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.

The sunny weather in August meant plenty of opportunity to enjoy some hood down MG motoring or in my case, opening the GT`s sunroof. As usual the month kicked off with our Club night at the Barns where we welcomed new members Stephen and Anna Richards along with prospective members Tony and Chris Austin. On the 7^th, 12 crews including Nick Jarman in his 1935 MGPA, met up at Dobbies to enjoy a 35 mile run to Hawkestone Park Follies organised by Paul Titley. After arriving we enjoyed a picnic lunch before exploring the Follies. Sadly the combination of the heat and the seemingly endless steep steps rather limited the explorations of most of our group who settled for ice creams and the shade!

We were pleased to accept the invitation from North Birmingham and South Staffs MG to join them at their race day picnic at Donnington Park on the 14th. Umbrellas were the order of the day not for rain but for some welcome shade. A good day out with some exciting racing.

The ever popular coffee morning moved this month to the Aston Marina near Stone. Some 25 members were made most welcome at this excellent venue and afterwards quite a few went on to a local pub for lunch. If this keeps up there will be serious dieting called for!

Highlight of the month for me was our visit to the Lupin Farm Car Show. This year`s turnout was superb with classics, motorcycles, military, tractors all on show, everything from a Rolls to a push bike. We were pleased to be joined by past Chairman Phil Davies who now resides in France and enjoyed catching up on his news. A proper classic car show not to be missed.

Hoping the sun keeps shining for more MG motoring.

The main event in September was our away trip to Rutland organised by Peter and Susan Willmot. Starting at Barton Marina a tulip run took 16 cars to Lyddington Village for lunch then onto Rutland water for a cruise around the lake before driving to our base for 2 nights, The Rutland Water Hotel. After booking in we enjoyed drinks before dinner. Next day`s run to Burghley House was slightly dampened by rain but still most enjoyable. On the last day we visited Stonehurst Farm, home to a very interesting car collection where we also had lunch before starting the run home. A most enjoyable trip.

At the Barns Club night our after dinner speaker Mark Eustace gave an informative talk on operating a defibrillator in the event of a heart attack. Hope we don`t have to use one though.

September`s coffee morning returned to Halfpenny Green winery. Hearing radio traffic news that the A5 was blocked at Gailey along with Roger and Sue Dudley we went round the Wrekin to arrive late only to be told there was no closure!  Still we avoided the pot holes on the usual route.

The monthly pub run went to the Oakley at Brewood, 22 members sat down to dinner but sadly without organisers Keith and Gill Johnson who had tested positive for covid.

Geoff and Cathy Collier took 6 cars to The Eccleshall Show to enjoy the many attractions as well as classic cars display at this friendly event.

 MGB 60 at Gaydon only attracted 4 cars, somewhat surprising with 31 MGB`s in the Club, answers on a post card please.

Peter and Janet Wallis`s Pistons and Props at Sywell aerodrome fell on the same day with 10 cars going where there was plenty of pistons but not many props.

On July 3^rd we returned to an old favourite, Cars in the Park at Lichfield. Although well attended there seemed to be less traditional classics and more moderns taking part. For some the “I`ve got the loudest exhaust and mega backfire “contest went on for most of the day. But perhaps it`s just me getting older!

The rest of the month`s events seemed to be dominated by food, nothing new there then. Starting with Club night at the Barns on the 7<sup>th</sup>, following an excellent cold buffet with cheesecake to finish 25 members enjoyed a natter night. We also welcomed new member Nick Jarman who`s classic 1935 MG PA is now the oldest car in the Club.

Pub runs have become a popular part of Club life in recent years and this month was no exception. The Forester`s Arms at Yoxall played host to 23 members who sat down for an evening meal all organised by Keith and Gill Johnson.

The third Thursday coffee morning which only started a few years ago has now become a major part of Club life. Organisers Brian and June Cooper keep finding us new venues to visit. This month`s was Marsh Farm at Abbotts Bromley which threw my Tom Tom into a real tizzy, we finally arrived an hour late after going up and down every lane in the area!

Last event of the month was our annual Posh Picnic this time at the splendid location of Bishton Hall. Organised again by Brian and June Cooper, after a 37 mile run we lined the cars up in front of the Hall before setting up our picnic tables complete with all the trimmings. We were joined by Walsall Photographic Society thanks to member Bob Stone. They then proceeded to shoot the cars from every conceivable angle!

May ended with Keith and Gill Johnsons pub run to the Nags Head at Burntwood when 24 members enjoyed a pub meal and natter.

Along with everyone else we celebrated the Queen`s Platinum Jubilee with a special party club night at the Barns on the 9^th. With the room decked out in bunting members wore homemade royal regalia to celebrate the event. An excellent buffet followed by a sing along with our Paul Titley on the organ rounded off a splendid evening.

June`s main event on the 12^th was our annual charity run this year to NT Brockhampton in Herefordshire. Organised by Phil and Kathy Wellstead with route planning by Tony and Jan Clarke it took us on an enjoyable 70 mile tulip run with a mid-way coffee stop at the Larch Barn at Cleobury Mortimer. On arrival we enjoyed a group picnic in the sunny weather before exploring the house and grounds. As usual Ice creams finished the day before heading back home after a great day out raising £260 for The Dougie Mac Hospice.

The ever present need for coffee and cake was sated at our monthly morning get together this time at the Strawberry Cabin at Hints when 27 members met up for a noisy but enjoyable morning.

Aircraft not cars featured at our next event when 27 members went on a mid-week run to the Midlands Air Museum at Coventry. The brilliant sunny weather made the visit all the more enjoyable as the majority of the aircraft were outdoors. Lunch at the Oaks at Baginton completed the day.

Paul Titley our event’s organiser is making a career change and moving down south. Ever popular Paul has been a great asset to the club and will be very much missed.  We wish him every success in his new venture.