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.

October`s events began as usual with 39 members enjoying Club Night at The Barns, where we welcomed prospective members Alex and Anne Timmins as guests. As we were in the smaller restaurant Renton Ward`s long awaited celebrity picture quiz was yet again cancelled, maybe next year Renton. As the November Club night is our Annual Awards night, nomination forms were circulated to the members. Surprise, surprise, entries for Breakdown of the Year immediately attracted some strong and very expensive contenders!

Coffee and cake were on the menu at Café Prego on the 20^th, when hosted by Brian and June Cooper an enthusiastic group of 34 turned up on a very wet morning to enjoy a good natter at this popular event.

Our final run of the season, The Twilight Lunch Run, caused a major panic for organisers Roger and Sue Dudley. With 41 booked for lunch, the planned venue cancelled due to staffing problems. A last minute re location to The Aston Marina at Stone, one of our regular coffee morning venues saved the day. After all the road closures on their Cotswold Run they must be getting used to coping with last minute diversions! Starting from Wolsey Bridge a great turnout of 21 cars set out on a 38 mile route taking us through countryside splendid in the golden colours of autumn. Good food, good company a fine way to end this year`s outings.

Our event`s organiser Paul Titley is already preparing the 2023 programme with a wide range of events pencilled in including two possible away days’ trips in the UK. Paul is now working down South and not always free at weekends so Keith and Christine Timmis have joined the committee to look after event running on the day.

Wishing early Christmas greetings to all MG enthusiasts.

After a very full years activities the arrival of autumn saw us slowing down and moving indoors for warmth. November`s Club night at the Barns was Annual Awards Night where we also welcomed to the club, new members Alex and Ann Timmins with their MGRV8. Voting took place after dinner followed by the trophies presentation where the lucky winners basked in glory and the breakdown awards winners tried hard to put on a happy face. This year’s worthy recipients’ were:

Driver of the year                     Charles Jarman

Co-driver of the year                Lyn Darlow

New members of the year        Bob and Irene Stone

Services to the Club                  Maureen Wood

Chairman`s Award                     Peter and Sue Wilmot

Break down of the year             Peter and Janet Wallis

Special break down award        Phil and Cathy Wellstead. 

The 2021 breakdown winner Alan Wild had an expensive bill but this year`s winner Peter Wallis suffered new levels of financial pain after twice cooking his MGC and having to replace the cracked cylinder head. Let`s hope this trend will be reversed for next year!

The monthly coffee morning at Byrkley Garden Centre was again well attended, thanks have to go to Brian and June Cooper for organising these popular meetings throughout the year. 

Only a couple of members attended the Classic car show at the NEC, as again most members felt it has become far too expensive. 

A coffee and film morning at the Red Carpet Cinema at Barton Marina was laid on by Roger and Sue Dudley, to watch “The Lost King”. A very apt choice as the action is set in a carpark. 

By the time you are reading this we will have completed a very enjoyable 2022 with our Christmas party and a final coffee morning. 

Wishing all MG enthusiasts a happy and prosperous 2023.