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.

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.