Gathering of the Faithful, 9.30am

MGC

MGF & MGB arriving

from Gloucestershire

from Berkshire

from Buckinghamshire

We were scheduled to meet up at about 10.30 on Easter Sunday morning, at the car park on Saffron Walden common. The first car arrived just after 9.30, to be welcomed by the sound of bells ringing out from the towns church, calling the faithful to worship!
As 10.30 approached, another gathering of the faithful was almost complete. (the good Lord must have approved, as the sun was shinning).
Geoff Haagman, who had volunteered to organise the days event was kept busy, handing out the essential paperwork, the all important route and a question sheet for those who wanted to enter into the spirit of competition.
Before we set off Derek Ryan had to do a bit of a quick repair on his white MGC, a heater hose was leaking a little water, the eagle eye of my wife had spotted some steam rising from the bonnet of the MGC. Derek quickly effected a repair, a clip just needed tightening up. Derek had in fact just got his car back together, after having the head converted so he can run the car on unleaded petrol.

As 11.00am approached someone made the decision that it was time to make a start, first away was John Cowper in his MGB GT, followed closely by his parents who had brought along their 1961 Ford Popular, in fact this was the oldest car on the run.
Apart from the Ford Pop, all the other cars were indeed MG's....MGB, Midget, MGC, Maestro & MGF. We had five MGF's on the run, four of which were driven by visitors to the event. The Cambridge & District MGOC regulars soon made our visitors feel at home, and we hope that they and others can join us again for future events

We all just about manged the first left turn out of the car park, the first right at the lights was OK, but after that, a few did get into a bit of a muddle, just for a while anyway. For several miles I did not see any of the others at all, and really wondered whether I was on the right road, but then suddenly we drew up behind about a half dozen MG's at a T juntion with a major road. After that everyone seemed to bunch up and then stick together. The instructions as given by Geoff were perfect, it was the abillity of the navigators to relay those instructions to the drivers that was questionable!
I guess thats where teamwork comes in!, and with that teamwork we all manged to find the first stop at a picnic site near Long Melford. We stopped here for about 20 minutes, a chance for a quick cup of coffee and perhaps a sandwich...then we were off again! Foxearth, Belchamp Water, Belchamp Otten, Little Yeldham & Great Yeldham. No! I had'nt heard of them either!
Sleepy little villages who were now awoken by the distinctive sound of an MG. People in the their gardens stopped what they were doing to look over the fence, many of them giving us a wave, and getting a friendly wave or a toot of the horn in reply.

Our next target was Great Eastern, near Great Dunmow where we were to given a guided tour of probably the worlds No1 Rolls Royce/Bentley dealership for restoration work.

An impressive Bentley in the P & A Wood showroom

We were given an extensive tour of the P&A Wood premises, by Chris Bull, which was extremely informative. Members were encouraged to ask quetions which Chris Bull duely answered. Q.."How long is a car in for restoration?" A.."Up to two years is not uncommon!"

The whole tour took about an hour, & refreshment in the form of coffee was gratefully accepted, before taking to the open road for the final, but short leg to the village of Debden passing through Thaxted on the way.

On arrival at Debden the the convoy of MG's parked up in Geoff Haagmans (run organiser) local pub, 'The White Hart'.
It was now time for that obligatory Noggin & Natter, & a spot of good pub food. A small raffle was held, the prize a framed 'cross stitch' picture of a pre-war MG, this was won by Alf & Peter Callus, and raised almost forty pounds!, for club funds.

The run was a huge success, and for me the most rewarding part of the day was as we passed thru the beautiful little villages of Essex & Suffolk, was the look of pleasure on peoples faces, as we drove by. Their pleasure of seeing classic MG's being driven, can only be matched by our pleasure at driving them!

Geoff, takes a break with a cup of coffee

Some more of our members cars

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