A cold but dry day with a whiff of snow in the air?
Fleets of MGs rolled up early to the Mountbatten Arms to enjoy the prompt opening for coffee and biscuits – yes, the new Management remembered! Good coffee too (Duncan and Felicity brought their own decaf, but paid £1.00 to use the cups!).
Dave & Wendy Brroks were made to buy new hats from Pat Lodge, having forgotten theirs and the Simms B Roadster rolled out, first in a long time. Now it's been fully fettled by Keith Briggs of Mobiletune, Graham was keen to make it perform on the open road.
Keith Bulger and his dad came up for a coffee and several, like Don Carpenter and Mark Chappell (Monday's boomerang winner and newly designated test pilot) dropped in on Saturday to offer their advance apologies – the former bearing gifts for the refuge and the latter returning the boomerang for it's annual SWT flight.
Well did we get there early…by half an hour!
When Manager Chris Battrick noticed we were there (we were just about to start singing carols to stave off hypothermia), we were allowed inside, loaded with gifts for the Bournemouht Women's Refuge which oustripped the number of raffle prizes 2:1 – Thank you all so much!
Chris & Catherine Annetts beautiful black panther on their white B Roadster's boot rack amused all on the Forest road and all of our cars were decked out with strings of lights, baubles, tinsel and such-like. Amazing!
Eventually, over 40, yes FORTY MGs filled the SWT car park and over 75 diners sat down to demolish the menu.
The raffle took £143!
One member, who shall remain nameless, discreetly gave me a cheque for the Women's Refuge for £100. Again, amazing, thank you so much, YOU know who you are.
Your generosity staggers me and, so much so, we needed TWO MG ZTs to get all the gifts there this year! Fantastic.
Lets Hear it For The Three 'Esses'!
Solent MGOC, led by 'Everywhere Man' Dick Immins brought a fleet – recruiting new Solent members from our gang's relations!
Southampton & New Forest MGOC – their home ground – brought a couple of cars including Tania and Brian Horrocks (our good chums).
Salisbury MGOC with new Area Secretary Nigel Knowles brought more than half-a -dozen MGs.
Robert and Diedre Sargeant and baby attended again, from Sandy in Bedfordshire ~ they luckily won the designer 'Giorgio of Beverley Hills' bear, donated by Annabelle Harrison of Debenhams of Salisbury ~ thank you to them ~ it went to a good home.
Ken and Marion Ridgeway in the old MG TF joined us and were made most welcome; a thank you from them for the hospitality shown by their table of 1020ers.
The food flowed fast and was enjoyed by all – crackers and decorations set the Christmas tone just right again, boy, would we miss the Sir Walter Tyrell if they'd swept it away, as was the brewery's wishes two years ago…maybe we helped to keep it a New Forest landmark? Certainly the four figure sum that we spend each year must help!
For those who are new to 1020 like Bill and Heather Charlton, it's great that they are able to see 1020 and the MGOC Region 10 at its best. Its events like this, with YOUR participation, that make the MG Owners Club experience so rewarding.
If you didn't make it, then you really missed on of the best ever – four Midgets and a Frogeye Sprite bulged the ranks along with nearly half-a-dozen MGCs including Roger Toyne, despite a year of ill health joined us for the trash, roof down like the majority (bloomin' cold though).
Thanks to those who gave gifts in their absence too!