Before I wrote this month’s Centre report, I had just returned from Sexmogland and a visit to the beautiful old world charms of Lewis, where I had the pleasure of witnessing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Harvey’s brewery accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. A nice pint of fresh Harvey’s best bitter goes down very nicely. The rain held off thankfully for what turned to be a very happy occasion: a pleasing coincidence for my shopping trip. Incidentally, on the subject of rain, while returning from the last NCM for the MSCC, in atrocious conditions, I left the M40 to avoid the clogged motorway ahead and found myself passing through Princes Risborough heading towards Wycombe, when I saw a British Racing Green Plus 8 on aero screens piloted by a man wearing full flying gear coming straight towards me. I thought it had been Chris Beck but he was getting equally wet at the Goodwood Revival meeting at that moment. Whoever you were, you have my admiration and I hope you and your Morgan have dried out okay by now.
On the domestic front for the Centre, I am really pleased to be able to announce that it is that time of year when we start to consider the Awards for Thames Valley once more. To recap we have seven trophies as follows:
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F. H. Douglass Trophy: for the owner who has driven the most distance in their Morgan during the year;
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Richard Thorne Charity Trophy: for a member’s contribution to raising money for charity associated with the use of their Morgan;
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Thames Valley Trophy (35th anniversary car badge number 001 mounted on an ash plinth): to celebrate its sponsored charity journey along the River Thames and awarded to a member who has attended the most noggins in their Morgan over the year;
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SGT Trophy: awarded to the member who has exhibited the best traditions of Morgan ownership and its furtherance in true club spirit;
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The late Glenn Davies Trophy: awarded to the member who wins the annual boules competition held somewhere in the world usually on a nice beach.
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Marcos versus Morgan Trophy: awarded at the annual beer and skittles match held at the Jack of Newbury pub in Binfield. Always a hotly contested evening.
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Silver salver Trophy: awarded to a Centre member that has been most inspirational in the spirit of competition during the year.
These trophies are very important to us representing, as they do, the emphasis and ethos of the Centre: comradeship in owning a Morgan, the use of a Morgan while helping others and in remembering those friends we have sadly lost while also showing our competitive side. We are a sports car club after all. I hope this philosophy exhibited by the Centre will continue for a long time to come.
Carol Rose our Awards Secretary, as you would imagine is already thinking about the awards for this year. With this in mind, would all holders of our trophies return them to Carol please. A good place to return your trophy is at the Bird In Hand noggin in December. Carol can be contacted on her email:
From the above list, please remember there is also the “wooden spoon” – not made of ash I might add because as we know all ash needs to be preserved/reserved for the construction of our beloved sports cars in these uncertain times.
Well, it is amazing to think that we are now in December, with the end of the year fast approaching. Don’t forget that we are taking bookings for our two Christmas Dinners: please contact Andy Doughty and Mike Aldrich, for the Harte and Magpie and Bird In Hand respectively. These celebrations are always popular so please make contact as soon as you can – bookings are being taken on a first come first served basis. I hope you can make it. Also, please remember we will be awarding our trophies at the Bird In Hand celebrations. Carol can be contacted on her email:
Please remember that for the silver salver, our latest trophy, as listed above, will be awarded to the member of the Centre that has demonstrated the best ‘spirit’ in competition, during the year with a sense of fair play of course. The best of British, as you would expect from a Morgan Sports Car owner. Carol would also like nominations for this award as well - please write to the same email address mentioned above. Carol is looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Also, we have the perennial New Year’s classic car meet up which is well worth a visit at the Phoenix Pub near Hartley Wintney. As Steve Bridge has reported there are some interesting vehicles to see there over and above the veterans. Alternatively, we have a dramatic New Year’s Day walk up the Long Man of Wilmington - I hope to see you there.
As this is the December edition of Miscellany, I would like to wish all my readers of this column a very happy Christmas and prosperous New Year with above all good health. I look forward to seeing you all in 2014.