SMGEC had a full calendar of events in April with 2 tulip runs, a race meeting and a car show on top of our normal Club night and coffee morning. Firstly, Charles and Patsie Jarman took us on a 42 mile run to The Great British Car Journey Museum near Matlock. The 130 cars on display from the 50`s onward brought back memories of our early motoring, with lots of “I had one of them”. Well worth the visit.

Club night at the Barns was as usual well attended and after dinner the future programme was run through with some really interesting runs to look forward to, in particular The Welsh Away Trip in May.

The third Thursday coffee morning moved to a new venue, The Forest restaurant at Mile Oak. After a pleasant morning and then lunch disaster struck organisers Brian and June Cooper. They found themselves trapped in their MGTF when the central locking locked them in and the car refused to start! After climbing out over the boot a trip home on the AA lorry and calling out a mechanic left them £200 worse off!  Breakdown of the Year?

Our 2^nd run was to Jodrell Bank, first planned in 2020 by our late dear friend Roger Wood but twice postponed by Covid. After an early coffee at Aston Marina a run of 35 miles took us to the Telescope where Keith and Christine Timmis had made all the arrangements for the visit. The science displays were fascinating, way over my head but apparently it can hear a mouse squeak on Mars.

The month ended with a small group going to the Donnington Historic Festival to watch the racing and then 9 cars and crews attended the Chetwynd Deer Park car show.

Happy MG motoring.

Great to be back on the roads enjoying our MG`s Renton Ward finally managed to stage his many times cancelled celebrity picture quiz at the March Club night at the Barns. Most of the 36 members present struggled to reach double figures but as usual quiz star Janet Wallis swept to a 45 out of 50 victory. Too much Hello magazine Janet!!

The only run of the month was a trip on the 12^th to the Denby Pottery. Arranged by Des and Gill Barnard, the turnout of only 9 cars was disappointing but was probably affected by the possible inclement weather. The day in fact turn out to be pleasantly sunny and the run was most enjoyable though a stretch of monster speed bumps needed to be approached with caution if you wanted to save your exhaust! Lunch was followed by looking around the retail outlets, fortunately for me my wife restricted her spending to 4 trays of pansies for the garden. 

Brian and June Cooper`s third Thursday coffee morning attracted a good turnout of 35 members to sample the delights of Mary`s tea room at Bishton Hall. As many of our MG`s do not hit the road until April a few interlopers made an appearance. These included an Audi TT and a four wheel drive Porsche 996 which Keith Johnson was so smitten with that he sat in the driving seat pretending he was at Le Mans. Bishton Hall is owned by Charles Hansons Auctions and we were able to have a look at the recently found barn find collection to be auctioned at end of March. Amongst the cars was a MGA coupe with 4 wheel disc brakes, 5 speed gearbox and independent rear suspension. Not one for the purists but a good looking car estimated at £18/20K.

The New Year opened with our Club night at the Barns when event’s organiser Paul Titley ran through our plans for 2023. As I detailed last month an absolute feast of activities all through the year. Highlights must include our two away trips to Wales and Northumberland, which will put some miles on the clocks, good job the price of petrol is falling!

The first of our popular  monthly third Thursday coffee mornings, organised by Brian and June Cooper, was at Marsh Farm where 30 members got together for coffee and tea cakes with some stopping on for lunch. They are an excellent way of meeting up when most of the MG`s are tucked away for the winter, I think my TF was the only one to brave the cold!

SMGEC has a long history of raising funds for charity and 2022 saw us continuing our support of the Dougie Mac (Donna Louise) Hospice in Staffordshire which will carry on in 2023. We raised a total of £1200 for this worthy cause from a charity run and monthly raffles. We also made a donation of £130 to the Red Cross Ukraine appeal.

Sadly on January 30^th many members of SMGEC gathered at St Michael’s Church in Stone for the funeral of Richard Homer, a long standing friend who passed away in late December. Richard was a true motoring enthusiast who embraced all forms of motoring from circuit racing to hill climbing. He also enjoyed driving wide-ranging trips on the continent, often in his fine collection of MG`s. Richard was an active supporter of the Club, always being good company with his quiet charm and great generosity. He will be sadly missed and all our thoughts go out to Susie and family at this time.

SMGEC`s activities began to pick up in February after the Christmas break. We opened with a well-attended Club night at the Barns where we were pleased to welcome new members Gary and Jane Simmons and Jonathon Woodward with Amanda Wiggans to the Club. They bring another MGF and a MGRV8 into the fleet, continuing the definite trend of the more modern MG`s beginning to outnumber the Abingdon MGB`s and earlier models.

Only 4 members went to the Spares Show at Stoneleigh. Perhaps it is just so easy to order parts on line and have them delivered next day that unless you are looking for really hard to source parts it`s just not worth the trip?

The first run of the year on the 19^th saw us going to see the snowdrops at Dudmaston Hall near Bridgenorth, a trip that was cancelled last year by storm Eunice. Given that some cars are still in winter hibernation a good turnout of 17 cars drove the 26 mile route from Gailey to the Hall where we had reserved parking in the garden. The beautiful spring sunshine caught most of us out as we had failed to take chairs and a picnic but thankfully the tea room came to our rescue!

On the 26^th for something a little different Roger and Sue Dudley combined a coffee morning with a film showing at the Red Carpet cinema at Barton Marina. The usual coffee, tea cakes and even Eggs Benedict ( very posh) were enjoyed by a party of 26 members with about half stopping on to view the film “What`s love got to do with it” starring Emma Thompson and Lily James.

So a good start to the year with loads more events planned for the months to come. Happy MG motoring to you all!

No motoring in December but we enjoyed our annual Christmas party at the Barns, with 33 members sitting down to a silver service meal with all the trimmings. Our final get together of the year was a well-attended coffee morning at the Strawberry Cabin where Club president Peter Wallis dropped the bombshell that he has succumbed to the charms of a Jaguar XK8 to replace his MGC!

Our event’s organizer Paul Titley has published the events list for 2023 and what a feast it is. SMGEC members ever present desire for food and the insatiable need for coffee and cake will be hopefully be sated with 12 Club nights along with 12 coffee mornings and 4 evening pub runs.

MG driving highlights of the year are two 4 night away trips, already booked up. The first in May organized by Renton and Helen Ward will be based at the Tyn y Cornel Hotel near Dolgellau, perfect for exploring mid and North Wales and the delights of Snowdonia.

September will see us driving up to Northumberland on a tour planned by Des and Gill Barnard. Based at the Riverdale Hotel we will have the ideal opportunity to explore this beautiful area.

Closer to home there are ten tulip runs on the calendar. Starting with the season opening Snow Drop run in February then followed by visits to a range of interesting venues, ranging from the space age Jodrell Bank telescope to historic Stokesay Castle.

For more relaxed days we will be attending four car shows including Lupin Farm, for me the best show in the Midlands. Picnics and ice creams will be enjoyed in the summer sun.

Phew, I`m worn out just writing this up. Interested and like to take part? Then visit our website for how to join the Club.