May was a busy month for SMGEC with a mix of events. Starting as usual with our monthly Club night at the Barns, which was well attended by 44 members. Following an excellent meal and a review of past and future events it ended with a lively natter session.

Not wanting to waste the glorious sunny weather and enjoy some hood down MG driving we arranged a run out on the 11^th. 20 cars and crews met up at Aston Marina to enjoy a coffee and also to warmly welcome new member John Gilbert, with his blue MGF. Suitably refreshed we set off on a 40 mile Tulip run to our destination, Cromford Mills in Derbyshire. Our visit to this historic cotton mill, built in 1771 by Richard Arkwright, was organised by Geoff and Cathy Collier. We lined up our MG`s in the Mill yard making a much admired display. We enjoyed our picnic lunches sat at a long table in the yard before taking a fascinating tour of this historic mill. The day ended with another hood down drive home. A splendid day out and highly recommended for a visit.

The May TTCM returned to Denstone Farm Shop near Uttoxeter. This was one of the first venues we visited when we began holding these mornings in 2013 since when they have established themselves to be one of the most popular of our Club events. Basking again in the superb sunny weather, 28 members made the trip to enjoy the morning of chat, coffee and cakes.

Apparently not having eaten since Club Night the SMGEC foodies needed no encouragement to meet up on the 31^st at The Nelson at Burntwood for a Drive and Dine run organised as usual by Keith and Gill. The meal and evening was enjoyed by all. Happy MG motoring.

With the 2025 season barely started SMGEC members are already making plans for their motoring in 2026! At the well-attended April Barns club night, the committee announced that we will be going on a 3 night trip to the Fat Lamb Hotel in Cumbria in May 2026.

 As the Hotel has only 12 rooms and 24 members wanted to attend we have booked two 3 night trips, one following the other. The Hotel is known to be very car club friendly. For the more adventurous members an overseas trip to Normandy is being planned for September 2026,  

Back to this year, Phil and Cathy Wellstead have organized a weekend away at a Warners Hotel in late September, something new for us to try with all sorts of activities and entertainment included.

Shock news, SMGEC members go ecofriendly and give up driving! Well yes, but only for one day. Club member Keith Johnson is a keen local historian with a wealth of knowledge of his home City Of Lichfield. He and wife Gill, guided 33 members on a walking tour of the City on a beautiful spring day. He told us fascinating details of its history, people, places and events. This great day finished up with afternoon tea at the George Hotel, a plus for the SMGEC foodies.

Sorry its food again! April`s TTCM visited a new venue, the Thyme Kitchen at Curborough Village. A splendid morning with 40 members attending and enjoying the hoods down sunny weather.

Drive it Day saw us visiting Berrington Hall near Leominster. Meeting up at Gailey, 15 cars left on a 57 mile tulip route in beautiful weather to the Hall where we had reserved parking and a picnic area all organized by Paul Titley with the help of Keith and Chris Timmis on the day.

Only three events in March but hey, quality beats quantity every time. Club night at the Barns was well attended by 38 members. After an excellent meal the committee sought the views of the members when they presented proposals for away trips in 2026. These included a continental  oversees tour to Normandy France, 3 nights away at the Fat Lamb Hotel in Cumbria  and a long weekend at a Warners Hotel. All attracted loads of comments and interest. Final decisions will be made in April. The evening ended with a good natter.

Our early season Shake Down run on the 16^th took us to a most interesting new venue, the Astley Book Farm near Nuneaton. Starting from Planters at Tamworth on a bitterly cold day, organisers Gary and Jane led 30 of us on a 24 mile run to arrive in time for lunch, no surprise there then. Whilst some members browsed the thousands of books on sale the foodies settled down in the circular yurt tent warmed by a roaring log burner to enjoy their coffee and cake.

Which leads me nicely onto the Third Thursday Coffee morning on the 20th March, this month returning to the Range Bistro at Penkridge. A great turnout of 20 cars enjoyed the brilliant sunshine with hoods been lowered for the first time this year. It even tempted George Robatthan to give his recently acquired MGC an outing after spending the winter fettling to bring it up to his high standard, the first of many we hope.

We have a busy programme of events for the coming months including our away trip to Wales in June, so hopefully  the weather will continue to improve to ensure we are able to enjoy a full Summer of Enjoying MG motoring.

Official Club business was the order of the day in early February with our AGM at the Barns. The room was full with 54 members attending to hear Chairman Roger Dudley review our activities in 2024, which all agreed had been most successful. Our Treasurer, Des Barnard, presented the Club`s accounts which again showed us to be in fine fettle enabling us to make a £1400 donation to our chosen charity, The Dougie Mac Hospice.

Big changes to the committee for this year. Des and Gill Barnard who have been Treasurer and membership secretary, Maureen Wood who has edited our Club magazine since 2008 and Paul Titley our events planner all standing down. A big thank you to them for their services to the Club.

We welcomed onto the committee, John Edwards as Treasurer along with members Alan and Karen Wild and Colin and Sharon Wiltshire.

The month`s events continued with a coffee and film morning at the Red Carpet cinema with “Maria” showing on the screen. 33 members enjoyed the morning in the warm comfort of the cinema.

That all changed on the 16^th when 21 brave souls ventured out in the freezing conditions to enjoy the Snowdrops at Rode Hall in Cheshire. Meeting up at Dobbies at Gailey, hot coffee and bacon rolls were taken on board to ward off the coming cold. After an enjoyable but muddy 40 mile run we explored the woodland walk to view this year’s very good display of snowdrops. Puffer jackets were the preferred dress of the day, our party looking like a Michelin Men`s day out!

To round off February we again retreated to the warm indoors for a coffee morning at the Forest Restaurant at Tamworth attended by 36 members.  Roll on the summer and some sunshine! 

2025 began as usual with a well-attended Club night at the Barns where events planner Paul presented this year`s programme of events to the members. There are far too many events to detail here but why not log on to our website for the full programme. Highlights include a very popular 3 night away trip in June, returning to the highly recommended Ty`n-y-Cornell Hotel in Wales, which we visited in 2024. Scenic driving routes and venues are already being prepared. We had hoped to visit Normandy in September but tying up ferries and Hotels on the dates we wanted didn`t work out this year although we might look again for the 2026 programme. However, there are more than enough events planned to keep us busy this year.

With many of our MG`s still tucked away until the better weather motoring in January was again limited, but don`t worry, the SMGEC foodies didn’t let that stop them from hitting the tables! Daily drivers, which to be fair did include some modern MG`s, were pressed into service for a coffee morning at Marsh Farm where 20 members met up to enjoy this popular but small venue which acted as starter for the main course to follow.

Paul Titley kindly organized for them a Sunday lunch at the Cock at Hanbury and 43 members needed no second invitation to attend. Meeting up at Barton Marina, a short 12 mile run was enough to whet the appetites which were then well satisfied with the excellent food served. A return visit could well be on the cards.

Getting back to the serious business of MG motoring. We will have started with the traditional first run of the year, the Snowdrop Run. This year returning to Rode Hall in Cheshire. The first of many!