Spring run Sunday 22nd April

This year our spring run was planned to coincide with national Drive it Day. Starting from Hamworthy Sports Club, our route took us very quickly into the side roads and lanes of Dorset and Wiltshire in bright sunshine, which continued all morning. 37 cars were booked in for the run and 33 turned out for the start, two more joining us later. Our 35 mile run to the organised lunch stop at The Fox and Goose at Coombe Bissett took the early starters around 75 minutes to complete enjoying some beautiful scenery en route. It took a bit longer for those drivers who were stuck behind a large tractor and harrow and involved with trying to pass another car club going the opposite way in one of the narrower lanes. Following a very good lunch we set off on the second 31 mile section of the run, to regroup again at Compton Abbas airfield for afternoon tea. Unfortunately, this part of the run was slightly spoiled by rain, but the tea and cakes did go some way towards offsetting the wet weather.

Due to the inclement weather, some people decided to miss out the final 22 mile section of the run and return directly home from the airfield.

Our thanks go once again to Roger and Penny Leach for organising another excellent road run. From the comments I heard, the change in the weather did not spoil the day.

Arriving for the lunch stop at the Fox and Goose

Skittles Match Wednesday 18th April

This annual challenge match, hosted by the Dorset Historic Motor Club was again played at the Hamworthy Sports Club. 1020 surpassed itself with a magnificent attendance of 28 people. Unfortunately DHMC had some of their players stuck on a slow cross channel ferry and were only able to muster a team of 7. The rules of the match were changed for this evening and two teams were made up from the combined players from both clubs. Team B, which was made up totally from 1020 players scored a very narrow win over the combined Team A.

Following the match, a game of Killer was played which was eventually won by 1020’s Phil Doughty, closely pursued by Pauline Whiteside from DHMC. Phil is making a habit of winning the Killer game, he also won last year.

We thank DHMC for hosting this annual contest which is always played in a very friendly spirit.

The winner and runner up at Killer

Club night Monday 2nd April

Oyez, Oyez, Oyez – Our guest speaker at the April meeting was David Squire, the Poole Town Crier. He entertained us with an interesting talk covering the history of town crying, from the age of the Romans to the present time.

April 2nd was a major anniversary for David, as it was 54 years ago to the day that he first started as a crier, in Poole, then aged 15.  He has travelled far and wide carrying out his duties and related some of the stories of the personalities that he has met during his working life.

David attended our meeting dressed in his very colourful regalia, which is made for him, at his own expense and over the years he has spent well in excess of £12,000 on his regalia, his current hat alone costing £400. In the past David has twice won the award of “Best Dressed Town Crier” and is currently the world’s second longest serving town crier.

David Squire – Poole Town Crier