TR Action 255
A very Happy New Year to you all and I hope it will be a healthy and prosperous one. My last report concluded by wishing Bob and Joy Allen a sincere farewell and good luck from all in CVTR and we hope that the photo from our November meeting will bring a smile and shorten the miles now they are back in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Thanks to Phil Blake and Keith Brown for supplying the pictures, and Graham and Jane Edwards of North Wales group who were visiting the area.
Tim Walker hosted the annual Thai Emerald November Sunday Lunch and as the NEC show was spread over three days on the same weekend many CVTR members managed to attend both events, agreeing however that seven halls is quite a stretch in one day. As usual the Register stand was vibrant and popular with many familiar faces. Credit must go to all involved including the office team for an excellent stand.
The National AGM at Gaydon attracted many Cotswold Vale members who always take great interest in the workings of the Didcot office as well as keeping up to date with the social side of TR ownership. While in our safe keeping the Wheel Spinner was given a make-over and now sports two more layers; sincere thanks to our own Richard Durrant who arranged the additional plinths with woodworking genius Jason Marshall who lives in CVTR area.
Our own AGM was on the 30th November and our very efficient Treasurer Keith Brown has taken on the task again together with his now familiar raffles. Also included was the long awaited Air Ambulance final total and a big thanks to everyone who helped to raise the £306 which was presented at the Strensham Helicopter base in December. Our chosen charity in 2012 is yet to be decided but no doubt Cotswold Vale will once more grasp the nettle and give generously for a worthy cause.
Into the New Year and on January 21st we will all meet for our annual Dinner at the Kings Court Hotel near Alcester, our third year at this venue will include the usual banter and awards and thanks to the many loyal Cotswold Vale members who throughout the year give their time and effort to help make the group what it is today. There are always too many to mention but their names do pop up in my reports. The results of this event will be in the next Action issue 256.
January is also the month we plan our Calendar for the coming year. This can be viewed on line in our monthly Newsletter which is a detailed and entertaining and put together by our roving Vale team.
TR Action 254
The Lakes was attended by Colin & Les Boother who borrowed Alfred Widmer’s TR7 and also Pete & Ann Massey in their TR4A. Reports tell me that Saturday was wet but Sunday and the trip home made up for the shortfall in the bad weather at the beginning of the weekend and of course as usual Cat did everyone proud with another Lakes in the bag.
Also in September our annual visit to Peopleton Village show presented us with a few issues. Our gazebo came under extreme testing from the strong winds that invaded the day but the sun shone on some superb classics including eleven TRs provided by the ever faithful CVTR members and faithful was indeed the only word to describe Dave Roberts who turned up on his racing bike having sadly changed the shape of his front wing at Prescott when the Armco jumped out into his path. Our thanks must go to Richard Durrant who was the man behind the scenes for this event.
Keith Brown, our hardworking treasurer, organised the following day’s Sunday lunch at Red Marley with a tour of the Three Choirs Vineyard for afters although before leaving the pub Colin Boother had his desert in the shape of apple pie and custard destined for another table. “Nothing wrong with that“ I hear you cry. Well there is when it is the last one in the kitchen; the young waitress was reprimanded for making the mistake.
My next few lines are dedicated to a man who has visited Cotswold Vale in Spring and Autumn every year for as far back as I can remember, although he spends most of his time in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he runs his Toyota Business or in his apartment in Naples, Florida. Bob Allen and his wife Joy have also made their home in the Cotswolds and when they are in the UK Bob attends car meetings with his English friend ,colleague and CVTR member, Mike Hill. His American tones remind me of John McEnroe and his success story encourages fire side listening with accounts of his classic car collection in the States which includes Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, Maserati, Porsche Speedster, XK 120 and of course TRs with a TR3A which has done very little mileage. Bob usually goes for production cars in his collection but gives little indication of his acquisitions. This Autumn Bob and Joy are saying farewell to the UK for the last time; they have sold their property and the British TR3A is back with Mike after over a quarter of a century in Bob’s ownership. They have decided that it is time to close a chapter. We all wish him and Joy a very fond farewell, good luck and keep that passport up to date.
Finally our monthly Newsletter is always available for you to read online and our Annual Dinner is 21st January 2012, booking is in the capable hands once more of Andrew Racey.
TR Action 253
Life in the Vale has been somewhat hectic in the past few weeks and members have been busy supporting another full Calendar of events.
Hampton Ferry Car Show in early July was a first for a few members but is a must for 2012. The arrive when you want , leave when you want policy was a great attraction for this Charity driven event and is well worth a visit again. July also saw Richard and Meg Durrant's first Drakes Broughton Village Car Show; over twenty TRs graced the field along with over sixty other exhibits who were all eventually rewarded with the afternoon summer sun and Meg's burgers. On the evening of the same day Colin and Lesley Boother's residence was the next stop for an evening of Fish and Chips, and a photograph of the fifty CVTR members courtesy of Richard Durrant.
Our Wednesday meeting welcomed Mike Fenner in his TR4 and apart from the usual thanks and rundown of the next months events a safe journey was wished upon those going to Harrogate, an event I had been preparing for myself for a few weeks.
Unfortunately I was not to make the IWE as I had an accident and wrote my car off, a sad phone call to Reg Woodcock ,cancellation of my B&B and several phone calls to my insurance company were all I had to show for what was to be an inviting break with my good friends. Fortunately many CVTR friends phoned to ask of my health and I am extremely touched by their thoughtfulness, Nigel Cluley even offered me his car to run around in while I sorted out the legal bits.
August Sunday lunch was organised by Richard Durrant and he bought everyone a drink as they turned up for lunch. It was later that we discovered on August 28th Meg and Richard celebrated their Ruby Wedding and I can only say how touched I am that they have become such a keen, supportive and generous couple within CVTR.
The Annual Pershore plum festival held on August Bank Holiday Monday is a blend of music, tradition, farmers markets and of course classic cars which this year included Phil Daniels from B’ham group, Derek Weale in his rebuilt TR4, and Greg who has purchased a TR4 from a former CVTR member, along with Graham Bayley and his Velocette 200 LE and the story of his tour of Britain. Cotswold Vale had over twenty cars on show lined up with the now famous “Rope Method”.
The following Saturday over twenty CVTR cars entertained visitors to the Strensham based Air Ambulance open day where we gave rides for a donation to this worthy charity. Nick Owen of Midlands BBC opened the event and called by for a chat and the whole day was dominated by young Durrants TR 4A and Dave Lees newly acquired Lotus Elyese. Andrew Racey was behind the organising of this event and takes the credit for a Swiss watch precision day.
