days……..

A is for being an ass-hole for falling in love with the thing

B is for bashed in knuckles for all the work to make her sing

C is for Cursing and Swearing each time a nut wont come undone

and D is for being so DARNED stubborn and for wanting to have this much fun.

E is for all the electrics that work and then not, at their own will

F is more Fxxxxxg swearing when I get the repair mechanics bill

G is for Glorious drives with the hood down on days when there's Sun

and H is for Hilarious giggles when you tell your mates what you've bought for some fun.

I is for the mentally Insane who like me think they have enough cash

J is for "Johns got a new motor "….an MG you say, sorry just got to dash

K is for the Key's I've lost and locked inside my TF's boot

and L is for all the Laughing locksmiths that think this is really quite a hoot.

M is for this Great MOTORING Legend, MG still the largest of all

N is for Not when its Icy or raining, I want to get home by nightfall

O is for Oh what a wonderful feeling when she's polished and gleams in the Sun

and P is for the wife being so Patient and waiting all day till it's done.

Q is for all the bank Holiday Queue's that every MG owner dreads

R is for roaring past the queue's with the rev counter approaching the red

S is for Stopping to let the steam die down while you sunbath to top up your tan

and T is for changing your Thermostat to ensure your not cooking your fan.

U is Undoubtedly for the craziest purchase of your life

V is for all the Venomous words that come forth, when you break down, from your wife

W is still for the Wonder, when you turn the key and its starts the first time

and XY and Z will just have to do, for all the unknown adventures you'll have in your life.

Happy MG Motoring……...from John's got a new Motor.

John also has an interesting service to offer Classic Car owners and sent me this flyer:

My MG:

No MG stories this month, if you would like your MG story included, just drop me some words and photos about how and why you drive an MG. What interesting cars have you had or whatever will be of interest.

Safe MGing

Paul

In closing at the Show Night, Graham took a load of photos and thought it would be good to identify the steering wheel bosses, however he forgot to identify which car fitted with which photo, so can you identify your own steering wheel? Respond by email, just for fun!!!! (OK, so the last one is from a radiator grill).

---------------

Newsletter June 2018

Reports:

Stratford Race Day: I was not able to attend this race day, yes away on holiday!! It looks like Nigel put on another good show (well done) and as you will see in the photo, it looks like he can still walk on water!!
Comment from Nigel: "A great day out, my feedback tells me every one enjoyed themselves again. I saw a few standing in the queue to pick up their winnings. Great photos again. How fortunate I bumped into the Starter that day (Robbie Supple) who gave us an insight to his starting procedures and how he copes with starting the Grand National. (always a difficult one) with 40 Horses and Riders to contend with. If we do Raceday next year I will see if I can come up with another Celeb!"
Finally a comment from Norman: "Great day yesterday. Could not have been better in all respects - errrrrh, oh yes it could. We had to leave early cause my shirt went the same way as last year! Many thanks for your great organisation and talk/lecture on the subject of racing - most informative and enjoyable. BUT, next year can you give us the winners, please."

Future Club Events:

Sunday 1^st July - BMC & Leyland Show: At the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. We have 14 cars booked for the Show on Sunday and I'm busy trying to get the passes to everyone who has booked. The doors are open from 7.30 but ideally it would be good if everyone could be there before 10am. We have been allocated the same spot we had last year for the Gaydon Festival of Transport, which is considered as a 'prime' location, so we have done well. All we need now is the sun to keep shining and the forecast is looking good.

Tuesday 3^rd July - Club Night: This will be our Show Night Evening. Make sure your car is clean and polished ready for the evening. There will be the usual prizes and 'new' awards dated for this year for 'Best MG Overall', 'Best Open MG' and 'Best Closed MG', however I still haven't come up with a good idea for the special category so I'm open to ideas, what can you suggest?

Wednesday 11^th July - Joint Natter: With our friends in the MGCC Midland Centre, again the meeting will be at the Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke. Lech will lead a run over there starting from the Golden Cross, please let me know if you would like to join him. Meet at the Golden Cross at 18.30 to be ready to set off on the convoy run at 18.45 (this early so anyone who wants to dine there has plenty of time to order).

Saturday 28^th July - Badsey Flower Show: Please note change of date for this show. There is no entry fee for this show just be there before 12 noon and join in the Club display. There is lots of stuff going on during the afternoon, not to mention the beer tent (which Steve runs). Alan passed a booking sheet around at the Club night for bookings, which include a booking for scones with jam & cream at a cost of £2.50 per person (there is the option to purchase a glass of Prossecco from the beer tent on the day). I'm sure Alan will still accept bookings at the July Club Night but you can book with me although Alan needs the payment for scones in advance.

Sunday 29^th July - Chairman's Picnic: This year's picnic will be at Buzzards Valley Vineyard. I'm visiting there next week and will be planning the route for the social run, so will then be able to advise what the rest of the day will hold for us. In the mean time the food list is on the Club website and I will add to the newsletter email. Please let me know if you are going to come and what plate of food you would like to bring, I will then keep the web page up-dated.

Tuesday 7^th August - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Saturday 11^th August - Brailes Show

Tuesday 4^th September - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Sunday 23^rd September - Heritage Run Revisited: To replace our annual run I'm going to use one of the previous Heritage Run routes for a day out. Have you got the date in your calendar?

Tuesday 6^th November - Club Night: Guest speaker with a talk titled "Vintage Bentleys in the Roaring Twenties"

Tuesday 4^th December - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 11^th December - Xmas Meal: At the Golden Cross.

Other Events:

Sunday 1^st July - Cotswold Caper: Run by the Gloucestershire MGOC. On the run of almost 100 miles you will see the fabulous Cotswold Hills and this year we'll also explore the Malverns. We start and finish this year's run at Seasons Conference Centre in Cheltenham. The entry cost is unchanged at £25 for a Rally Plaque and Route Guide book. We are restricting the number of entries to 150 this year, so be sure to get your entry in. More details and an entry form can be found at: http://www.glosmgoc.co.uk/caper.htm

Sunday 12^th August - Harrogate MGOC, Northern National: Pateley Bridge, entry fee £5.

Saturday 18^th August 2018 - Coast to Coast. If anyone is interested in this event I can email a flyer, there are only 6 places left, so a quick response would be required.

Other Matters:

What Have You Done With Your MG This Month:

Clive had another busy month attending the Stratford Festival of Motoring and here are 2 photos taken at the run finish line from each day. Thanks for the photos Clive. What have you done in your MG this month? Send me a photo to include in the next Newsletter.

My MG:

I have a story for next month's Newsletter but need some more for the following months, why not put pen to paper or finger to keyboard and tell us your MG story and of course include some photos.

More next month.

Safe MGing

Paul

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsletter May 2018

Reports:

The Golden Cross was packed again for another busy Club Night with 51 of you signing the register. We had 3 events to report on, although I have realised I forgot to mention the Malvern Show at the Club Night, there is too much going on!!!!! Starting with the event earlier in the day. Lots of you have told me they very much enjoyed the run to the British Motor Museum and the activities during the day, it was no doubt helped by the fine weather. I'm glad we didn't go for the anniversary day of the 1^st Heritage Run as that would have been the day after and the rain was of biblical proportions, you have got to have some luck sometimes!!!

During the day we were able to show the video that John Horn had taken way back during the 1^st Run in 1993 and the video also included the 94, 95 & 97 runs. This video will be available to anyone who would like a copy, just let me have a memory stick (at least 4Gb free space) and I will return it to you with the file included. John was of course with us for the day, as was the founder of the Club John Saunders and I hope to see them again in October when we celebrate the 30^th Birthday of the Club. I hope everyone learnt something from the 'MG Tour' I gave in the afternoon around the Museum's MG exhibits.

Before that we had the very successful 'Drive-it-Day' Run and Nigel had arranged fine weather for this one as well!! We all set off in good time from the Golden Cross for a scenic and eventless (not like the March Madness Run) run to the Fox in Broadwell. It's always good to drive down into the Cotswolds and a good day was enjoyed by the 40+ people on the run, well done to Nigel.

As mentioned above, earlier in April Alan and the 'Team' had arranged a display area for us at the Malvern Transport Show. We were a bit out on a limb but we put on a great display with 16 cars lined up around the corner. The team did a sterling job cooking bacon rolls for all those pre-ordering, they were delicious, many thanks and well done 'The Team'. The weather was such that despite taking ages to erect the storm shelter no one sat under it, oh well there might be sun the next time!!!

Future Club Events:

Sunday 20^th May - Day at Stratford Races: Nigel has got the tickets for the Races and will hand them out on the day. Please arrive before 11am, where we will have our own dedicated parking area close to the entrance. Nigel will then lead a guided tour out onto the course to explain the fences, then into the weighing room and finally the parade ring. He will also explain the betting system, but don't blame us if you go home with less money than you came with!! Lunch can be a picnic among the cars or at one of the food outlets inside. Let's hope this fine spell of weather continues until then.

Tuesday 5^th June - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Friday to Monday 8^th to 11^th June - Week-end Away: To St Audries Bay. For all those who are booked for the week-end Nigel has got a menu for the Friday and Saturday evenings and St Audries would like to have your pre-order for those evenings. Please see Nigel at the race day, if not he will email the menus to you.

Sunday 24^th June - Chilly Willy WARMER Run: This event is now open for booking and as mentioned previously we have a dedicated menu for the day and the Oak would like to have your pre-orders and the deadline for these will be 19^th June.

We will of course start from the Golden Cross and bacon rolls & coffee will be available for those in need of breakfast before the run!! The menu choices are as follows:

Chicken, Bacon & Cheddar Salad~ chargrilled chicken, streaky bacon on house mixed leaves & honey, mustard dressing 7.50

Honey Roast Ham, eggs & chunky chips 6.95

Deep filled Quiche, with house leaves & vegetable crisps 7.25

Lunch Battered Fish 'n Chips, homemade tartare sauce & mushy peas 8.25

Bacon, Brie & Cranberry Baguette 5.95

Cheddar& Chutney Baguette 5.95

Honey Roast Ham & Wholegrain Mustard Baguette 5.95

Coronation Chicken Baguette 5.95

(baguettes are either multigrain or white)

Sunday 1^st July - BMC & Leyland Show: At the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. I'm happy to start taking bookings for this show, we will be granted free admission to the show and museum and I hope our display area will be similar to when we visited a show there last year which is close to the Museum and Collections Centre entrances. Please note later MG cars (MG RV8, MGF & MGTF) will be accepted.

Tuesday 3^rd July - Club Night: This will be our Show Night Evening. Make sure your car is clean and polished ready for the evening and what will the 'special' category be this year? No I don't know either yet, any suggestions?

Wednesday 11^th July - Joint Natter: With our friends in the MGCC Midland Centre, again the meeting will be at the Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke. Lech will lead a run over there starting from the Golden Cross, please let me know if you would like to join him.

Saturday 28^th July - Badsey Flower Show: Please note change of date for this show. More details nearer the time.

Sunday 29^th July - Chairman's Picnic: This year's picnic will be at Buzzards Valley Vineyard.

Tuesday 7^th August - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Saturday 11^th August - Brailes Show

Sunday 19^th August - MG TC 70^th, Magnette 60^th & MGB 50^th Birthday Celebration: To celebrate Helen's TC's 70^th birthday, Fred's Magnette 60^th and my MGB's 50^th birthday we are going to have a run to Nuffield Place. Book the date on your calendars.

Tuesday 4^th September - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Sunday 23^rd September - Heritage Run Revisited: To replace our annual run I'm going to use one of the previous Heritage Run routes for a day out. Have you got the date in your calendar?

Tuesday 2^nd October - Club Night: Arden MG Club 30^th Anniversary Celebration. Graham Robson is going to make up a montage video to show on the night, so it would be good if everyone could send me their favourite photo of their car to include in this video.

Tuesday 6^th November - Club Night: Guest speaker with a talk titled "Vintage Bentleys in the Roaring Twenties"

Tuesday 4^th December - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 11^th December - Xmas Meal: At the Golden Cross.

Other Events:

~~Wednesday 23^rd May - Coffee Meeting~~: MGCC Midland Centre meeting at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSPONED further details later.

Saturday & Sunday 2^nd& 3^rd June - MG Live: MGCC major annual event with racing at Silverstone.

Sunday 10^th June - Midland Centre Touring Run: Details soon.

Sunday 10^th June - Ratae Run: Around the quiet roads of Leicestershire
with the South Leics. MG Club. Starting at the White Horse, Broughton Astley, and finishing at Deene Park, east Northants.

~~Sunday 17^th June - MGCC AutoSOLO~~. This event is has been cancelled due to illness of the organisers but they hope to run the event next year.

Sunday 17^th June - MGs in the Park: Run by Oxfordshire MGOC at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford Oxfordshire OX18 4JP, the event starts at 10.00 and gives you a full day to enjoy Pride of Ownership, Cotswold Run of 25 miles, a selection of top Trade stands and MG Owners Club stand and a team from Swavesey. We have more attractions to announce shortly, but of course there is lots of entertainment to be seen in the Wildlife Park itself.

Entry this year to the Wildlife Park will once again be free for MG's and their Drivers, whilst Passengers will received the discounted rate of £11.50 each, Children and Seniors £8.00 each. Just to confirm, OMGOC do not charge for your attendance, we are there to add to your fun. Over the last few years we have had between 500 and 600 MG's coming from all parts of the country making our event the largest club event of its kind and certainly one of the biggest gatherings of MG's each calendar.

Sunday 1^st July - Cotswold Caper: Run by the Gloucestershire MGOC. On the run of almost 100 miles you will see the fabulous Cotswold Hills and this year we'll also explore the Malverns. We start and finish this year's run at Seasons Conference Centre in Cheltenham. The entry cost is unchanged at £25 for a Rally Plaque and Route Guide book. We are restricting the number of entries to 150 this year, so be sure to get your entry in. More details and an entry form can be found at: http://www.glosmgoc.co.uk/caper.htm

Sunday 29^th July - Midland Centre Summer Day Out: Being held at the Midland Automobile Club's 'Classic Nostalgia' weekend at the Shelsley Walsh hillclimb venue. They have arranged discounted tickets. A good event if you are not going on the Chairman's Picnic.

Sunday 5^th August - Classic Vehicle Event: This year follows the huge success in 2017, from 11.00 onwards at Wootton Wawen Social Club B95 6AY. You would be most welcome if you have not already committed, and entry is FREE. Last year we had 40 plus vehicles and around a dozen motorcycles, so we are hoping for another good turnout again.

Sunday 12^th August - Harrogate MGOC, Northern National: Pateley Bridge, entry fee £5.

Saturday 18^th August 2018 - Coast to Coast. If anyone is interested in this event I can email a flyer, there are only 6 places left, so a quick response would be required.

Saturday and Sunday 29^th& 30^th September - Cotswold Airport Revival Festival: They say lots of things will be going on over the week-end at the airport, check out their website if you are interested.

Other Matters:

GDPR - I'm sure you are all getting thoroughly fed up hearing about this, so I hope this will be the last mention of the dreaded 4 letters. Thank you for your understanding to everyone who has replied to me and a final warning, this will be the last Newsletter you will receive if you have not given the Club permission to hold your details on our data base.

What Have You Done With Your MG This Month:

This is great, lots of you have sent stuff in this month, here goes in no particular order:

Andy Bourne sent me these photos taken on Drive-it-Day, he was a bit concerned about the homeless person sleeping in 'our' Memorial Shelter at GWR Toddington!!

He also sent me this photo of one group enjoying their picnic at the British Motor Museum during the 25^th Anniversary Run Day.

Helen& Mike took the 'TC' down to The MG Era Day at Brooklands and despite the pouring rain they enjoyed the day. I was really impressed to see they were the only car with the roof down!!

Alan has been very busy with his Magnette and sent this photo of the new seats that he has installed, I think they look fantastic, just right for a wedding later in the year, well the 7^th September to be precise and my daughter Jennifer would like half a dozen MGs to make up a convoy from Welford Church to Warwick House in Southam. The wedding is at 12.30, so if anyone would like to join the convoy please let me know.

Here is an interesting clip sent by Clive, it is from Car SOS but is it the car that needs saving, who is that in the background?

In the last Newsletter I asked for anyone with a 'big' car birthday this year to let me know and this has brought a great response as well:

Phil Bawn sent me this photo of a very special Anniversary Cake, congratulations to them. 50 years, well done.

Trevor Flint is very proud that he has owned his MGB for half it's life which is 40 years this year. Here are a couple of photos before and after restoration.

My MG:

This is a very sad tale, so be warned, however if you are looking for a Rubber Bumper MGB Roadster with history make sure you read to the end.

"Last November I received the devastating news that I have Motor Neurone Disease (MND). This is a progressive degenerative condition of the nervous system leading to muscle wastage and eventually muscles that stop working altogether. There is no cure and currently only one prescribed drug and that will only slow the deterioration by between 3 and 6 months. It is life limiting in every sense. Since I started using the drug in February my condition has deteriorated rapidly. My right arm is useless and my left is weakening. My leg, core and back muscles have also weakened significantly to such an extent that walking and standing are difficult and I must use a wheelchair when going out. Getting up stairs is difficult and will soon be impossible so we are in the process of adapting our home by installing a wet room in the garage so that I can live on the ground floor.

The impact of this disease is that I have retired from work earlier than planned and have had to retire from all of the activities that I used to do; Golf, cycling, skiing and finally driving.

I'm not sure if there is a formal forum for advertising cars for sale through Arden MG but if this is possible I would be grateful if you could circulate the details of my car, known affectionately as "Morris".

Morris is an MGB Roadster and was first registered in December 1975, registration number LRA 520P, colour Orange. I have owned him since May 1979. In the time I've had him, I have had 2 partial rebuilds, wings, quarter panels, door skins, cills etc and also fitted a reconditioned engine and new petrol tank. The MOT expires in April 2019. Current mileage is 85400.

For the last couple of years I have taken it to Tanworth Garage, Tanworth in Arden and before that to Arden Autos in Alcester, both of whom have done a great job of keeping the car on the road.

Like all MG owners I'm sure, I have a folder full of receipts going back years!

As you might expect, Hazel and I were shocked when we first received the diagnosis but the support network of NHS and Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) has been first class. We are very much living in the moment and making the best of every day. Very recently we went to Vietnam for 2 weeks and had a great holiday. Bearing in mind that Hazel was pushing me in a wheelchair it was just the right place to go because the people are so friendly and helpful!

We are being as open as possible about my condition as we think it is important to raise awareness of a little known condition. Sadly, the more involved we become in things MND, we are discovering how random the disease is, with young people with all their lives ahead of them being affected. Consequently, I would be grateful if you could share this post with the club members.

I am at home a lot more now so if anyone is interested in giving Morris a new home, I can easily arrange for a viewing.

I've been a member of Arden MG for 13 or 14 years and one of the first dates that I took Hazel on 12 years ago was the Treasure Hunt as was, now rebadged as the Quiz on Wheelz. We've had a great time on subsequent quizzes, even winning once and setting it the following year (and coming up with the Quiz on Wheelz name - ed), Drive It Days, Club Meetings and the splendid Heritage Runs. We will miss all these and the many people who we have become friends with.

We have challenges ahead but owning an MG for nearly 40 years has already gone some way in preparing me!

With best wishes for you, Caroline, the members and the Club.

Alan"

Contact Details: 07710873105 alanandhazel1406@gmail.com

Hazel and a group of my friends and family are helping people who have Motor Neurone Disease - please take a look.

http://WWW.justgiving.com/fundraising/hazel-hodge-carter

I'm always looking for your MG story to tell in this section of the Newsletter, so please send me some words and photos of why you have your MG and your MG story to be included.

Safe MGing

Paul

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsletter April 2018

Reports:

To start, can I thank all those people who have responded to the email about the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations). I sent out around 100 emails and so far approx. 65 people have responded, I know it is a nuisance but as a Club we are obliged to seek permission to hold personal details, so if you have not yet responded (I have confirmed receipt of all responses) please do so as soon as you can (latest by 1^st May), especially if you would like to be removed from the data base. Without your confirmation you will no longer receive this Newsletter and other communications about the Club.

Back to more interesting matters, in March we had a very successful 'March Madness Run', I don't know how we manage to keep getting these sunny days but I'm very happy that we do, long may it continue!! Many thanks to Alan and the team for another great day out, the Kings Court did us proud with a very good lunch enjoyed by 40 of us. We also had a very good dedicated parking area on the grass, which allowed us to show of our cars to good effect. We even had some excitement on the scenic run from the Golden Cross, when on the outskirts of Redditch Lex pulled into the side of the road and soon the car was surrounded with the bonnet up!! Fortunately one of the cars following was Graham & Fiona who had a can of petrol in their boot, however this was not sufficient and the 'Sweeper' car of Steve & Gaynor had to make a mercy mission to the nearby TESCO for a full can. All was well after this, I don't suppose Lex will be allowed to forget this trip!!!

At the Club Night we had a guest speaker, well speakers actually (which created some bickering between themselves), who had come along to receive a cheque from the Heritage Run funds and give us an insight to the work they do. The organisation was REMAP (Resourceful Engineers Making Anything Possible), who operate nationwide with a local base. Their presentation was very interesting, with some innovative solutions (however I think we had got the gist after the first 6 examples but we persevered, thanks to everyone for paying attention all through) to problems people may have for living life to the full despite a disability. I'm sure our donation will be put to good use.

Future Club Events:

Sunday 22^nd April - Drive-it-Day Run: Starting from the Golden Cross, Nigel has set a scenic route through the Cotswolds to arrive at the Fox in Broadwell in good time for lunch. He needs a pre-order for lunch and although the booking will have gone in by now it may be possible to still join in the fun, see website for booking form.

Tuesday 1^st May - British Motor Museum 25^th Anniversary Run: I was hoping to get a big turnout for this run but so far I only have 16 cars booked in, however half of them are people who were present on the first run including the 2 organisers and the founder of the club. The Arden MG Club and the Museum have been associated from the early days with the first Heritage Run finishing at the Museum on the second day of opening and we were the very first Club to visit the Museum.

Although this is the 25^th Anniversary of the Museum opening, they are not having a formal celebration so we are privileged to be the group that marks this occasion. We will have a reserved parking area on the grass outside the Museum entrance and will have the group rate of £9 per person (however if you pay the full fee, Adults £14, over 60s £12, and 'Gift Aid' the entry you will be given a 12 months free re-entry ticket).

We will start at the Golden Cross, meet from 10.30 ready to leave at 11am and there will be a social run utilising part of the original first Heritage Run. I'm really keen to get as many people at the Museum as possible who were there on the first Run, so please let me know if you were there on the 2^nd May 1993. Please book with me and pay for entry on the day. As an added extra Graham is working on a video that John Horn took of the first few runs, maybe we will be able to show it on the day. Options for lunch will be to use the museum's Junction 12 Café or bring a picnic.

Tuesday 1^st May - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross. Even if you have been to the Museum earlier in the day!!

Sunday 20^th May - Day at Stratford Races: This will be the same as last year, arrive before 11am, where we will have our own dedicated parking area close to the entrance. Nigel will lead a guided tour out onto the course to explain the fences, then into the weighing room and finally the parade ring. He will also explain the betting system, although last year he didn't give us any decent tips on who was going to win!! Lunch can be a picnic among the cars or at one of the food outlets on course. This is all for the discount price of £10 per person, Nigel needs to have the bookings and to collect payments at the May Club Night or before.

Tuesday 5^th June - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Friday to Monday 8^th to 11^th June - Week-end Away: To St Audries Bay. For all those who are booked for the week-end Nigel would like to have the final payments of £139.00 per person by the May Club Night (cheques payable to: Arden MG Club). If you have not booked but would like to join us please contact Nigel who may be able to find accommodation for you.

Tuesday 19^th June - Quiz on Wheelz:

Graham & Fiona are organising the quiz this year, so it will be a fun evening. Further details soon.

Sunday 24^th June - Chilly Willy WARMER Run: A repeat of the Chilly Willy Run from New Year's Day, so starting at the Golden Cross and lunch at the Oak in Upton Snodsbury. The only difference is there will be a fixed choice menu to select from.

Sunday 1^st July - BMC Show: At the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. We will have a display at this show and for this event we will be granted free admission to the show and museum. Please let me know if you would like to join our display, I hope we will be close to the entrance similar to last year at the Gaydon Festival of Motoring.

Tuesday 3^rd July - Club Night: This will be our Show Night Evening.

Wednesday 11^th July - Joint Natter: With our friends in the MGCC Midland Centre, again the meeting will be at the Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke.

Saturday 28^th July - Badsey Flower Show: Please note change of date for this show. More details nearer the time.

Sunday 29^th July - Chairman's Picnic: This year's picnic will be at Buzzards Valley Vineyard.

Tuesday 7^th August - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Saturday 11^th August - Brailes Show

Sunday 19^th August - MG TC 70^th& MGB 50^th Birthday Celebration: To celebrate Helen's TC's 70^th birthday and my MGB's 50^th birthday we are going to have a run to Nuffield Place. Book the date on your calendars.

Tuesday 4^th September - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Sunday 23^rd September - Heritage Run Revisited: To replace our annual run I'm going to use one of the previous Heritage Run routes for a day out. I'm still considering the options but I'm considering: Abingdon MG Factory (2^nd Run), Baginton Air Museum (5^th Run) or Bourton on the Water Motor Museum (9^th Run). Has anyone got a preference?

Tuesday 2^nd October - Club Night: Arden MG Club 30^th Anniversary Celebration.

Tuesday 6^th November - Club Night: Guest speaker with a talk titled "Vintage Bentleys in the Roaring Twenties"

Tuesday 4^th December - Club Night: Social gathering at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 11^th December - Xmas Meal: At the Golden Cross.

Other Events:

Sunday 29^th April - Taster Trial: East Lodge Farm, Bromsgrove. This is a new Midland Centre event aimed at introducing people to Trials driving. You don't have to be a member of any club to drive, but you must be at least 17 and hold a provisional licence. MSA Go MotorSport will attend. Participants will receive instruction and practice in trials driving.

Friday to Sunday 11^th to 13^th May - Welsh Rallye MGCC Midland Centre Touring Rally to Wales from the West Midlands.

Sunday 13^th May - Charnwood Caper: Starting at Quorn Great Central railway station, the route of around 75 miles is mainly along country lanes to Rufford Abbey Country Park in Nottinghamshire, calling at a half way stop. Entry fee £22 per car.

~~Wednesday 23^rd May - Coffee Meeting~~: MGCC Midland Centre meeting at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSPONED further details later.

Saturday & Sunday 2^nd& 3^rd June - MG Live: MGCC major annual event with racing at Silverstone.

Sunday 10^th June - Midland Centre Touring Run: Details soon.

Sunday 10^th June - Ratae Run: Around the quiet roads of Leicestershire
with the South Leics. MG Club. Starting at the White Horse, Broughton Astley, and finishing at Deene Park, east Northants.

~~Sunday 17^th June - MGCC AutoSOLO~~. This event has been postponed until next year due to sickness amongst the main organisers.

Entry this year to the Wildlife Park will once again be free for MG's and their Drivers, whilst Passengers will received the discounted rate of £11.50 each, Children and Seniors £8.00 each. Just to confirm, OMOC do not charge for your attendance, we are there to add to your fun. Over the last few years we have had between 500 and 600 MG's coming from all parts of the country making our event the largest club event of its kind and certainly one of the biggest gatherings of MG's each calendar.

Sunday 12^th August - Harrogate MGOC, Northern National: Pateley Bridge, entry fee £5.

Saturday 18^th August 2018 - Coast to Coast. If anyone is interested in this event I can email a flyer, there are only 6 places left, so a quick response would be required.

Other Matters:

My car question in the February Newsletter about the American Classic Car in Havana has sparked a further response from Graham:

Ford Fairlane Sunliner . . . the continuing story . . .

I knew of the car because my Dad had kits sent over from the States in the days when they were hard to find over here. This would be around 1956/7

One of them is the very model you see attached - recently restored as well as I am able, and I even saved the instructions.

These pictures and some others [especially a 1936 Duesenberg, also complete with instructions] will be going over to the Vintage Sports Car Club of America, with whom I have started a modest exchange, for consideration as an article.

As evidence of very high-quality mould-making [would perhaps not mean much unless you were in the trade as I was] the word "Sunliner" can be made out on the doors.

What Have You Done With Your MG This Month:

Graham Robson sent me this report:

Spotting a half-decent weather day, we set off yesterday in the trusty Little Yellow Car into the Cotswolds, starting off with a look at Broadway Station. It's excellent! A really good set up, and we got there just as The Dinmore Castle set off with a trainful. A Routemaster bus was also on hand to give people rides onto Broadway.

From there we decided to go to Chastleton House . . . and it wasn't what you'd call "hot" with the top down . . .

Big sign says "Chastleton House CLOSED". Never believe news like that unless it's on Google is our motto, and the NT website said it was open.

So we went down the lane to it, to be met by NT members armed to the teeth with suggestions as to where else we might go because it was, indeed, closed. Very polite of them not to add "Can't you bloody read?"

It helped that one of the NT squad was a classic Mini owner.

Taking it on the chin that the place was, indeed, closed [Google still said it was open] we went across the road to Kingham.

Well, there's a nice place. We trolled round it a bit, and ended up at "The Wild Rabbit" for a cup of coffee. Looks like a really nice restaurant.

Went home - had pikelets [some people call the crumpets, I believe] - a Grand Day Out.

Thanks Graham, that's how we should spend our days using our MGs to the full.

We have a lot of significant birthdays within the Club this year with Helen's TC at 70, my MGB at 50, Fred's Magnette at 60 and Clive Edgington has sent me this photo of his cake, I will let you work out the celebration!! Congratulations Clive, has anyone else got a significant birthday they would like to celebrate with us?

My MG: Helen's TC: History so far of KFF 42

My late father resided in Northcliff Johannesburg I believe before returning to the UK in 1976.

From the paperwork I hold my father purchased the car 'Sold as seen' in Germiston on 08.03.73. The TC was not road worthy from what we can tell so my father had to trailer it home.

There are documents from the previous owners are as follows:

1. dated 27.04.1970 Form 1&3 Transvaal Province Application for Registration of motor vehicle. Name on this form is Andries Lourens Marais who acquired the TC in 1965.

2. 10.05.1971 car was acquired by Hermanus Louis de Villiers who was the chief safety officer at Kinross Mines Ltd. There were other dates noted within this document something happened on 21.08.1970 when A L Marais owed the TC but the document is in Afrikaans.

3. 23.06.1971 Mr I.D.Oberholzer of Germiston sold the TC for R450.00 to Mr H J E Maritz of R T Panelbeaters.

4. 08.03.1973 my father M W Lobb purchased the TC for R1200.00 in Germiston from H J E Maritz

Engine No: XPAG 5423

Car No: TC4780

I am in the process of contacting the Johannesburg MG car Centre to see if I can obtain any further information on the TC prior to 1965. I am unsure who or when the car was exported to South Africa but I have been given a few contacts in South Africa who may be able to assist me further. There is another TC in South Africa TC4786 which may have been exported at the same time as my TC but I am waiting further information on this line of enquiry.

I found out from my Uncle who used to live in Pretoria South Africa that initially my father was looking to purchase a 1930's car to restore but after finding out about the TC via a contact of my uncle the TC was sold and my father trailered the TC home as it was not road worthy although it was a complete car it was in need of a full restoration. My uncle confirmed that he and my dad knocked a wall down in my father's house to provide more space for dad to work on the car!

My father restored the car over a 3 year period and during this time he moved address and had to move to flat so there was no space to work on the TC so it was moved to my aunt's house in Bez Valley. Dad would spend hours working on the TC. In 1976 my mother and father packed up their life in South Africa and returned to the UK and the TC came with them. Dad drove the TC from Johannesburg to Capetown where they meet their ship to Southampton. My parents used the TC as a daily car until I came along in 1979 when my father purchased a VW Beetle off my godfather.

My parents worked for Whitbread breweries running pubs in Cheltenham. The TC was only worked on at weekends and only came out when he met up with his friend Mike Whiting who assisted my father with work on the TC when he needed advise. I have early memories seeing dad working on the TC in the garage attached to the side of the pub. Working on the TC was dad's hobby and gave him a break from running the pub.

In 1990 my father passed away suddenly after suffering from depression and took his own life. It was at this point that my mother became a single parent and decided the best thing to do was to get the TC valued for probate purposes and then sell the car as my mother wasn't a mechanic and wouldn't have the time to look after the car. We had a buyer lined up and on the day mum and I couldn't part with the TC and ended up in tears. The buyer was very understanding and walked away. I wasn't old enough to drive so mum only used her during summer months. I was too scared to drive her when I was old enough to drive so it was only when I was 24 years old that mum said come on H time to learn to drive the TC and get you on the insurance. The first few attempts at driving her was laughable and scared the life out of me as the steering was so alien and the brakes were nothing like I was used to!

By 2006 I met my future husband Mike who gave me more courage to drive the car and we decided to join the MG Car Club. We took part in our first event with the MG car club in August 2007 which was an MGC event at the British Heritage Car Centre Gaydon. We arrived a little late surprise, surprise and they had arranged for an aerial photo to be taken of all the cars that took part in the event and you could clearly see who the 'odd car out' was! Mike and I then spent a few hours looking around the museum until it closed and by the time we headed back to the car there was only our car and one other MGC in the parking area. The owners of the MGC had stayed to await out return as they wanted to let us know that there had been a shooting on the M40 and there was terrible traffic problems and they weren't sure if this was going to affect our journey home. It was so nice of them to stay and lets us know and lucky for us we didn't need to go on the motorway. It was then that I realised what a 'family' we had entered into.

In December 2007 the TC underwent a full re-spray in Ferrari red and the work was done by Alan Palmer of Alscot Garage. Alscot garage serviced the TC from 1990 to 2017.

Since joining the MG Car Club we have taken part in many events around the UK. One of our most memorable moments was taking part in the MG Heritage Festival in April 2009. We were privileged to have driven through the grounds of Windsor Castle and have a photograph taken as we drove past HRH Prince Philip. My mother was in the crowd outside the castle and as we were queuing to enter into the grounds of the castle she stepped out to wave to us and I could see just how proud my mother was that we were taking part in this big event.

In August 2009 we took part in an MG Car Club event at Charlecote Park and the weather was great and our friends who owned MGF's joined us at the event and we were cooking bacon butties on a camping cooker it was great. This was the last event my mum attended before she was diagnosed with lung cancer two months later. 10 months later she passed away and this is when I took over the TC fully.

In 2011 Mike and I decided to have an extension on the house and this is when we met Mr Bury! While we were showing him around the house he saw the TC in the garage and informed us about the Arden MG club. I finally made contact with David Rayner at the end of 2012 and Mike& I attend our 1^st meeting with the Arden Group. We have been welcomed with open arms and we have enjoyed all the events we have taken part in since joining. We have made many new friends and now have a new family.

A few years back I as contacted by Alscot garage as a local family in Stratford upon Avon wanted their late mother's ashes to be transported to her final resting place in a classic MG and it had to be red. I was more than happy to assist the family with their request and I drove the lady's ashes from the funeral directors to Evesham Road cemetery in Stratford. I allowed the family to have a look around the TC and ask any questions about the car. We were very lucky with the weather as all day it had been raining and just as I drove the car to the cemetery the sun shone just long enough to inter the ashes. I am sure my late mother was looking down on me that day!

We have taken the TC to Brooklands Museum 3 times now to attend the MG ERA Day and these events are great fun plus some of my late Grandfather's family live in the area so it gives us a chance to catch up with family at the same time.

The next most memorable moment was our wedding in 2013 where the TC was a big part of our day. I think my parents will be proud that we have continued to use the TC and keep her going. These cars are a part of our history and the MG marque is well known and I love it when we drive around and we get waved to by young and old alike and this puts a smile on my face. I am proud to be an owner of an iconic car and I definitely have a 'pride of ownership'.

Fantastic Helen, thanks for sharing this with us (I just love the photo of Helen learning to drive the TC with Dad watching on) and we look forward to celebrating the TC's birthday in August at Nuffield Place. I will try and get some details organised for this event by the next Newsletter. That is the last 'My MG' story I have, someone must want to share their MG history with us, please send me your story with a few photos in time for next month's Newsletter.

Until then,

Safe MGing

Paul

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsletter March 2018

Reports:

First thing is an apology that I have not been able to update the website and the February Newsletter has not appeared there. I have got a problem with my internet provider and it appears they have blocked my access to the site to make changes to the Club website, I have spent hours on the phone to the technical support but so far have not been able to solve the problem. Time to get cross with them I think!!

It was a fantastic turnout to the March Club night with 58 names on the register, which is great, we just need to think of a way to stop the echoing in the room, I have mentioned this to Matt several times but I'm sure he doesn't think there is a problem. Has anyone got any ideas, I did wonder if we all brought in table cloths if it might help?

There was nothing else to report on for February. Oh I almost forgot, the car in last months Newsletter, I was sure no one would know about 1950's American Cars but I had three replies and they knew more about the car than the driver did. It was a '1956 Ford Fairlane Sunliner'. Well done to Graham, Norman & John Hale who each received a bottle of Old Speckled Hen, it was worth the £4 to know people read the newsletter!!

Future Club Events:

Sunday 25^th March - March Madness Run: The first run of the season, which is now FULLY BOOKED but for those taking part we assemble at the Golden Cross from 11am but only for coffee (or tea) to be ready to leave around 11.30 for the scenic run to the final venue of The Kings Court Hotel, which is in Coughton, on the A435 just outside Alcester. Expected arrival at Kings Court will be around 1pm, to sit down for lunch approx 1.30pm. We will have exclusive use of 'The Lantern' room, so shouldn't disturb the other guests too much!!

As I write this the forecast for Sunday is very good, so fingers crossed, although I think Caroline is still going to take the duvet!!

Tuesday 3^rd April - Club Night: We have got a guest speaker for this meeting. We still have some surplus funds from the Heritage Run and will slowly look to make contributions to worthy causes. It has been decided to make a donation to an organisation called 'REMAP' who are the Coventry and Warwickshire branch of a national charity that customises equipment for disabled people to help them live their daily lives to the full. They will give us a short presentation on the background and work of the charity.

Sunday 8^th April - Malvern Festival of Transport: Alan has booked us a stand at the show and is also offering bacon rolls (pre-ordered) on the day. He has now received the tickets from the organisers and will distribute them to those who have booked with him. If you would still like to go to the show then you can buy advanced tickets through the show website or pay on the gate.

Sunday 22^nd April - Drive-it-Day Run: Nigel handed out booking forms for the run at the Club night and as soon as I can gain access to the website I will upload the form but I will also attach to this Newsletter email. If anyone needs any further info let me know and I will forward to Nigel.

Tuesday 1^st May - British Motor Museum 25^th Anniversary Run: As there is so much building work going on around the Museum, they have decided not to have a celebration of the 25^th Anniversary, however as our Club has such a long relationship with the Centre (the Arden MG Club Heritage Run was the first Club event at the Museum on the day after the official opening) we are privileged to be able to have a Club display outside the entrance, so we can at least celebrate the anniversary. I'm sorry but the best deal I can negotiate is for the normal group rate of £9.00 per person (or if you pay the full fee of £14, over 60s £12 and Gift Aid your entry you will receive 12 months free re-entry to the Museum). There is still the option of arranging a 'group' lunch, please let me know if you would prefer that or just have lunch in the Café or picnic. We will start at the Golden Cross, meet from 10.30 ready to leave at 11am and there will be a social run utilising part of the original first Heritage Run. I'm really keen to get as many people at the Museum as possible who were there on the first Run, so please let me know if you were there on the 2^nd May 1993. Please book with me and pay for entry on the day. As an added extra Graham is working on a video that John Horn took of the first few runs, maybe we will be able to show it on the day.

Tuesday 1^st May - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross. Even if you have been to the Museum earlier in the day!!

Tuesday 5^th June - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross.

Friday to Monday 8^th to 11^th July - Week-end Away: To St Audries Bay. For all those who are booked for the week-end Nigel would like to have the final payments of £139.00 per person by the May Club Night (cheques payable to: Arden MG Club). If you have not booked but would like to join us please contact Nigel who may be able to find accommodation for you.

Sunday 1^st July - BMC Show: At the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. We will have a display at this show and for this event we will be granted free admission to the show and museum.

Tuesday 3^rd July - Club Night: This will be our Show Night Evening.

Wednesday 11^th July - Joint Natter: With our friends in the MGCC Midland Centre, again the meeting will be at the Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke.

Saturday 28^th July - Badsey Flower Show: Please note change of date for this show. More details nearer the time.

Sunday 29^th July - Chairman's Picnic: This year's picnic will be at Buzzards Valley Vineyard.

Tuesday 7^th August - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross.

Saturday 11^th August - Brailes Show

Tuesday 4^th September - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 2^nd October - Club Night: Arden MG Club 30^th Anniversary Celebration.

Tuesday 6^th November - Club Night: Guest speaker with a talk titled "Vintage Bentleys in the Roaring Twenties"

Tuesday 4^th December - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 11^th December - Xmas Meal: At the Golden Cross.

Other Events:

Sunday 8^th April - MGCC Midland Centre Spring Sprint: Curborough sprint circuit, near Lichfield. Always in need of marshals or free to spectate.

Sunday 15^th April - Spring Run: MGB Register Spring run starting and finishing at the Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford.

Friday to Sunday 11^th to 13^th May - Welsh Rallye MGCC Midland Centre Touring Rally to Wales from the West Midlands.

Wednesday 23^rd May - Coffee Meeting: MGCC Midland Centre meeting at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon.

Saturday & Sunday 2^nd& 3^rd June - MG Live: MGCC major annual event with racing at Silverstone.

Sunday 10^th June - Midland Centre Touring Run: Details soon.

Sunday 10^th June - Ratae Run: Around the quiet roads of Leicestershire
with the South Leics. MG Club. Starting at the White Horse, Broughton Astley, and finishing at Deene Park, east Northants.

Sunday 17^th June - MGCC AutoSOLO. This event is now going ahead at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, near Lutterworth, LE17 5QS. Details are still being finalised but Tony Lake is the organiser (01604 589 104, tonylake134@hotmail.co.uk ).

Entry this year to the Wildlife Park will once again be free for MG's and their Drivers, whilst Passengers will received the discounted rate of £11.50 each, Children and Seniors £8.00 each. Just to confirm, OMOC do not charge for your attendance, we are there to add to your fun. Over the last few years we have had between 500 and 600 MG's coming from all parts of the country making our event the largest club event of its kind and certainly one of the biggest gatherings of MG's each calendar.

Sunday 12^th August - Harrogate MGOC, Northern National: Pateley Bridge, entry fee £5.

Saturday 18^th August 2018 - Coast to Coast. If anyone is interested in this event I can email a flyer, there are only 6 places left, so a quick response would be required.

Other Matters:

General Data Protection Regulation: We are getting to hear more and more about this, so we need to take action. In the next few days I will be sending out an email to everyone asking for your permission to hold your details on our data base and receive communications from the Club (like this newsletter). It is essential that you respond, without your permission we will no longer be able to keep your details and you will no longer receive the Newsletter. Thanks in advance for your understanding and co-operation.

What Have You Done With Your MG This Month:

Clive Edgington has been very busy with his MG Midget this month. The first photo is of his Midget loaded up ready to come home after 4 weeks at the MG Owners Club Workshop in Swaversey, Cambridge, having had new clutch, engine tune, headlights, electrics, mot, and new seat webbing & covers. The second photo is with the Club 'Event' Rally Plate fitted ready for the March Madness Run on Sunday. It's looking good Clive, thanks for the photos and look forward to seeing on Sunday.

My MG: This month is part two of a story from returning member Phil Bawn:

So having got the car and the many receipts for recent expenditure to date, also MOT history and mileages it appears to be the genuine article, having had a caring owner over the last four years and little mileage to boot.

Some extras fitted are spotlights, together with a new front bumper and rather oddly reversing sensors in 2013 and again in 2016, the grills have been replaced with chrome and new mudflaps these are far too hard and just break off over speed bumps (or are they called "traffic calming" humps?) I know since I bought a new one to replace a broken one on the front and broke it the same day and they are not cheap.

Mechanically it has all new'ish brakes with drilled discs and Spax adjustable shockers and Toyo tyres with low mileage.

After purchasing a car I always take the road wheels off to have a look around, the offside front came off easily but the nearside wouldn't budge, even after asking my wife to suggest some appropriate language, so good old Google found a suggestion to just loosen the nuts then drive back and forwards a few times, having done that it came of fairly easily but went back with plenty of copperslip.

A pretty poor mechanic had fitted the new discs since he ruined the heads of the retaining screws and on the rear ones left two screws off I will replace them now that I have sourced a set.

Under the bonnet odd that bits of rust were only visible on the nearside, for example under the grill at the bottom of the windscreen, no paint left on the metal plate there and the bracket holding the battery in place was totally rusty as was the bolt holding it in!! That I had to carefully drill out and luckily didn't ruin the thread so I was able to replace the bolt and bracket using some good old waxoil. Other minor bits of rusting I was able to deal with easily and would you believe a new'ish store near where I live "Range" had the exact colour spray paint in stock and much cheaper than the company which you would normally go to for such things.

I broke the interior mirror of while wiping the inside of the screen, went to Halfords and bought some Locktite specially produced to stick mirrors back on, well it was just useless and I got my money back and went to a windscreen fitter who fitted it back on and charged me a 'Tenner', he said to help with the cost of the adhesive which costs him £90.00 but maybe that's for a lorry load!

Those of you with TFs will know about some of the things I have mentioned but its all new to me this being my first one.

Thanks Phil, it's good you are back in the 'fold', we look forward to you joining us. Next month is the tale about the TC from Helen.

Safe MGing

Paul

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsletter February 2018

Reports:

I'm really disappointed I missed the last Club Night, from all the reports I've heard it sounds like it was an interesting and emotional celebration of the 70^th 'Birthday' of Helen's MG TC. The official photographer for the evening was Norman and here are some photos of the night including cutting the cake, although he missed the 'personalised' napkins. David tells me there were 46 of you in the room to enjoy the celebration, congratulations to Helen and the TC. We will extend the celebration later in the year when we have a run to Nuffield Place to also mark the 50^th 'Birthday' of my MGB.

There are no prizes for guessing where we went on our holiday but there is a prize (bottle of Old Speckled Hen) to the first person who can correctly identify the car we had a ride in around the City.

Future Club Events:

Tuesday 6^th March - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross.

Friday 16^th March - Skittles Night: I have booked us into the Masons Arms in Long Marston for this event. The cost will be £10 per person and will include a buffet and the usual skittles, so far I have 22 people booked, so there is space for another 10 people, I have sent out a confirmation to all those booked so far, so if you haven't received a confirmation email from me you are not on my list. Please let me know by email to book one of those outstanding places and let me have the payment, I will be at the March Club Night. Arrive from 7pm and we will start skittling before 7.30pm.

Sunday 25^th March - March Madness Run: Alan has finalised the details for this run and the booking details and form are on the club website. The plan is to assemble at the Golden Cross from 11am for the usual bacon rolls and coffee (or tea) and be ready to leave around 11.30 for the scenic run to the final venue of The Kings Court Hotel, which is in Coughton, on the A435 just outside Alcester. Expected arrival at Kings Court will be around 1pm, to sit down for lunch approx 1.30pm. We will have exclusive use of 'The Lantern' room, so shouldn't disturb the other guests too much!!

Alan needs the bookings with menu choice and payment by the March Club Night (6^th March) at the latest.

Tuesday 3^rd April - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross.

Sunday 8^th April - Malvern Festival of Transport: Alan is looking at us having a display stand at the show, please let me know if you are interesting is attending.

Sunday 22^nd April - Drive-it-Day Run: Nigel has arranged for us to visit the The Fox in Broadwell, with the usual start from the Golden Cross. He took a list of names for those interested at the February Club Night. Tuesday 1^st May - British Motor Museum 25^th Anniversary Run: We are going to help the Museum celebrate their 25^th anniversary. As I'm sure you are all fed up with me reminding you, The Arden MG Club were the first Club to visit the newly opened Heritage Motor Centre on the 2^nd May 1993 with the 1^st Heritage Run and in recognition of this they are pleased to offer us special status for their 25^th, as this will be the only celebration of the event due to the extensive building work going on at the site.

I'm not sure where we will start but there will be a scenic run to finish at the Museum, where I hope we will have a dedicated parking area in front of the Museum. I'm also looking at arranging a group lunch at the museum.

Tuesday 1^st May - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross.

Tuesday 5^th June - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross.

Sunday 1^st July - BMC Show: At the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. We will have a display at this show and again we will be granted free admission to the show and museum.

Tuesday 3^rd July - Club Night: This will be our Show Night Evening.

Wednesday 11^th July - Joint Natter: With our friends in the MGCC Midland Centre, again the meeting will be at the Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke.

Saturday 28^th July - Badsey Flower Show: Please note change of date for this show. More details nearer the time.

Sunday 29^th July - Chairman's Picnic: This year's picnic will be at Buzzards Valley Vineyard.

Tuesday 7^th August - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross.

Saturday 11^th August - Brailes Show:

Tuesday 4^th September - Club Night: Noggin and Natter at the Golden Cross.

Sunday 23^rd September - Heritage Run Revisited: As we have not had a Heritage Run this year I thought it would be a good idea to revisit one of the earlier runs, has anyone got a preference for the run we should use?