The after dinner entertainment at our May Club night at the Barns was certainly out of the ordinary. We were delighted to welcome Jenny Morgan from the Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre at Eccleshall who came to talk to us of the work of their family run animal sanctuary. She brought along some of their beautiful birds of prey to show us who then made some very low level flying passes over our heads. The tour of the room by Jenny and her python snake was perhaps not so popular with some members! It`s well worth visiting.

Our long awaited Cumbrian Getaway going to stay at the classic car themed Fat Lamb Hotel at Kirby Stephen started on the 21^st. Due to the numbers wanting to attend we had to split into two groups with the first of 21 followed by the second of 20. The Hotel was all we expected and we were well looked after. Day one`s programme included the Lakeland Car Museum, railway trips and cruising on lake Windermere. Day two, a 90 mile scenic tour over the best of the moors roads with stops for coffee, lunch and sightseeing. Thanks go to Keith and Chris Timmis who put in tremendous work arranging this very enjoyable trip for us. Sadly they experienced the only breakdown of the trip when their MGF literally ground to a halt, needing RAC recovery.

Attendance at the TTCM at Aston Marina was down, probably as it closely followed the Cumbrian Trip, but 20 still came along for a pleasant morning`s natter at this popular venue.

The final event of May was “The Young Timers Show” at Gawsworth Hall in Cheshire on the Bank Holiday Monday, when 20 members braved the hottest May day on record to display, such dedication!

Happy MG motoring.

Plenty of activity in April and the opportunity to enjoy some MG motoring. As usual the month started with Club night at the Barns with 41 members attending for a meal and natter night. We were pleased to welcome new member Mel Davis with his recently acquired 1971 MGB in Midnight Blue, a really good looking car.

A new event for us was a mid-week breakfast meet at the Cake Shack at Whitmore Lakes. Full English breakfasts were the order of the day for the 14 members attending and they were really enjoyed by all. I`m sure these mornings will become a popular addition to our calendar. Yet another opportunity for the SMGEC foodies to tuck in!

A return to one of our most popular venues for the Third Thursday Coffee morning saw 32 members meeting up at the Ranch Bistro on Cannock Chase. The sunny weather meant hoods were down for the ride in but great care had to be taken negotiating the monster pot holes in the entrance drive!

To mark this year’s Drive it Day on the 26^th of April, Alan and Karen organised for us to visit to the Midlands Air Museum at Cosford. After meeting up at Dobbies on Gailey Island they led a good turnout of 14 cars along a short drive to arrive at the Museum. After parking up we were pleased to find that both the Coventry and Cheshire MG Owners Clubs were already in attendance, making a great display of MG`s in the car park. The fine afternoon weather allowed us to picnic outside to finish off an enjoyable day.

To round out April, our new Drive and Dine organisers Bob and Irene, took 22 members to The Toby Carvery at Norton Cannes to enjoy an evening meal. Now looking forward to our Trip to Cumbria.

SMGEC`s March programme was made up of a wide range of events including local history, cinema, horse racing, golf and diggers, all with some miles of MG driving to top them off!

Our normal Club night at the Barns was enlivened by a fascinating after dinner talk on the history of nearby Dudley Castle by local historian Max Keane. It`s not often your guest speaker appears in full medieval armour complete with shield and sword! A great evening enjoyed by all the 46 members attending.

Roger and Sue`s popular Coffee and film morning at the Red Carpet Cinema was on the 9<sup>th</sup>, when 32 members gathered to enjoy a morning`s coffee and chat before watching the latest release of Mothers Pride which stars Martin Clunes. He seems to be in everything at the moment.

Four legs instead of four wheels were the order of the day on the 14^th when we attended the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter race course, arranged by Peter. 18 members enjoyed the fine sunny weather to cheer on their favourites in the 7 races. I`m told that some folding money changed hands but mostly in the bookies favour I`m afraid.   

For our March Third Thursday Coffee Morning, long standing member and golf devotee Renton, hosted a visit to his second home, Whittington Heath Golf Club. Sitting in the brilliant sunshine on the terrace outside of their impressive new club house a great turnout of 43 enjoyed the chat and the views over the course.

To end the month it was back to four wheels again but this time very large ones painted yellow. Keith and Chris had organised a visit to JCB at Rochester to join them on the visitor`s factory tour which was followed by an excellent lunch. A great day out. Happy MG motoring.

Although the biblical rainfall showed no sign of abating it did not stop Club activities picking up pace in February.  Starting on the 5^th with Club Night at the Barns which was combined with our AGM. A good turnout of 37 members attended and after the meal Chairman Roger presided over the formal meeting. His review of 2025 covered all the events including our away trips to Wales and Warners Holme Lacy, all agreed it had been a very successful programme. Our new Treasurer John, presented the accounts which showed the Club`s finances to be in good order and announced the donation of £1344 to Dougie Mac Hospice, our chosen charity. So it was not surprising that the Committee was re-elected for another year.  

February`s main event was our traditional Snowdrop Run organised by Mike, Heather and Paul. The venue this year was Attingham Park in Shropshire with 37 members taking part. After meeting up at Dobbies at Gailey, tea and coffee were taken on board to ward of the chilly and wet weather. With many of our MG`s still in hibernation we still had 2 MG TF`s, 1 MGB GT and 2 Chinese MG`s amongst the daily drivers. Arriving at Attingham after a 30 mile tulip run we wound our way around the Snowdrop walk with snowdrops in abundance, the best display for years. Retreating out of the rain into the tea room the afternoon ended with coffee, cakes and a good chat before the run home.  A great start to this year’s runs.

The month ended with our Third Thursday Coffee morning moving to a new location, The Hollybush Garden Centre at Shareshill near Wolverhampton. 26 members enjoyed a friendly morning`s get together over coffee in the restaurant, I`m sure we will return.

Happy MG motoring.

We had planned to reveal our 2026 programme to the members at the first club night of the year on the 8^th January. The weather gods however spoilt the party when they decided to dump 10cm of snow on the Midlands, (for older readers that’s 4 inches). Thankfully the committee wisely cancelled the meeting at the last minute.  All was not lost however as the full programme of events has been posted and is available to view on the Club website, see the address above. As usual, we have included monthly Club nights, guest speakers, coffee mornings, tulip runs to interesting venues and of course, car shows to enjoy. New for this year are two breakfast meets, great fun but watch the cholesterol! As a majority of our membership are retired we are trying out some mid-week events this year to see if they are popular.

Normal service was resumed on the 15^th with a coffee morning at the Marsh Farm tea rooms and restaurant at Abbots Bromley. Always popular, 29 members spent a morning catching up after the Christmas break.

Not surprisingly the SMGEC foodies were quick off the mark in getting their gastronomic year off to a good start with a Sunday lunch at the Cricketts Inn near Acresford. Organised by Paul Titley, 38 members met up at the Strawberry Cabin near Hints for hot chocolate and coffee before setting off on a 20 mile run to the Inn. There we had a reserved room to enjoy an excellent choice of lunches, well cooked and served, to round off a very enjoyable first outing off the year, the first of many I am sure.

If you want to enjoy your MG ownership in the company of fellow enthusiasts then why not check out website for how to join us.