Writing the monthly report for SMGEC used to be a simple task, there was always a host of activities and events to report on, in fact often running out of space to record them all. Covid has turned that upside down, normal Club activities have ceased, leaving only our monthly zoom meetings, which have done such a great job in keeping the Club alive.

December was no exception, the Club`s Christmas Zoom Party, organised by Sue Dudley and the Committee, saw 35 members joining in the fun and games with crackers and party poppers along with a drop of Christmas spirit! Phil and Cathy Wellstead put together a devilish Christmas quiz. “Which Dickens character served up a figgy pudding in A Christmas Carol” being one of the easier questions! A shock result saw our long standing quiz maestros, Janet and Peter Wallis, losing their crown, being runners up to new winners Alan and Karen Wild.

With everybody being encouraged to dress up for the party, the prize for best outfit went to Glyn John for wearing a smart pair of reindeer antlers teamed up with a bow tie. Santa and his elf were in attendance all evening, apparently they were spending the festive season with Roger and Maureen Wood at Stafford.  `

As I write this just before Christmas the new Covid virus has brought yet more misery and disruption, with almost all plans for Christmas and the New Year being blown away. The Club had proposed a visit to the MG and Triumph spares day at Telford as a first event in 2021, but that must be now in doubt. Hopefully the popular Donnington Historic Festival in May will still go ahead.

Hoping when you read this in February that the world will be looking a happier place.

Can I begin by wishing a happy New Year to all MG enthusiasts and  hope that you managed to enjoy a Covid restricted Christmas with your friends and family? After a truly awful 2020 we must believe  that 2021 will see a return to better times for all.

Club activity in November was restricted to our Zoom Club Night on the 5th, the main event of the evening being the presentation of the Club`s annual awards. Unable to hold our normal members ballot on the night, the committee took on the role of judge and jury! As there has been so little activity, this year`s nominations looked very different from the norm. In particular some very unusual and funny breakdowns and mishaps came to light, much to the embarrassment of some members. It was particularly pleasing in deciding the New Members award, to find that we have welcomed 5 new members to  the Club in 2020, despite all the problems.  

The worthy winners were as follows-

Breakdown of the Year – Roger and Maureen Wood.

New members – Keith and Christine Timmis.

Driver of the Year – Tony Clarke.

Co-driver of the Year – Helen Ward.

Services to SMGEC – Steward and Clare Collins.

Chairman`s Award – Alan and Karen Wild.

Special Break down Award – Peter and Sue Willmot.

Congratulations to all the winners, very well done.

Personally I thought that Renton Ward reversing his MGB into his own golf buggy deserved more recognition!!!!!

Plans are well in hand for our Zoom Christmas Party in December and a full report of the night will appear next month. Hopefully we may also be able to have some idea of what activities may be possible in 2021. In the meantime keep safe and well.

September finished on a low note with the increased shutdown restrictions and that situation continued throughout October. Sadly it seems that things will not improve till the New Year at the earliest.

As a result Club activities have been limited to our Monthly Zoom Club nights, practise as they say, makes perfect, and our meetings are now very slick and professional thanks to the efforts of our Zoom master, Phil Wellstead. For our October meeting we welcomed a guest speaker, David Keith Jones. He is a professional photographer and his presentation was entitled “Africa- Continent of Superlatives”. The stunning images of his travels through Africa along with his entertaining commentary made for a most interesting and enjoyable evening.

Looking ahead, our November Zoom meeting will include the presentation of the Annual Club Trophies and members have been busy sending in their nominations for the various awards. Since our normal driving activities have been limited this year it seems that this year’s awards may take on a more humorous light hearted appearance, all will be revealed in the next report!

Our traditional Christmas party at the Barns has obviously had to be cancelled but undaunted SMGEC`s chief party planner Sue Dudley and her team of elves are already busy planning a unique alternative Christmas Zoom party. Details remain secret but it appears that a fat man in a red suit may make an appearance!

Trust you are all keeping safe and looking forward to better times.

September started full of promise as the lockdown continued to ease allowing us, at long last, to begin planning Club events. Following on from their successful introduction, our zoom Club night on the 4th was well attended allowing us to welcome new members, John and Shirley Northwood and Rob and Pat Whiston to the Club. The main event of the evening was a splendid slide show of the Club`s 2009 Tour of Scotland, presented by its organiser, Charles Jarman. The seven crews drove the spectacular roads and scenery of the Highlands, covering 912 miles. It seemed to rain for much of the trip but the occasional wee dram kept spirits high!!

On the 6th we enjoyed a long awaited picnic trip to Calke Abbey.  This was more like it! After each finding our own way to the Abbey, 28 members  parked up their 15 MG`s in a display line before sitting  down to a socially distanced picnic, made all the more enjoyable by the sunshine. This was followed by a walk through the grounds, leaving everybody feeling how good it was to be out and about again.

A coffee morning on the 10th found us at a new venue, Café Prego at Shenstone. Dining al fresco, 21 members met up to enjoy the long missed coffee, cakes and a good natter. We were also able to welcome new member Peter Willmot to the Club, arriving in his pretty MG TD, which attracted much interest.

However all our activities came to a grinding halt with the announcement on the 14th of the return of more severe lockdown restrictions. This came as even more of a blow having had that brief taste of freedom and sadly could well mean the end of activities for 2020.

Time to break out the polish again!

Well what a change, being able to sit down to write a monthly report with actual events to talk about. Trust me, coming up with 300 words of waffle for the last 6 months hasn`t been easy!

With the easing of the lockdown the committee have at long last been able to put together some events for us to enjoy.

August opened with our second Zoom club night, hosted by Phil and Cathy Wellstead. Highlight of the night was Peter and Janet Wallis`s film of SMGEC`s 2015 trip to the Laon Historique or as it was better known to certain members as “lost in France”!  Great memories of a superb trip. We were pleased to welcome new members Rob and Pat Whiston who own a blue 78 Midget and a Morgan, well I suppose someone has to! The Club`s charity drive continues strongly with a further donation of £600 going to Donna Louise in July, with more to follow.

On the 27th we at last managed to meet up when 28 members joined together for an outside coffee morning at the Strawberry Cabin near  Hints. So, ok, sitting in a damp field drinking coffee out of foam cups isn`t the greatest, but hey it`s a start!

Looking ahead our Zoom meetings will continue until further notice and more coffee mornings are being arranged by Brian and June Cooper at some new venues. Already arranged for September are a picnic run to Calke Abbey and a visit to The Motor Museum at Gaydon. Following on in October a picnic run to Attingham Park is planned.

The re starting of Club activities was however clouded by the sad news that a very popular member, Ken Beamond, had passed away after a long illness. He will be much missed by all.