Text & pictures by GG
On Thursday afternoon 29.07. the first Magnettes arived in the small
village of Hambridge, located in Somerset. The weather was fine as was the mood.
Everybody was handed a welcome bag which contained a nice brass plaque and a
rally plate and all the other stuff you need to get food. etc.
The tents and caravans were directed to their place. What a landscape! And
everywhere Magnettes. From Belgium, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands and UK of
course. As usual time passed with greeting old friends, chatting and drinking
some "welcome beers". While some of us were doing a BBQ, a rainshower
come down, but this in no way stopped us, as the picures show. Very late the
last zip of a tent closed before the event really started....
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| Despite the summer rainshower BBQ & chats went on... | ||
Friday:
Warren's timetable unmisunderstandable said that we had to get up early to get
ready for the start. But this was easy as the sun was shining and it got too hot
in the tent! Warren sent us off to a scenic tour around Hambridge which included
several stops: At the Willows and Wetlands Centre on the levels followed
by a pub lunch. Then heading on to visit Fred Body's car & motorcycle museum,
which included the famous "Old Speckled Hen" beside several
other prewar M.G.s and a huge collection of motorbikes. After this we had earned
our delicious cream tea before returning to Hambridge.
In the evening the Register held it's AGM. Because of the sudden death of the
chairman Roy Smalldridge a new chairman was needed and was found in the person
of David Johnson. A short obituary for Roy was given, especially as he started
organising this event with Warren. Those who knew Roy will surely have kept him in
mind over the weekend and we were sure he already had a good influence in heaven
and was now organising a sunny weekend!
A talk on life in the Somerset levels followed, before the big BBQ started outside
. The Register offered a special bottled beer which showed the Magnette
on the label. Although enough beer had been bottled there was nothing left on Sunday.
Maybe a new collectable?
Not sure when those staying in B&B nearby left, but the party went on long on the campground...
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| Line-up before the start | ||
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| Lunch stop | Old Speckled Hen | Nice gauge |
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| like on a postcard | ||
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| at the "creamtea" break | ||
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| back at "home" | Queue for the BBQ | |
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| Paul sells and tastes the new beer | ||
Saturday:
If only Warren's timetable wouldn't be there! But it's getting too warm in the tent
again as well. So everybody is ready to start in time. We head off for another
scenic tour with "pit stops" at a cider brewery, pottery, local craft
centres shop and another cider brewery. This really was worth a stop and try! I
think most of us did. Then lunch at a pub or picknick before we went off for a
scenic treasure hunt. Warren again had some tricky photographs and I think
nobody found all of them.
Back in Hambridge the relaxing time with a cold beer in front of the tent was
suddenly disturbed when John Hale engaged nearly everybody for a football match
on the nearby playground. I think the "Shirts" bat the
"Skins" with 10:9. Only Radboud couldn't resist to foul me. But
matches between the Netherland and Germany are almost too emotional :-)
Well, meanwhile it was time to shower and get dressed for dinner in a nearby
pub. Spceial guests were MGCC president Bill Wallis and chairman Stephen Cox of MGA
Twin-Cam fame and _______ .
We had to leave after the dinner as our children are not very amused sitting
in a pub. When the children were asleep in our tent my wife and I sat outside in
front of the tent to enjoy the clear sky, the stars and some wine. It took only
a few minutes and the first other campers joined us. It ended with 20 people
sitting in a large circle until after midnight....
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| ZA | ZB | Varitone |
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| "wanna-be Varitone" leading | Eddy from Belgium | |
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| some dusty roads | szenerie showing tree on hill with swing | |
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| shade at the cider mill | David & Laurie tasting cider | picknick lunch |
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| time stamping at the treasure hunt | Lou Shorten talking with our Aussie guest | |
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| Shirts against skins | Dinner | |
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| Chairman David Johnson | Bill Wallis |
Sunday:
Unfortunalety the first cars from Denmark and The Netherlands had to leave to
catch the ferry. But the others enjoyed the driving test on a nearby field.
Peter Bonthrone had organised a Magnette picture colouring competion for
the children. Much too soon the event came to an end with prizegiving and buffett
lunch. Suddenly all tents were packed and nothing on the field showed which
wonderful time we spent here.
Many many thanks to Warren and Janice Marsh, Peter Martin, who jumped in after
Roy's death, Andy & Jo Brock, who cared for the Register regalia and all the
other helpers, who made us feel so good. Also the work Roy Smalldridge did is not
forgotten.
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| Children's colouring competition | Gymkhana | |
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| A non-quarterlight Magnette! Just the week before the event MOT'd. | ||
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| last line-up | some of the prizes | |
Prizes:
Spirit of the
event:
Mark & Andi Jones because two weeks before he thought it
would be better to
drive the non-quarterlight Magnette instead of trailering her!
Furthest travelled:
Laurie Scott from Australia
Furtest travelled in Magnette:
Ralf & Marion Arnhold with Leif
Photo
Hunt:
Ralf & Marion Arnhold with Leif
Sunday
Quiz:
Jo Gayton & Janet Caiger
Car choosen by Mrs. Jo Masters as the one she would most like to take home: Glyn
Case
Driving
Test:
1. Hans Lubberding
2. Günter Graskamp
3. Antje Graskamp
Children's drawing competition: Andreas Graskamp
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| Our base camp at Hambridge | these
pictures are from Laurie Scott/Australia |
Idyllic szenerie |
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| Note the prices | Driving test in high grass |
All photos, graphics and text belong to the Magnette Register.
They may not be used without permission!