I am pleased to be able to announce and welcome one of our newest members, one who possesses beauty without vanity, strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, and all the virtues of man without his vices. I speak of course about my new dog Susie, a border collie with a sense for adventure. I am indebted to Lord Byron for some of the words in my introduction. Hopefully, on New Year’s Day you will be able to meet her on the way up the Long Man of Wilmington. If you plan to join us on this walk please let me know your menu choices so that I can book you in for lunch at the Giant’s Rest after our stroll. This is a great pub with rabbit pie being one of its specialities. I hope you can join us.
From our Events Planning meeting we received some interesting ideas for occasions this year. Elizabeth and Keith Wait proposed a visit to the Horsell Village Show, they went there last year in their Morgan and their presence created a lot of interest. Diane Fagence and her husband asked if they could take their Morgan back this year and if they could also possibly get some more Morgan sports cars to come along whereby they would all be put on display. This year’s show is on Saturday 26th July. It starts at 1.30 and runs until 5.00. The cars would be locked in between these times. It takes place in Horsell C of E Junior School, Meadway Drive, Horsell. I think this would be great afternoon out – it is always fun to meet members of the public admiring our prides and joy. Keith also had an idea about putting the Morgan sports cars on display at the Royal Ballet School in Richmond Park. This is a wonderful building with lots of Royal links, another great suggestion. I would like to thank Elizabeth and Keith for these two great ideas. There are more to come, for example Kate and Ian Wilson, amongst some other ideas, have proposed a day out with a scenic run in the countryside, culminating in a display of some real tennis with our potential participation – sounds quite intriguing. I would like to thank Kate and Ian very much indeed. I will keep you all regularly posted as further ideas from our Events Planning meeting begin to crystalise. I would like to thank everyone that came forward with some interesting ideas for our future enjoyment providing a useful meeting.
On a financial note and on behalf of our treasurer, I would like to thank everyone in the Centre that made a voluntary donation to the club during last year. Your contributions do help with the running costs of our Centre and we are very pleased to receive them indeed.
Meanwhile, please don’t forget there is 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. And of course alternatively, we have a dramatic New Year’s Day walk up the Long Man of Wilmington - I hope to see you there. If you are coming don’t forget to send me your menu choices for the Giant’s Rest pub so that I can book a table for us after the walk. It will be a brisk way to start the New Year.
As this is the January edition of Miscellany, I would like to wish all my readers of this column a very happy prosperous New Year with above all good health. I look forward to seeing you all in 2014.