September opened with Club night at the Barns where after dinner we enjoyed a comical game of Play Your Cards Right compered by Alan with assistants Karen and June. Great fun!

Keith and Chris led 14 cars to the Eccleshall Show on the 5^th. This country show had something for everyone, classic cars for the petrol heads with dog trials, pony club racing, country crafts, cakes and even giant vegetables for all to enjoy. The sunny weather added to the enjoyment which was topped of with an evening meal at The Old Smithy in Eccleshall.

Our long awaited Brittany Tour started on the 10^th with 16 cars meeting up at Portsmouth to board the overnight ferry to St Malo. Last minute breakdowns meant 2 TF`s were replaced with MGB GT`s, no stamina these youngster’s! After a smooth crossing we disembarked to begin a leisurely drive to our base for the tour, the Hotel Restaurant du Chateau at Josselin. The afternoon was spent exploring the impressive Chateau and the town before dinner at the Hotel. Day 2 was a visit to historic Vannes, one of the best preserved medieval and attractive towns in Brittany coinciding with their colourful market day. Day 3 was a drive to Auray then St Goustain and on to the Stones at Carnac. Day 4 a visit to Rochefort-en-Terre   followed by visiting La Gacilly. Our final day was the return trip to the ferry at St Malo stopping off at the pretty town of Dinan for lunch and sightseeing. The tour, organised by Colin and Sharon was superb quite possibly the best the Club has run. Their choice of Josselin opened up some of the best attractions in Brittany made all the better by glorious weather the whole trip. Back home a coffee morning and a Drive and Dine ended the month.

As usual August opened with Club night at the Barns. Far too hot for one of the Barns delicious hot meals organiser Sue opted for a cold buffet instead. An enjoyable natter night followed.

On the 16^th we displayed at the Kings Bromley Car Show. Organised by John and Carol  we had a great pitch to show off 13 cars which included MGF and TF , MGB tourer and GT ,MGC and a brace of MGRV8`s. This show has grown stature and attendance and has become a worthy replacement for the much missed Lupin Farm Show which was held nearby on Edwin Tippers Farm. At our last show one of our members, John, sneaked in with a Morgan Plus 8 but this time he went even better and brought along his Jaguar E type and Austin Healey 3000. What`s next to appear?

A drive over to the East of our area on the 20^th brought 36 members to the TTCM at Planters Garden Centre near Tamworth. We were somewhat alarmed when we arrived as a pensioners Bingo session was in full swing but we soon settled in our side room to enjoy coffee, tea cakes and a morning`s chat.

On the 23^rd, Des and Gill arranged a visit to the Anderton Canal Boat lift in Cheshire. After meeting up at Aston Marina, a 46 mile run took us to the Lift where we parked up for lunch. 5 brave souls then climbed the impressive 100 feet high iron structure whilst the more sensible “timid” enjoyed a pleasure cruise along the River Weaver.

August ended with eager anticipation of our trip to Southern Brittany in early September and also the announcement of 2 away trips planned for 2027. One to Minehead in Somerset in May and then Tenby in Wales in September. Happy MG motoring.

SMGEC reached the milestone of being founded 25 years in July and to celebrate it we held an Anniversary club night at the Barns. Themed as a trip on The Orient Express, 45 members enjoyed the buffet meal and an excellent evening.

On the 8^th, Keith and Gill organised a return visit to David Austin Roses to view the display but the fierce heat meant the tour of the rose beds was unfortunately cut short. To make up we moved to the nearby Oakley Inn for welcome drinks and lunch to end the day in air conditioned comfort!

We returned to an old favourite, the Whittington Barracks car show on the 12^th Organised by Roy, 8 cars displayed in the sunshine where we were joined by a Morgan Plus Eight, just acquired by member John, to add to his impressive fleet. Not an MG but still a lovely car!

To seek relief from the heat wave we moved indoors at the Mere Park Garden Centre near Newport for the TTCM. It was hoods down for the 22 members who gathered for coffee and cakes and some retail therapy for the ladies!

The main run in July was a visit to Hodnet Hall Gardens in Shropshire on the 24^th. Mike, Keith and Chris planned a 30 mile route which included some “old school” green lane single track roads to arrive at our destination, where they had arranged a parking and picnic area in front of the Hall for us to enjoy our lunches. We then explored the beautiful gardens and lakes before ending the afternoon with ice creams at the café. Surprisingly it was our first visit to this gem.

The month ended with an excellent Drive and Dine Evening for the SMGEC foodies at The Cricketts Inn near Acresford, arranged by Bob and Irene. Happy MG motoring.

SMGEC had a full programme of events in June starting on the 4^th when 35 members attended the Club night at the Barns, hosted by Phil. After the meal we had the opportunity to re live events from our excellent Cumbrian Getaway to the Fat Lamb Hotel in May. We had plenty of photos to view and one video which perhaps was the highlight of the evening, wasn`t it Geoff! We were also pleased to welcome the return to the Club of a past member, Karen Jones, with her 1976 Midget and a 2003 MGTF.

Our Annual Charity run took place on the 14^th, organisers Roger and Sue took us on a 45 mile scenic run starting at Byrkley Garden Centre to end at our destination, Keddlestone Hall in Derbyshire. A good turnout of 20 cars parked up in a reserved area of the car park attracting much interest. The good warm weather played its part and we enjoyed a picnic and ice creams after visiting the Hall. Pleasingly we raised over £300 for our nominated charity, the Dougie Mac Hospice.

For our TTCM on the 18^th, organisers Brian and June took 32 members to yet another new venue, The Essington Farm Shop near Wolverhampton. The shop proved ideal with a separate area reserved for us to enjoy the snacks and drinks on offer. I`m sure it will be added to our list for the future.

The final event of the month was The Posh Picnic Run to the Village of Clive in Shropshire. Meeting up at Dobbies, a 45 mile run took 32 members to the village Hall gardens where we laid out our “posh” picnics in the welcome sunshine. The competition to impress with lace table cloths and polished silver tea sets added to the fun. Happy MG motoring.

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.