July is always a busy one with a full programme of events for us to enjoy. It started as usual with Club night at the Barns with a choice of salmon or chicken followed by apple pie with custard to satisfy the SMGEC foodies.

The glorious weather continued at the Walsall Arboretum show where we had 11 cars on display. Jane Hunt`s scrumptious lemon drizzle cake followed by ice creams all round were enjoyed by us in the much needed shade of our gazebos. A really pleasant local show with a good selection of cars attending.

Brian and June who organize our TTCM took us to a new venue for July, the Hollybush Garden Centre at Shareshill by Wolverhampton. This proved to be a good choice with 26 members enjoying the usual coffee and cake on offer and then a browse around the Centre. It`s sure to be added to our list of venues as we need to cater for up to 40 members attending.

For something different on the 23^rd Alan and Karen arranged for us to visit St Barthholomew`s Church at Tong in Shropshire. This church has remained intact for over 600 years and is Historic England grade 1 listed. Our group of 35 enjoyed a fascinating and informative hour long tour with guide Robert, who brought the history of the Church to life. Lunch in the village hall ended a most enjoyable and informative day out.

No SMGEC month would be complete without our foodies enjoying their favourite hobby, eating out! This time Keith and Gill booked a Drive and Dine evening at the Greyhound near Burston for 30 who enjoyed the excellent pub grub on offer.

Stop press, our proposed tour to Southern Brittany has now been confirmed for September 2026 with 17 cars already signed up, can`t wait!  

Sunday 1^st of June saw 20 cars and crews setting off on our long awaited “Another Welsh Adventure” trip, returning again to the Ty`n-y-cornel Hotel near Dolgellau. After meeting for coffee at the Dragon Hotel at Montgomery we drove to Lake Clywedog for a picnic lunch then on to the Hotel in time for drinks before dinner.

Monday`s run was to Caernarfon Castle via the Llanberis Pass. After exploring the ramparts we drove back down the pass to view the Swallow Falls near Capel Curig and enjoy afternoon tea at the recently re opened Swallow Fall Hotel before motoring back to the Hotel via Blanenau Festiniog.

On Tuesday we drove the coastal road via Tywyn, Barmouth and Harlech to Borth-y-Gest near Porthmadog, then onwards to visit Abersoch for lunch.

After breakfast on Wednesday members made their own plans, with one group taking the challenging mountain road up to Bala, great driving!  In spite of our early concerns the weather was perfect for the whole trip and thanks must go to Renton and Helen Ward for organizing yet another successful visit to Wales.

We barely had time to catch our breath as June Club Night was the day after our return. This was our Summer Buffet with the theme being “Cruise Night” All got into the spirit with Captain Brian and 1^st Officer Johnathan steering the ship!

The TTCM was at the Mere Park garden centre near Newport,

June ended with our Charity Run when Roger and Sue Dudley took us on a very wet 46 mile run to Hanbury Hall near Droitwich. Thankfully the sun came out for our picnic lunch. Our guide for the tour of the House was David Allen, Chairman of Bromsgrove MGOC who helps at the Hall. A super day which raised £375 for Dougie Mac Hospice.

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.