R.I.P Bryan Alexander
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R.I.P BRYAN ALEXANDER We had the very sad news that on 24 October, Bryan, our East Midlands Section Chairman of over 20 years, passed away of a heart condition. Bryan was a huge Alfista - and a true gentleman. Bryan will always be fondly remembered for his wonderful, warm character and generous nature. In his retirement he set about his Italian motoring hobby with a focus of ensuring people enjoyed their own ownership of Italian cars just as much as he did. Retiring from his directorship at Boots in the mid 1990s, absolutely full of life, he became the East Midlands area organiser for the Ferrari Owners Club and also Chairman of our AROC Section. Back then he bought a new 1997 156 2.0 TS which he kept for the rest of his life, then a lovely 308 GT4, and soon his pride and joy; the wonderful Alfasud Sprint Trofeo as pictured above. After owning another Ferrari, a beautiful Ferrari 328 GTB, he bought a Maserati 4200 Cambio Corsa and an Alfa Spider 3L V6. The Maser went fairly soon though as he said he enjoyed driving the Alfa more! I’ll never forget him driving it hood down with a leather flying jacket—and helmet & goggles—as we convoyed to RAF Duxford! What a laugh that was. Of course Bryan will always be remembered for coming up with the idea of Midlands Italian Car Day (MITCAR), and he threw himself into the organisation of those events for 15 years, negotiating attendance for Italian Car lovers at some wonderful venues, a new one every year. Right onto his 80’s Bryan would attend our meetings as often as he could, always cheery despite the ‘dodgy knees’, ‘tricky eyes’ and even a ‘dicky ticker’. He always had time for people, especially new club members - always interested in them and their cars. Without doubt Bry will have so wanted us to ‘carry on as normal’, and this edition of Alfisti, mostly written well before the sad news, does. Many of us club members knew Bryan well - he was a such a feature of ‘the Alfa family’. This family sends its warmest condolences to Bryan’s wife Jenny, and all of their kin. I feel genuinely honoured to have been close friends with Bryan for so long. Speaking to him only a few days before his passing, we were still talking about next year’s MITCAR, and how, though he was short of breath, he could drive short distances perfectly OK. He was always positive about the future. I know I will miss him terribly. John THE OFFICIAL ALFA ROMEO OWNERS CLUB EAST MIDLANDS NEWSLETTER ■ November 2019 ■ Issue 226 IT’S THE NEC CLASSIC! 8-10 November - the biggest UK Classic Motor Show The NEC Classic Motor Show is always a terrific event for Club INSIDE members to enjoy and is really an indoor paradise for all Petrolheads. The FOX RUN Every year the sheer scale of it astounds. Over 300 car clubs displaying over 3,000 cars. Hundreds of classic cars on sale too, Section AGM & Alfa Quiz alongside a simply gigantic trade and autojumble area with over 650 Detailing Corner traders. Club members can secure a discount on advance tickets (see Club Our Alfas, and more . Forum for the code), and of you order soon you’ll get a limited edition Top Trumps set too. That is certainly original! COMING UP Our owners club stand is again in the premium hall, number 1. We’re in a different spot from last year though, nearer a corner, but November Meeting Night right next to Lamborghini. I don’t like to give away the cars that will NEC Classic Motor Show be shown as I know people quite enjoy the surprise, suffice to say New Year Meal there are some absolute beauties from across several decades, the youngest this time being 15 years old, the oldest over 60. Among them we have a TV celebrity’s car too, a very well known face, who we hope to have along at various points. He’s a fully paid-up member too! ALSO - On the Saturday there’s a very special new feature where the cars and crews Alfisti is originated by competing in the RAC Rally of the Tests, arguably one of the UK’s toughest events, will take on an indoor course, within the show, to complete a speed and agility test. This will mark the half- John Griffiths way point of the Rally, and crews will be waved away from the NEC to continue with the event. AROC East Midlands Section Secretary Competing for prestigious awards, there is also a superb mix of entries from a 1936 Derby 0774 8881317 Bentley to MGs, Porsches, Minis, and plenty more including ALFA ROMEOS! With AROC East Midlands Section members helping to run the stand ever since 2001, we Email: [email protected] continue this year, and Section member Ian Osbourne will also be displaying his rather fab 166 V6 there too. Sunday will see the usual Remembrance Sunday minutes silence, always wonderfully observed. A lot of us will be remembering Bryan at that time too, proud to show his cars there in the past as well of course. R.I.P Bry, you won’t be forgotten by Alfisti. John aroc-uk.com/eastmids Coming up . Date Activities Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham, AROC stand featuring historic Alfa Romeos. Our Section members will be helping on the stand. Do come and 8-10 November say hello! Special ticket discount available for AROC members on the Sat and Sun. See AROC publications or contact John. Monthly meeting at The Gate Hangs Well, Lewin Bridge, Syston, Leics LE7 Thursday 14 1NH - Head for the Function room (“The Boat House”)- starting at 7.30pm. November from Will include the infamous ‘What’s it worth’ quiz, with nice prizes! 7.30pm Great bar food available too. WEDNESDAY 11 Speaker Night at our December meeting. More details very soon. December from We are aiming for this date —11 December - given the recently announced 7.30pm General Election date of 12 December. New Year Meal at La Torre, 48 High Street, Coalville, Leicestershire, Friday 10 LE67 3EE. Special three course party menu under £25 a head. Great food and January, great company - lots of additional fun on the night too including charity 7pm for 7.30pm raffle. We are limited to 54 seats that must be booked via John NATIONAL ALFA DAY 2020 …. Is set to be on Sunday 5 July 2020. Club manager Nick Wright and I are in talks with the new events team at the site AND with the Alfa Romeo UK Events team who were so delighted by the event last year…. It is the week before Goodwood Festival of Speed so we are hopeful of some special cars being displayed again via Alfa Romeo. Sign up to get the ALFISTI Small Print: Alfisti is the newsletter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK East Midlands Section. The Alfa Romeo Owners latest news, info Club UK ltd cannot endorse or recommend services or products advertised in its publications. Any opinions published in ‘Alfisti’ or its sister and chat. See website, Twitter account and Facebook Group are personal ones. Alfa Romeo Owners Club Ltd Registered Number 01106134. Please contact John Griffiths if you have any queries about the Club or our active local Area Section. See cover for contact details. www.facebook.com/groups/arocukeastmids ALFISTI’S CONTENT, IMAGES AND DESIGN ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT. PLEASE ASK PERMISSION BEFORE ANY RE-USE. ALFISTI - AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter November 2019 - Issue 226 - P3 AROC is back at this MASSIVE show again in the Premium Hall 1 with another very special display of members’ Alfa Romeos. This year the loose theme is ‘Winners’, and we will have a great cross section of models again from across the ages. Tickets Discounts are available now to Club members Log on to the Club Forum and go to the Events area and you will find the code. The image below is taken from the Show’s main website shows the AROC display there in 2017.. Welcome to Sneaky Tints! 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Matt Yousuf ALFISTI - AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter November 2019 - Issue 226 - P4 SECTION AGM & Alfa Quiz The Gate Hangs Well, Syston Thursday 10 October [Please note that this report was written the day after our AGM and well before the sad news of the passing of our Chairman Bryan Alexander.] Our only meeting of the year where there’s any real formality, but NAD, SpAD were all well supported by our members, and we we still make it a fun one.