Bournemouth and Poole MGOC’s annual Garden Party and Picnic at Athelhampton House proved to be a huge success with £2,000 being raised for the club’s two charities: Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Macmillan Caring Locally.
The return to the picturesque Elizabethan manor house near Dorchester, after a year away, was unanimously approved of by attendees – 120 cars arrived to fill the rear lawn and line the banks of the River Piddle.
A diverse cross-section of MGs on show, spanning more than 90 years of car-making by the famous British brand, ranged from pre-war favourites provided by members of the Octagon Club to a brand new MG4.
While inevitably the massed ranks of MGB Roadsters and GTs alongside the classic modern MGF and TFs dominated, there were plenty of other models to catch the eye including a rare SV-S, a brace of MGCs, several examples of the MGA, representations from the Z brigade, a fifties Magnette, a pristine RV8 and several post-war T series.
Club cars and individual visitors from across the south coast region (including cars from the Isle of Wight) were joined by displays from many neighbouring MGOC affiliated clubs including, Chichester (many of who made a full weekend of it with an overnight stay), Durnovaria and Blackmoor Vale, plus a strong presence from the Dorset Midget and Sprite Club.
Guest participants were members of the Dorset TR Register who like MG clubs around the country have been celebrating their centenary this year and assembled a colourful collection of TRs and Stags including an unmissable orange TR7.
Fortunately, the weather gods smiled on the day which allowed participants to wander around the gardens that surround the historic house and enjoy walks along the river bank. New sections of the formal gardens, including a green-house, have been opened this year.
Many also took the opportunity to tour the house which has seen more rooms opened since our last visit, including the re-discovery of the original Elizabethan kitchen which emerged during renovations.
Other rooms in the house (which most famously featured in the Michael Caine and Lawrence Olivier film Sleuth) have been themed to a particular period of the history of the building from its earlier days in the Tudor period to its re-birth in the Art Deco era.
One wall which has been exposed even shows the different construction phases of the house with bricks from several different centuries interlocking with each other showing where windows and doors previously existed.
Those attending were encouraged to part with their money at a variety of fund-raising stalls including the ever-popular tombola and jigsaw and book sales and a new venture – a wine draw.
The Name the Dog competition was won by 1020 member Susan Hanstead whose winning selection was picked after one of her own dogs – it took pride of place in her and husband Ian’s RV8 on their journey home.
Jonathan Harvey from Southampton and New Forest MGOC, who won the much admired Summer Hamper (collated and donated by club member Wendy Brooks), generously donated it the Macmillan Caring Locally unit at Christchurch Hospital to be shared between the patients, staff and volunteers.
Both Macmillan and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance were in attendance to talk to visitors about their work and where the money raised on the day will be going.
Event supporter and club member Wayne Healey was also in attendance with his own branded selection of car care productions. He was in great demand to give advice on paintwork and upholstery care and renovation.
Proceeds on the stalls was boosted by the arrival of four coaches packed with tourists (many of them Americans) who were combining a tour of Athelhampton House with a visit to the nearby Cerne Abbas Giant and who found themselves enjoying the unexpected added attraction of classic British cars.
The success of the day was down to the hard work of the 1020 committee (with their advance planning and preparation) and individual club members, many making the trip to the venue on the Saturday afternoon to erect event shelters and gazebos and returning early the following morning to put up signs, stock and man the stalls, guide cars into their designated parking positions and welcome everyone at the gate.
Special thanks to club member Colin Sexton – our man with a van – who made it possible to transport everything to and from Athelhampton House.