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Cotswold Caper

Sunday 10th June 2007

This Years Nominated Charity - St Roses Special School

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This year’s Cotswold Caper was held on 10^th June, in aid of St. Rose’s Special School at Stroud, helping towards their ambition for a Hydro-therapy Pool. The Club decided to start the Rally from the school, thereby enabling some of the pupils to witness over 100 MG cars and with Sharron Davies waving off the first few cars, they really had a fantastic day.  From their wheelchairs they cheered every one of the cars away from the starting line.

The day started early and with the sunshine we ordered,  all Marshalls (Club and P.T.A.), Raffle Ticket Sellers, Signing-on Girls and most importantly, the School Catering Staff all ready at 8o’clock for the first arrivals.  There were no hiccups and all cars were away within one hour and with no hold-ups in Stroud.

We were very pleased Sharron Davies MBE, an Olympic, Commonwealth and International swimmer, found the time from her BBC duties, to attend our Rally and together with her family,  mixed, signed autographs and had photographs taken with pupils, entrants and staff;  making it a day for all to remember. Together with Charlotte, a pupil at the School, Sharron released the first few cars with a wave of the Union Jack.  Thank you Sharron for the time you afforded us.

   After nearly 100 miles through the Cotswolds and past many pubs, ice-cream vendors and picnic areas, Oh and through some of the best scenery in England, the Rally finished at The Cotswold Farm Park at Guiting Power 

The Staff made our Rally very welcome allowing us to use their facilities. This year we saw no insubordination from Marshalls since we were at the finish over two hours before the first arrival, thus enabling them to have an hour for lunch !!

A very pleasant surprise was the arrival of nine school pupils and their Carers. They enjoyed their visit in the Park where they were able to handle some of the animals.

           Preliminary figures show the Raffle Girls made over £500 and the total contribution to St. Rose’s School will be approximately £2500. A presentation evening will be held in the near future, after we have returned from the Club’s Run to Jersey.

SPECIAL THANKS GO TO:-

Mrs. Billington, the School Head Mistress, for allowing us to use the school’s facilities and for providing the Catering Staff and to Miss Jarvis, Administration Manager, Cotswold Farm Park and all their Staff  for the Welcome we received.   We would like to offer our thanks to all our many sponsors but especially our main sponsor for the second year running  Willans (Solicitors) our Main Sponsors

PS for those who are observant the above picture is of a very new make of car - its a Mazda MG.  We apologise for those of sensitive disposition but its owner is a very nice man -  no really he is!!!!

Today we presented St Roses with the proceeds of the run.  Seeing the faces of all the children  made the effort so worth while.  What also was fantastic was the way the staff were all so grateful for our efforts.  They obviously care very much about the children.  We all had a tour around the school which was really interesting.  May I recommend anyone looking for a charity to support to go and see the school.  They still have a very long way to go reach their target for a Hydrotherapy Pool.  We wish them all the best in their endeavours. 

 At the request of Mrs. Billington, Headmistress of St. Rose’s Special School, we held the presentation of money generated by this years Cotswold Caper at the school: thus enabling the pupils to witness the event and again giving them another opportunity to see the cars 

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE MEMBERS WHO TURNED UP WITH THEIR MG’s

Though it was a normal working day, to have 11 cars there was superb. The weather was good which enabled us to hold the proceedings outside. It seemed the whole school turned up. I think some of the pupils were only too keen to have a couple of hours outside away from those hard task masters called “teachers” !!! 

We handed over to the school £3,333.33 in total. Through Tim Davies, DHL, the International Courier,Express and Parcel Service Company and with our Main Sponsors, Willans Solictors, Cheltenham, together they contributed nearly half of the total. Remember all this goes towards the School’s ambitious plan for a Hydro-therapy Pool. 

 As a special treat, the School’s Catering Staff, baked and decorated a cake in the shape of a MGB GT, much to the disgust of us hoodies. It was an excellent surprise and Graham was very disappointed to have to cut it in half.  It tasted very good and went down very nicely with the hot drink, also provided by the Staff. Afterwards, many of the members were given a tour of the School. Any doubts about whether we had selected a worthwhile charity were quickly dispelled.

 Thank you again for turning up and I hope you had an enjoyable couple of hours at the school.