TR Action 228
Just a few days to the International at Malvern and Cotswold Vale are sharpening their pencils for the take-over of the bring and buy. Managed originally by London Group and now in the hands of our members, who have had a crash course in parts identification, labelling, and bartering. Please have some patience as this is our first year and it has been quite an operation, remembering all the various tasks that have to be fulfilled to make the seamless transition look professional.
Mike Hill organised the May Sunday lunch drink at The Bell at Welford upon Avon and then took us on to Stratford on Avon and gave us an afternoon lesson in the art of punting. Yes, on the river and not in it, although there were some close moments - when Ian Benfield changed boats midstream was one and standing at the stern to learn how to hold and direct the pole was another. It was an excellent afternoon’s entertainment, thanks to all participants.
Prescott was a little chilly for this year’s very successful Triumph Marque Day but that didn't deter the Cotswold Vale team from standing at their posts all day on Saturday and checking in the many enthusiasts who attended the event. Sunday was a better day for sprinters and work staff alike and with bookings to run the famous hill in demand throughout the day Cotswold Vale members, ladies and gents alike, worked tirelessly alongside other car club members to keep the marshals busy and the drivers happy. My day on the Register stand was very enjoyable thanks to Brian and the rock cakes seemed to go down well too.
The feedback from our members on the weekend was very positive and the letter of appreciation from our new chairman was well received; thanks Chris, and yes, if asked, we would do it all again next year.
The first weekend in June kept many away from lawn mowing in favour of spending Saturday on Evesham Crown Meadow with a fine display of TRs and a general chat with the public. Sunday's weather brought out more than the TRs when we attended Churchill village show, as a swarm of bees descended on a small oak tree next to our gazebo, but talk of cordoning the area off and restricting movements around our display quickly dissolved when a member of the village committee arrived, suitably dressed and armed with bee removing equipment. The poor chap was subjected to every conceivable quip that springs to mind on these occasions including, “Why haven’t they settled near the MGBee tent?” With the bees out of the way normal activities resumed and with some three hundred and sixty vehicles to view there was hardly time to have a pint. Thanks to all who made our presence known at the shows especially Richard Durrant for his photographic skills and risking a good stinging.
Safe journey to Malvern and leave the rain at home; we don't want it this year.
TR Action 227
After spending much of my time travelling to my daughters or waiting in the rain outside a colleague’s house for him to return to get them to send my report, I am proud to announce that I am writing this in the comfort of my own home on my state of the art laptop.
Yes, Canning has entered the 21st century at last! My study is still unfinished and from what I’ve been told about computers it probably never will be now. I’ve had a lot of encouragement from my daughters; remarks like “If I had known you were buying one of those I’d have gone on holiday” give me a lot of confidence.
Anyway to business, first of all you should find my e-mail address in WOHFTB and secondly Colin has decided to give up the joint Group Leader position due to home commitments and because he wants to sit on the “naughty table” for a change. I guess after fifteen years either working as Social secretary or as joint GL he is entitled to that luxury. He has worked tirelessly for the group with Lesley by his side and we are deeply indebted to them both for their commitment. While I have been building the home extension, Colin has taken on much of the day to day running of the group so a chance to have a change and enjoy his TRs is much deserved.
CVTR is very busy preparing for summer, many of the members have been taking on the responsibility of various dates through the coming months and Prescott will be our first joint Group venture, although when you are reading this, it will be a distant memory. Thanks must go to all CV members who helped on the day and to those involved in the organisation of the event. We hope you enjoyed the day and the weather.
Back in April we met up with Birmingham Group at the “Bluebell” near Upton upon Severn for a skittles match. After three rounds of 19 players each side CVTRs were proved to be the winners and won an engraved cup donated by Merv Parkes. We all agreed it was an excellent meeting and it was good to see B’ham group out in force. I feel a return match coming on; thanks to Colin & Les for organising our end of the evening including the food.
Talking of food Alfred Widmer organised an excellent Sunday lunch at “The Hunters” at Longdon in April and in May we will have been punting at Stratford on Avon organised by Mike Hill - I will tell you next time if we got wet - also our Newsletter can be viewed on our Website with thanks to Andrew Racey for keeping everyone up to date. And finally: Welcome to Bob Allen who joins us for his annual visit from the States.
TR Action 226
At last, Canning’s done a report. Well yes, I have missed a couple of deadlines lately, come to think of it, but thanks to Colin I think everyone has been kept up to date. Life will be a little easier when I have a computer and an office to put it in but at the moment the plasterer has still to be booked.
With Jane at work I took time out in February to attend our monthly drink at the Thai Emerald in Evesham where our very own Tim Walker had organised an Oriental buffet for our members. I always enjoy sampling the cuisine but because nothing is labelled I haven’t a clue what I’m eating.
Our March Sunday meeting was organised by yours truly and fourteen of us enjoyed a superb lunch at the Three Horseshoes at Wixford. Thanks to those who turned up in TRs; also welcome to new members Sally and Dave Roberts who are looking for a TR at this present time.
Our CVTR diary is filling up so if anyone out there would like to join us this year we have plenty going on, Churchill Village show is in June. The Burlingham Village evening gathering, where one can saunter through yesteryear on the cricket pitch and view some fine machinery, will be in July. Our part in the running of the Prescott Hill Climb day is being finely tuned by our members and we hope to see many of you in May. Richard Durrant has been to RAF Cosford to make plans for a visit and tour by us all, and Ian Brown is organising a local auction for all things TR (or not), which will be held at the Fleece Inn, possibly in July.
We hope to be teaming up with our neighbours Birmingham Group for a few events this year and also congratulations to Dave Newbery for taking on the Group Leader’s position.
So you see that’s just a taste of things going on in the Vale. Now the bad news, my TR its quietly waiting for my attention and the Rayburn is still boxed up in the corner ,so no leafy country lanes for me and no cake days for you. Come to think of it my wife sits quietly waiting for my attention these days, so what’s going to happen when I've got a computer? Do not go there.
See you soon somewhere in a TR.
Well here we are already two thirds of the way through the summer and will it ever stop raining? Since Andy’s last report we have been to the Camden Classic Car Show at Toddington where, despite the rain, we had about nine cars including a TR6 from Coventry group, a Swallow Doretti and a TR2 belonging to Bob from Dartmouth who was touring the Cotswolds. Nice to see you all and thank you for joining us.
Our Sunday lunch in July was a run to Millett’s Farm Park near Abingdon organised by Andrew Racey. We met in Evesham (pre floods) and had a good run through the Cotswolds picking up Phil and Be in their TR2 on the way. It was a lovely day, the sun actually shone and there was plenty to see. As we arrived a gentleman in a vintage car pulled up by Andrew’s Dove who turned out to be a Mr Harrington whose father’s firm built them. Small world isn’t it?
A few of us attended The Drakes Broughton fete to put our cars in their car display. Thanks Richard for organising this, photos on the website. After that it all went wrong, We met on the Thursday before the International at The Fleece for the handover of TS2 from Birmingham group, all was going well with twelve cars from our group. We took lots of photos, several people had a drive in it and I took Nigel the landlord for a spin. On the way home it started to rain, luckily we managed to get the hood up before the heavens opened with thunder, lightening and a torrential downpour which didn’t stop until Saturday, the rest you all know about. For TS2’s further adventures see Andy’s report.
On to the International, you will all have heard by now what a disaster that was. A few intrepid members and dealers got there including Phil and Debbie who was running the creche who gave us regular updates including at one point that a reservoir was about to collapse and they would have to use the site as a rescue centre. By Saturday afternoon we had one road passable through the village and after meeting with a TR5 from Yorkshire who was lost whom we directed back to the motorway after tea and cake at Pat and Alf’s, we decided to try to reach the Showground in my Transit van. We thought it would go through more water than the TR. We made it without too much trouble to find that things were going on as normal though with very few people and cars. Talk about the Dunkirk spirit. On the Sunday Alf and I went in his 250, by that time Upton had flooded and we had to go via the M50 but we had a whole day there with Andrew and Ian turning up. A big thank you must go to everyone who helped organise and kept it going.
