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.

With the lockdown still in force in July, normal Club life remained off limits, however a few new activities were possible. Our Chairman, Roger Dudley, bravely announced he would chair a virtual Club night on Zoom!!! As most of our members have the ink stained fingers of an older era rather that the dancing digits of today`s computer savvy youngsters, this was indeed a voyage into uncharted waters!

I`m pleased to report it was a great success once we had learned not to all speak at once, with Roger having to resort to the mute button more than once. Phil and Cathy Wellstead stole the show with their MG themed zoom backcloth, with the rest of us making do with the lounge wall. Although Roger had to have a lie down in a darkened room afterwards to recover he is going to continue to chair monthly Zoom meetings until we can get together again at the Barns.

Although we cannot meet up as a Club, the relaxed rules have allowed members to begin to hold outdoor mini meets of up to 6 people. NT grounds and various picnic venues being popular. However, it is very frustrating to abide by the rules then watch the crowds on beaches, music raves, demonstration marches and football Club celebrations totally ignoring them.

Looking ahead, The Bicester Festival is still planned to be held on the 4th October and Peter Wallis is liaising with the organisers for it to be a possible Club run, fingers crossed it happens as both our cars and members need a good day out to blow the lockdown cobwebs away.

In the meantime keep the polishing and valeting going. No excuses will be accepted for dirty cars on our first meeting up and Brian that especially means your TF!

Just as we were starting to get some events going again, the latest government restrictions relating to meeting in groups where the maximum number in a group cannot now exceed 6 has effectively put all this on hold for the foreseeable future. As and when these restrictions are relaxed we will again be able to resume our organised events, but in the meantime we are continuing with our monthly Club Night meetings on Zoom and individual members are continuing to make their own arrangements to meet up in smaller groups of up to 6 to comply with the current regulations.

June brought the sad news that one of our members, Steve Smith, had passed away after a long illness. Although unable to attend the funeral service, Club members lined the entrance road to the Crematorium with 16 MG cars as a mark of respect, with Steve`s own MGB LE being driven by a family friend. This was much appreciated by Linda and family and our thoughts go out to them.

SMGEC have been a long-time supporter of Donna Louise, a hospice charity which does marvellous work with sick children and their families. The profits from our Club night raffles, charity runs and sales of bacon butties at events all going into our Charity fund. Although all our events have been cancelled since March, Club Treasurer Des Barnard, has been very successful in encouraging the members to keep their donations coming in. A sponsored 26 mile garden marathon by Charles Jarman being one of the more adventurous money raising schemes! Despite the lock down we have already raised £738 this year and so Des was able to send a £650 donation to Donna Louise in May, with a further donation to follow in July. In these difficult times all charities require our support more than ever, so well done everybody!

As we move slowly out of lockdown the Committee has started to look at plans for an early re start of events when allowed. Club nights and coffee mornings still seem a long way off but planned runs ending in a picnic at an open air venue would look to be a possibility. It will be great to fire up our MG`s and again be able to enjoy both the open road, the company of Club members and especially the deeply missed coffee and cakes!

It can`t happen soon enough.