GLOUCESTERSHIRE MG OWNERS CLUB
March 2013 Newsletter No 57

We arrived at the Gala Club to find that our usual room had been set up ready for the presentation to be given by Vance Hopkins.  There was a full size screen and the table had been put in the right position for the projector, which had been purchased for occasions such as this.  At last weeks Committee Meeting the projector had been ceremoniously taken from its’ box and plugged in and to the delight of the Committee it worked, thus ensuring that there would be no red faces on the night of the presentation.

It was good to be back in our usual room after being relegated for the last two months, first to the bar and then the small room.

Brian opened the meeting just after 8pm stating that we were secretaryless (not sure whether this is a word, but if not we could adopt it) as Adrian was in London, but he had been in touch via email giving Brian a long list of instructions for running the meeting so he would not forget any important items.

As Vance had already connected his laptop to the projector Brian said that the presentation would be before the Club events and introduced Vance to the Members.

Vance expressed his great appreciation to the Club for choosing the James Hopkins Trust as the Charity for this years Caper and said that after we had seen the short video he would take questions from the members.  James, their son had myotubular myopathy and died in 1989 at the tender age of 20months, not from his condition but from an infection which his contracted.  However his short life was not in vain as in his memory the James Hopkins Trust was set up. The video gave an insight into the help and support which is given to parents of children five and under with life threatening diseases making their lives a little easier to cope with.  Nursing care is 24/7 with 1,000 hours respite care per month being  given at either home or at the centre which means that the caring parent can even take on a little job if only for a couple of hours a day giving them time to themselves.  Vance pointed out that all money raised goes to the Trust and is not swallowed up as in the larger organizations.   

A Teddy Bear Mascot called Jimmy James accompanied Vance to the meeting and one of ours members suggested that we could include Jimmy in the Caper, perhaps by travelling in one of the participants cars.

Brian thanked Vance and we all agreed that we have picked an excellent charity to support.

Whilst goodbyes were said to Vance, Diana and Mo did the monthly swindle i.e. the raffle.

Brian welcomed new member Andy Hobson and also Tony Rogers, who is a member of another Club but joined us for the evening.

John gave an up-to-date report on the Caper, saying that the route was nearly finished and that he was looking for volunteers to help on the day of the Caper with marshalling duties.  At this point Trev tried to make a hasty escape.  Raffle tickets would be able to be sold before the day of the Caper as we were covered under the JHT registration and he would be bringing some books to the April meeting for Members to sell.  To date we had 75 entrants from various parts of the country.

John C was taking names for Sunday lunch on the 24th March which would be at the Oakwood, formerly The Twigworth Lodge which is within walking distance of The Gala Club.  The carvery if chosen would include soup and the salad bar. 

Geoff had 20 members going on the Wadsworth Brewery Trip on the 6th April and there was room for more.  The trip would include the tasting of 5 beers, unfortunately they wouldn’t be pints!! We were to meet at the Gala Club at 9am.

Brian informed members that the April meeting would be the AGM and that the present committee, should no one offer their names to be nominated, were prepared to carry on for a further year.  Silence from the floor!

Chris would be running another navigational skirmish on the 21st April and stressed that it is not as challenging as we think, we had all heard that before, but were still not convinced.  We would need paper, pencil, ruler and Explorer Map 14 and at least one passenger to help.  If we found it too challenging we could bail out and head straight for the Royal Oak at Much Marcle where we would have lunch.  Chris said he would hand out sheets with 12 sets of signpost clues and Tony made the comments that Chris made it sound so easy.

Geoff and Mandys’ run on the 23rd April will start at The Old Lodge Minchinhampton.

April seems to be a very busy month for the Club as we also have the St Roses Wheelnuts Show on the 28th.

At the May meeting we will have a presentation about the Forest of Dean and the Marshals will have an opportunity on the 19th to try out the Caper route.  Woodys’ Welsh Wander will be held over the weekend of the 24-27 and Eddy and Diana will give us details of their run on the 28th at the next meeting.  Eddy did make the comment that we should all bring sleeping bags!  They have the reputation of getting lost on the evening runs, so anything could happen on their run!!

South Cerney Steam Fare is in August and the Club will be going on Sunday the 4th, anyone interested in attending should let Adrian know.

The trip to RAF Cosford will be on the 6th October, details will be giving at a later date.

There was no other business so Brian closed the meeting at 9pm where after the members socialized.