Happy Anniversary 1023. 25 Years of Fun
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----------------------------------------- NEWSLETTER & DIARY www.newburymgoc1023.co.uk Month June 2019 -------------------------------------------------- Number 297 Committee Members Area Secretary:- Tony Gilbert ( Newsletter with Eileen) Treasurer: - Peter Derbyshire Membership Secretary Pauline Whiffin. Website and IT Andy Wood Events Coordinators Janet and Colin Price (Events Diary) Events coordinator Trina Nichols ( Lunchbunch Walks and Midweek Meanders) Meetings every second Tuesday in the month at 8pm Deanwood Park Golf Club, Stockcross Nr Newbury, Berkshire RG20 8JP 01635-4877 MANOR GARAGE Our club is grateful for the sponsorship provided by Richard Chapman of Manor Garage. His company specialises in all types of MG both new and classic. Ring him or call in for friendly advice Manor Garage Unit 4 Elm’s Farm Business Park Grove Rd. Wantage. Oxon 0X12 7PD ~~ Phone 01235 767751 ________________________________________ Happy Anniversary 1023 . 25 years of fun. Eileen and I joined in 1998 and we could write a book about the happy memories that we have of the years spent with the club. I think that the first that comes to mind is our very first South Downs Run in 1998 which was the event that made us appreciate the benefits of belonging to a classic car club. We did that run in our 57 Magnette ZB with Colin and Sonya Hutcheson in the back seat as their MGB was in dock. We had had many classic cars at that point but they had come and gone. It was the fun of belonging to this MG club that settled things and that only came about by a chance meeting with Alan, Brenda, Colin and Sonya at the Leukaemia Research Show at the racecourse. The lasting memories are of all the fun, laughter, excitement and good friendships that we have experienced over the last 20 years by belonging to our club and taking part in all its various activities. We are in the privileged position of being able to pass on our memories and it would be interesting to hear of your’s in the next newsletter. Tony and Eileen. Newsletter sponsored by ~ Manor Garage – Wantage 01235-767751. Newbury Rocks ~ MG’s Roll Page 1 of 15 Newbury MGOC Diary 2019 Full details for all events will be published in the Newsletter near event date June Wed 5 th Midweek Meander 51 - Tulip route and pub lunch, Ian Rose and Crown, Nymphsfield Sun 9 th Oxford MG MGs in the Park at Cotswold Wild Life Park Tue 11 th Club Night – Speaker, former Yeoman Warder Tony Peter D Strafford Thu 20 th Midweek Meander 52 - Hell-Fire Caves, West Barry, Penny Wycombe. Pub lunch. NT house visit. Thu 27 th Lunch Bunch Walk 147 Graham and Fran Sat 29 th Barbecue. NMGOC 25 th Anniversary celebrations. Committee At Bob and Carolyn’s. Sun 30 th Thatcham Classic Car Show. July 1 – 4 th Welsh Holiday, Llanerchindda Farm Pauline Sun 7 th Gazebo Get-together - Pageant of Transport, Peter D Broughton, Hampshire Tue 9 th Club Night Wed 17 th Midweek Meander 53 - Rural Life Centre, Tilford, Nr Trina Farnham, Surrey (picnic) Sun 21 st Duck Racing at Dipley Mill, Hartley Wintney (picnic) Roger Thu 25 th Lunch Bunch Walk 148 Wed 31 st Midweek Meander 54 - Lasham Airfield, Alton - gliding Brian T history talk & tour (pub lunch) August Thu 8 th Midweek Meander 55 - Friar’s Court Garden (picnic) Janet Optional 11.00am for coffee at Buscot NT tea room or meet 1.00pm at Friars Court. Sun 11 th Gazebo Get-together - West Berks Classic Car Show Andy, Colin Tue 13 th Club Night - Scuttles Rob, Marion Sun 18 th Late lunch - tulip route and pub lunch, Jack Russell, Ian Faccombe Thu 22 nd Lunch Bunch Walk 149 2019/20 Subs Its that familiar time of year again when our annual club subscriptions are due. Once again the rate is held at £15. Payment can be made in cash, cheques or preferably by bank transfer but do let me know if you pay this way so I can mark you down as paid. The clubs bank details are: Peter Derbyshire Newsletter sponsored by ~ Manor Garage – Wantage 01235-767751. Newbury Rocks ~ MG’s Roll Page 2 of 15 Newbury MGOC 1023 History 1994-2019 In celebration of our MG Owners Club’s 25th anniversary we should look to see how it arrived at this successful point in its career. We have gathered information about the early days of the club from three longstanding members, Chris Pritchard, Robin Williams and his partner Carol . Later in this newsletter is a copy of the first two pages of Newsletter No 1 of April 1994 supplied by Robin and Carol. This was printed by Robin’s printing company Castle Print & Design at a cost of 50p per copy. Alan and Brenda, memories are extracted from the 20 th Anniversary edition of this Newsletter as is the continuum of history below. Chris , Robin and Carol have some memories of MG club type activities prior to 1994. Robin bought his MGB in 1987 and remembers going to the Leukaemia Charity show at the racecourse with others in 1991. His favourite memories from 1994 are of the Easter trip to Calais organised by “Classic Motoring Abroad” in company with other Newbury members. October 1993 A young lady called Linda Bowling met Nigel P Hedges who was the Southern Region Secretary for the national MGOC at an air display at Duxford. He suggested that she started an MG club in her home town of Newbury. April 1994 The first newsletter is produced and through Linda’s recruitment drive 17 owner’s cars met at The Bell at Boxford. Linda is recorded as Secretary in the MGOC magazine .Chris, Robin and Carol have memories of other members of that time i.e. Colin and Sonya Hutcheson, Chris’s relative Fred, Graham and Helen Bartholomew, John Lester and Tim Knight. Tim who was running an MG repair and restoration business may not have been a fully paid up member but he was certainly a kingpin of the club in those early days. He had learnt his trade as an apprentice to a man called John Taylor at H. E. Bates Garage in Newbury. At some time Linda who was a Dentist handed over the job of secretary to Helen and Graham Bartholomew April 1997 Alan and Brenda take on the role of secretaries, an account of which is printed later in this Newsletter and started working hard to build the club as we know it today. They took over from Peter Nightingale (whose name has not arisen in our enquiries). He is recorded as secretary in an early MGOC listing . Colin Hutcheson was by now established as the Editor/Publisher of the newsletter. The membership steadily increased and the range of activities widened. Oct.2004 Colin Hutcheson retired from his employment at Aldermaston and relinquished the role of editor of the newsletter, he and Sonya were on the point of moving to Wales to enjoy their retirement. Tony and Eileen took over as Editors. Jan.2008 Due to ill health Tony and Eileen relinquished their role as Editors and Roger and Nicky took over the mantle. April 2008 After ten years hard work Alan and Brenda passed the role of Secretaries over to Ian and Sue who carried on moving the membership on and activities of the club forward. May 2011 Terry Whiffin became Secretary with the help of Pauline, who also carried on with the role of Treasurer, until ill health forced him to resign. Terry was a great organiser of some wonderful trips to France and Wales. To assist the club Ian became temporary Secretary for 3 months. Newsletter sponsored by ~ Manor Garage – Wantage 01235-767751. Newbury Rocks ~ MG’s Roll Page 3 of 15 Jan. 2012 Roger and Nicky took over the reins as Secretaries . Tony and Eileen returned to editing the newsletter. Peter Derbyshire became the treasurer and Mike Stone and Brian hay joined the committee. Jan 2014 Peter Nichols joined the Committee. Dec 2015 Pauline joined the Committee. Nov 2017 Trina Nichols joined the Committee Dec 2018 After six years of dedicated hard work Roger and Nicky stood down from the role of Secretaries. Jan 2019 A new Committee was formed to run the club with Tony as Area Secretary (and newsletter), Peter as Treasurer. Colin and Janet Price Events Diary. Trina walks and Mid Week Meanders. Andy Wood Website and Regalia. Pauline as Membership secretary. 1023 – THE EARLY YEARS. CHRIS PRITCHARD My earliest recollection of the club was being persuaded to attend a meeting at The Bell by the Boxford branch of my family, Fred Ashton and my cousin Bruce. They were both MG owners and were aware of my general interest in cars having frequently admired the Triumph Spitfire which I had restored over two years of my spare time. It was around this time that I had decided that another restoration project was due and had bought on spec a GT with two weeks MOT remaining from a used car lot in Croydon whilst passing through. Needless to say there was very little right with this car; at twenty years old it had ten previous owners and even the colour was non- standard, but I was looking at a bigger picture and some of the details of that adventure have been previously published. The format of the meeting was very simple, being an informal ‘noggin and natter’ organised by a very personable young lady called Linda who for some time carried out all the necessary admin duties of the club. This was in fact a re-incarnation as there had previously been a club in Newbury which I think met at The Woodpecker; I must say from recent observation how good it is to see the oak tree that has grown from that little acorn all those years ago thanks to the hard work and dedication of those who have filled the various offices over the years.