October brought the very sad news of the death of Alan Elkington after a long illness bravely born. Alan was one of the Club`s earliest members owning a MGB and a beautiful MGA which he rebuilt from a wreck. Alan worked tirelessly for many causes as well as being an active Club member. A kind and gentle man with a great sense of humour he will be missed by all. Our thoughts go to Joan and family for their loss.
With the onset of autumn Club life slowed down. The Club night dinner at the Barns was followed by hilarious bingo games organized by Alan and Karen Wild. Completely ignoring the normal caller`s instructions he made his own up as he went along!
Our last run of the year was the Twilight Run planned by Geoff and Cathy Collier. After meeting up at Aston Marina their splendid 40 mile route took our 20 cars on roads we have never driven before including a trip through a ford to reach our destination for Sunday Lunch, the Spot Inn at Hilderstone. Their dining room is a converted railway carriage and fortunately for us, unlike the train drivers, the staff were not on strike and served us an excellent meal with delicious sticky toffee pudding to finish!
The 3rd Thursday coffee morning hosted by Brian and June Cooper was held at Marsh Farm near Abbots Bromley with 19 members meeting up for the natter.
Although this year`s activities are running down our planning elves led by Paul Titley have been hard at work on the 2024 programme. As an early taster they released the details of The Norfolk Get Away, a 3 night away trip in May planned by Bob and Irene Stone. It was immediately fully booked up by 19 crews. Cannot wait!
January 2024 Enjoying MG
The onset of winter in November saw Club life move indoors with many of our MG`s tucked away until next year. The November Club night at the Barns saw 36 members gathering for dinner followed by our Annual Awards night. This is the opportunity to receive plaudits for glorious achievement or slide under the table in shame for motoring disasters! The election was under the firm control of Phil Wellstead, just like Election Night on the BBC!
This year`s worthy winners and unfortunate losers were.
Services to the ClubDes and Gill Barnard.
Driver of the YearJeff Darlow.
Co-driver of the yearGill Barnard
Newcomers awardMichael and Heather Steventon.
Breakdown of the yearPhil and Cathy Wellstead.
Special breakdown awardKeith and Chris Timmis.
Chairman`s awardKeith and Gill Johnson.
The trophy presentation followed with applause and commiserations from the members. Thankfully the breakdown bills were considerably lower than the horrendous bills of the last 2 years.
November`s coffee morning at Byrkley garden centre was attended by 40 members proving how they have become a major part of Club life, recognizing that the majority of members are retired. Only two MG`s in the car park though, one was Chairman Roger`s MGB, much to the chagrin of wife Sue who had meticulously polished it thinking it was off the road for the winter! The other was my own TF with a stoved in front wing from a car park bang.
The month ended with a coffee and film morning at the Red Carpet Cinema at Barton Marina hosted by Sue Dudley. 24 members enjoyed the natter with 12 stopping on to watch the film, Napoleon by Ridley Scott. Only our Christmas Party and a coffee morning are left in 2023 but exciting plans for 2024 are already in place.
November 2023 Enjoying MG
With so many events happening in September and limited space I must be brief!
The month started well with 7 Cars displaying at the Eccleshall show on the 2nd.
For Club night at the Barns Keith and Christine Timmis had arranged an after dinner speaker. David Spencer, a jeweler and goldsmith gave us a fascinating glimpse of his skills. The ladies loved the diamonds and gold on show but the men looked worried! Makes a change from the usual carbs and camshafts.
The main event of the month was the long awaited Northumberland Explorer trip, meticulous planned by Des and Gill Barnard. The Riverdale Hall Hotel in Bellingham was the base for 4 nights for our group of 16 cars and 31 members. Daily tulip notes guided us to Hadrian’s Wall, Cragside House, Beamish Museum and the Northumberland coast, enjoying the beautiful scenery and fine driving roads. We drove around 750 miles on the trip with no breakdowns. Our evening dining was again enhanced (?) by Renton Ward`s fiendish quizzes.
Coffee and tea cakes were the order of the day at the Halfpenny Green Winery coffee morning on the 21st. New members Colin and Louise Downs joined 22 members to enjoy the natter. Unfortunately they discovered that leaving their TF`s hood down when a cloudburst passed through leads to soggy bottoms!
It was canal boats not cars at the Huddlesford Canal Gathering. Arranged by narrow boat owners Des and Gill (where do they find the time) 17 cars entered the display of classic cars. The morning drizzle soon passed and the weather improved. Highlight of the day was the onstage performance of “No Direction” a boy band featuring Club member Glyn John who received wild applause from our group.
A Drive and Dine Run to the Oakley at Brewood completed a very full month.
October 2023 Enjoying MG
August`s programme included events for all interests, great MG road runs, taking to the water on boat trips, displaying at car shows, enjoying coffee and cakes and of course fine dining, good food always being on the menu with SMGEC members!
The Club night at the Barns was well attended and gave the opportunity to welcome new members Michael and Heather Steventon and Andy and Barbara Wright who bring an F, TF and MGC to the fleet. A review of recent activities was followed by a look forward to future events, especially our Northumberland trip in September.
The opportunity for enjoyable MG driving came on the 13th when Phil and Cathy Wellstead led us on a trip to Rudyard Lake near Leek. Starting at Aston Marina, a great turnout of 23 cars set off on a challenging 30 mile run over the Staffordshire Moorlands to arrive at the lake. After parking up on the dam we sat down to enjoy a fine buffet lunch in the restaurant followed by trips round the lake in an all-electric boat, shades of an MG4 EV! A most enjoyable day out.
The 3rd Thursday coffee morning saw 30 members meeting at the very welcoming Aston Marina to enjoy a leisurely morning’s natter over coffee. Organized by Brian and June Cooper these mornings are a very popular part of Club life.
For the Lupin Farm charity car show on the 20th Charles Jarman led 13 SMGEC cars to join the hundreds of others on display. Sadly we learned that after 38 years this would be the last show organizer Edwin Tipper will be holding. This is disappointing news, as for many enthusiasts, Lupin farm has been the best car show in the Midlands and will be much missed.
Happy MG motoring for the rest of the summer.
August 2023 Enjoying MG
With over half the year and the longest day passed, SMGEC made good use the fine weather to enjoy some miles driving our MG`s. Club night at the Barns was an opportunity to relive the very successful recent Welsh Trip with plenty of photos in the presentation. It certainly wetted the appetite for Des and Gill Barnard`s Northumberland trip in September, plans for which are well advanced with 19 cars now in the party.
We had two runs in June starting on the 11th with our annual charity run organized by Roger and Sue Dudley, this year going to Charlecote Park. Early concerns for the weather soon evaporated and it was hoods down for a splendid 60 mile run. Thankfully the road closed demon took pity on Roger and Sue this time and had a day off! Picnics and ice creams made the day which raised £335 for our charity, the Dougie Mac Hospice.
Coffee and tea cakes were on the menu at the Byrkley garden centre coffee morning on the 15Th. With 17 cars and 33 members attending it shows how popular these mid-week meetings organized by Brian and June Cooper have become.
On the 25th for the second run of the month Lyn and I took the Club to Stokesay Castle near Craven Arms, a welcome return to beautiful Shropshire. Meeting up at Gailey, a 52 mile run took in the Ironbridge gorge before driving across the spectacular Long Mynd to reach the Castle, a venue well worth visiting. Picnics and a tour of the Castle were enjoyed in sunny weather, so another hood down day.One breakdown was promptly dealt with by the RAC with a trip home on the wagon of shame for Phil and Cathy Wellstead after brake troubles. Happy MG motoring.