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2005 As well as monthly meetings we arrange regular drives and events. As you will appreciate, the winter months do not lend themselves to open air driving, so January and December tend to get a miss. There is also a break for the main holiday month of August. Drives are normally held on the Sunday seventeen days following the monthly meeting. Some ideas for future drives and events...
Use this drop down list to jump to the month you want... No drive this month
February Sunday 20 Organisers Alec and Pam Willis
Meet at the Countrywide Farmers, Ledbury Country Store (at the junction of the A449 and the A438 on the Ledbury bypass) at 10:45 for departure at 11:00 - Map By the way, this store has a superb Ms Miggins coffee shop and restaurant, serving home cooked food and a fresh produce concession, "Taste of the Country", retailers of local and British foods "Mystery Trip" – well it’s not such a mystery any more... coffee at the Hundred House (Great Witley) at 12:00 (£1), dinner at the Stokesay Castle Hotel, Craven Arms, at 13:30. £5.95 for main course (a choice of three traditional roasts plus vegetarian options) £2 for starters and £2 for sweet. Party rates are available for the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre (next to the Hotel), the Museum of Lost Content is 200 yards away and Stokesay Castle is about 1 mile away.In the Craven Arms area you will also find...
As usual please email the organisers to let them know numbers in advance www.go2.co.uk/stokesaycastleinn
Post Drive Summary (courtesy of Trevor and Gloria Clark)... "The First Run of the Year" Pam and Alec managed to arrange a crisp sunny day for the first run of the year. The usual suspects gathered at the MSF car park at Ledbury but we also had some new comers as well, Annette & Liz and a long time member Lee Rawlings and partner who we haven’t seen for a while. The majority of the cars went topless but I am a bit concerned about Alan and Jenny still with the hard top on. I heard him say he had to have the air-con because it was so hot, served them right. In total there were ten cars although we lost David Rose half way round so that he could collect a navigator. It was noted that he had no difficulty finding the lunch venue presumably because of his daughter’s navigation. It was interesting run on a beautiful day after such an unpromising previous few days weather and the deterioration in conditions afterwards. Alec, who I understand planned the route, had arranged coffee at the Hundred House Hotel. There followed an interesting route up onto Clee Hill with views across to the Malverns. Down the other side across the Ludlow race course to the Stokesay Castle in for roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Hard luck Harry a taste of home and you weren’t there to enjoy it. Alec had brought us to a part of the country with many attractions we were parked in the car park of the Museum and Stokesay castle was just up the road. Although Craven Arms may not be the most attractive town there was historic Ludlow on most people’s way home not to mention the several National Trust properties close to hand. I think it was a very good start to what we all hope will be a great years motoring.
March Sunday 20 Organiser Harry Baldwin
A trip to the Greyhound Inn, Fenny Bridges, near Honiton, East Devon, EX14 3BJ (01404 850380) - Map. There we will meet up with Members of the four Areas surrounding the South West Area, for a Sunday lunch. I gather there are likely to be about sixty people at this one! We will set off from one of two rendezvous points (RVs)...
...we will try to occupy that bit of each car park nearest the entrance to the services Please ensure you have a full tank of fuel before arriving at the RVs (or fill up whilst you are there). From RV1 to the venue is 120 miles (193 kilometres). From RV2 to the venue is 87 miles (140 kilometres) Directions... We should arrive at the venue just before 12:00 Please email Harry if you would like to come along to this event as he needs to inform the Wessex Area Coordinator, Andy Culley, of likely numbers
April Sunday 24
Organisers Alan and Jenny Wilson
Meet at the Evesham Garden Centre, Evesham Country Park, at the roundabout junction of the new A44 and the A46 Evesham by-pass (garden centre, variety of shops, cafe and toilets) at 10:30 for departure at 11:00 - Map Drive through Worcestershire and Gloucestershire to Warwickshire Lunch at the beautiful Wykham Arms (formerly The Inn At Sibford Gower), a thatched pub/restaurant (starters from £5.95, mains £9.95 and puddings £4.95) - Map After lunch there is an optional trip to Upton House, near Banbury (a National Trust property), where you can see the house full of art treasures, gardens and shop. If there is enough interest we can park all the MX-5s outside the house for a photo opportunity - Map Also nearby is the Heritage Motor Centre near Gaydon - Map We had eleven cars on this run - the sun brought everybody out. The food at the pub was excellent. Eight of the eleven cars went on to Upton House for a photo opportunity in front of the main building. Quite a few of the visitors looked on enviously (or else they don't get out much). Well done to Alan and Jenny.
May Sunday 22 Organisers Jon and Ellie Peberdy
This one sounds like a one off to me. A unique opportunity to visit a house that is normally off limits to the general public Aim to meet at the Little Chef car park at Ashchurch (Junction 9 of the M5) at around 10:30 for an 11:00 departure. Lunch is at Wormington Grange at 12:30. Then more driving to arrive at The Fleet Inn at Twyning for approx 15-15:30 for a well-earned beer or cider! The cost will be £22 per person for lunch, based on a minimum of ten cars attending Jon and Ellie need to know precise numbers. Can you please email them, using the link above, as soon as possible?
Post Drive Summary (courtesy of Trevor and Gloria Clark)... As we drove from Ross we watched the storm clouds gathering in the sky in the east and feared that Ellie’s first run was going to be washed out. By the time we reached the start venue at the Little Chef, just east of the M5 at Tewkesbury, the clouds had started to lift. By the time we set off the sun was out and things were starting to look up. Apart from the usual suspects it was nice to have Lester and Wendy with us and great to see Annette in her lovely blue car with a new navigator. Ellie was organisation personified even down to the day glow yellow clip board. We receive a good briefing and instructions regarding keeping to the speed limits and this from a lady that only changes gear when the rev limiter cuts in. Jon was in charge of keeping the convoy intact and had provided two way communications between the lead car and the last in the convoy via walkie-talkies. The fact that Harry and Alec also had hand sets just added to the chaos and didn’t stop Fiona and David getting lost. Fiona had an excuse with no navigator but I think it was a bit off when David blamed it all on his 83 year old Dad. The drive took us on A roads from Tewkesbury towards Cheltenham but before we reached the spa town we turned onto minor roads with little or no traffic. We travelled via Gretton, the Slaughters and several other Cotswold villages to Wormington. Ellie being Ellie didn’t want to make it too easy and had arranged for equine chicanes to be liberally distributed throughout the route. The horsy brigade not withstanding, we all arrived at the beautiful Wormington Grange on schedule, apart from those who did not want see Belas Knapp who have already been mentioned, to be met with a warm welcome and Pimms. John, the owner of the Grange, gave us a potted history of the house which I personally felt was well done and very interesting. The buffet lunch was great and it was a privilege to be entertained in such a historic dining room in front of a roaring log fire. Ellie had not finished with us yet and after touring the house and grounds we were off again in search of alcoholic refreshment. At this point the organisers’ luck ran out and we had to make an emergency stop to put the hoods up as the heavens opened and the rain came down like “stair rods”. We travelled on to the Fleet at Twyning but lost several members on the way who either missed the turning at Beckford and ended up in Tewkesbury or were kidnapped by aliens. I believe that was Grahams’ excuse for not getting to the pub. By the time we had had a pint and were ready to wend our way home the sun was out again and we travelled home the way we had started and the only way to go in a “5” - topless.
June Sunday 19
Organisers Trevor and Gloria Clark
A car treasure hunt followed by a barbecue at Chez Clark. Numbers will be limited to fifteen cars (thirty people). Trevor and Gloria need firm numbers by the June meeting so that they know how many to cater for. As at the May meeting there were three car places left! The official start time is 11:00 at Trevor and Gloria's house, Kerne Drive, Kerne Bridge - Map You will need to bring your own cold box with what ever you wish to cook. Gloria will provide charcoal, salads, puddings, soft drinks, etc. - thank you Gloria! As usual please email the organisers to let them know numbers in advance
July Sunday 24 Organisers Rob and Trish Boulton
"A run in the Cotswolds" Meet up at Sainsbury's car park, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9RR (01242 222011) at 10:00 - Map Approximately 1.75 hours driving to get to the pub by 12:00 for a roast (beef, lamb or pork @ £8.50 - vegetarian options also available) and a pint (the beer is from the local Donnington Brewery and is great) Afterwards we will go to Snowshill for approximately 14:15 for either a 2 hour walk or to visit Snowshill Manor Drive home to get back to Cheltenham at approximately 17:00 As usual please email the organisers to let them know numbers in advance
No drive this month
September Sunday 18 Organisers Graham and Margaret Smith (01531 635964 or 07889 678078) "Canal Cruise and Run to Brecon" Meet in the top car park at Labels, Ross-on-Wye at 09:45 for a 10:00 start - Map Bring your own picnic lunch to be eaten on board the boat Soft drinks, tea and coffee can be purchased on board the boat at reasonable prices The cruise starts at 12:00 The boat will seat up to 55 people. The cost is £5.00 per person. This will have to be on a non-refundable basis I'm afraid The cruise lasts approximately two and a half hours and takes in a lock and a viaduct On our return from the cruise the run continues into the Brecon Hills, back through Abergavenny and returns to the start point at Labels car park Please let Graham and Margaret know if you are interested, as soon as possible Post Drive Summary (courtesy of Trevor and Gloria Clark)... Sorry this has taken so long to get written but what with one thing and another this has been the first evening I have been able to sit down to express our thanks to Graham and Margaret for organising such a great run. For those who did not make the trip you missed a very enjoyable day out. After the argument over which car park is the top car park at Labels had been settled the cars all lined up and produced an impressive display for the normal car drivers passing on the A40 many of whom expressed their appreciation of the Mark by sounding their horns. It was great to see so many new members turn out and I know everybody made an effort to make them feel welcome. The route to Brecon was via Abergavenny using the minor roads through Skenfrith which is one of my favourite drives because of all the entertaining high speed bends. There was a minor hiccough in Abergavenny when the convoy got split up courtesy of the traffic lights but I understand that one car had to make an unscheduled stop for unspecified reasons. We were taken through the picturesque countryside of Wales through Crickhowell. For anybody who travels that way again and you are in Crickhowell at lunch time I can recommend the Bear for lunch. It’s on the main drag and you can’t miss it. We were stopped for Coffee at the Gliffaes Country House Hotel, what a place! We had often expressed an interest in seeing what it was like when we had passed the sign previously and Graham had arranged it for us. The drawing room was splendid and when you walked through the conservatory out onto the patio overlooking the river the view was magnificent. We were running a little behind time because of the traffic in Abergavenny and we could not stop as long as many of us would have liked but time and tide waits for no man, even when it is a canal. The remainder of the run into Brecon was uneventful and we parked in the car park recommended, to Graham, by the police as being the safest in Brecon, this boy does his homework, and then we walked down to the narrow boat basin in front of the Brecon Theatre and boarded the boat. We were away to boldly go where every tourist to Brecon goes, for a canal cruise. The victuals were soon broken out, no hard tack and salt pork for this crew, it was out with the sandwiches and wine and down the hatch. It was noted that Ellie and Fiona were up to something and I suspected piracy was afoot, in fact I was hoping for a bit of rape and pillage myself, but no such luck. John was the object of their plan as he was the birthday boy and he was plied with a cake made by Fiona’s own fair hand decorated with cola bottles and jelly babies. The number of candles on the cake was substantially reduced because the skipper was concerned about the fire hazard of having so many naked flames in such a confined space. Having toasted his health in champagne we settled down and made our leisurely way down the canal through the lock under the bridge over an aqueduct, a novel experience traveling on a canal over a river, we turned in the winding hole, I picked up that nautical term from an old salt I met on the boat as he jumped ship to have a smoke while we turned round, and then back the way we had come. We berthed and disembarked and soon regained our land lubber status as we trekked back to the cars. There was the mandatory toilet break for us old un’s, I bet Somerfield were amazed at the number of shoppers who visit their shop that Sunday without an increase in turnover. On again back via the scenic route with time for a photo stop on the B4560 at altitude and then back towards Abergavenny over a section of road that I intend to drive again when there is less traffic and I can have some fun on the testing bends. I noted that Margaret was trying for action shots with her camera held above head pointing back a long the convoy. I believe the close ups of the wind blocker have come out very well and the ones of the sky are pretty good too. The journey back through Abergavenny and Skenfrith was made with the clouds starting to gather but Graham must have had his prayer mat out as the rain held off. As tail end Charlie on the way home I noticed that we were being followed by a non MX5 and even when I tried to shake him off by deviating from the route he pursued us all the way back to labels car park. I understand that Korean vehicle would like to be a Mazda but Harry’s wife Debbie says one roadster is enough in any family. I had the distinct feeling at the end of the drive that everybody had had a great day out and didn’t really want it to end. Thanks Graham & Margaret for a great drive.
October Sunday 23 Organisers Harry and Debra Baldwin
A Six Areas Lunch, where we invite Members from the five adjacent Areas to join us for a bit of a drive and a Sunday lunch The Day's Events...
If anyone wants to make a weekend of it then accommodation can be arranged directly with the Inn On The Wye. However, please note, Saturday night 22, is now fully booked, Sunday night 23, vacancies are available! The Inn On The Wye, Kerne Bridge, Walford, Nr Ross-On-Wye, HR9 5QS Tel: 01600 890872
Please email Harry and Debra to let them know
numbers and food requirements in advance
You can also visit our discussion forum and let Harry and Debra know numbers by using the voting option
November Sunday 20 Organisers Chris and Louis Tarling
A short drive around the Cotswolds - leaving Cheltenham at approximately 10:00 Meet in Sainsbury's car park, Cheltenham at 09:45 - Map Lunch at the Rising Sun Hotel - Cleeve Hill at 12:00 mid-day. An idea of numbers would be good for seating arrangements. We have the full choice of menu on the day 15:00 - 10 pin bowling at the Cotswold Bowl in Cheltenham - approximately £7.00 per person for two games. Again we need numbers by the end of the first week in October to reserve lanes
Please email Chris and Louis to let them know
numbers in advance
No drive this month
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