ThamesMog
Secretary's Report June 2003

As you will probably know a significant part of the Thames Valley region includes the Royal County of Berkshire, now at our last Bird In the Hand noggin we were honoured to be in the presence of the Duke and Duchess. Of course they were given the best seats in the house during what turned out to be a very lovely evening.  The fishbone parking down one side was almost completely Morgans – a low light camera could have a captured a fantastic photo. I hope the six months or so will continue in this manner!

During our walk at Stratfield Saye Aunty Sue kindly held my Labrador Bobby. It gave me great delight to watch Sue and Bobby enjoy themselves; at every opportunity they seemed to take pleasure in the chance of jumping into the deepest and muddiest puddle!  Bobby said he hoped Sue would be coming to the next walk. I told Bobby I couldn’t promise anything, my other dog Sally of course is far too sensible to get involved in this sort of thing. Our monthly walks are slowly building us up for two spectacular walks at the end of the year. For more information please check our website.

Don’t forget Robin Milner has kindly invited us to join him once again at the Classic Car show and fete in aid of the Woking Hospice. The event will be held on Sunday 1^st June. Please ring Robin on 01932 353675 if you would like to take part – although I suspect late entries will be difficult. If you can please give this event your support, it is a great day out and the proceeds will be going to a very good cause. I have some entry forms, which I can give out. Entry is free to drivers and passengers of classic vehicles. The whole event is a fun day out for all the family.

This month we have some more information on our event at Brooklands including the rationale behind our involvement. We also have some new details on a summer picnic next to the River Thames and please don’t forget our welcome return to the Fawley Steam day. 

N.S.E Gymkhana
Sunday 13^th July 2003
National Society for Epilepsy, Chesham Lane
Chalfont St Peter, SL9 0RJ

Sandra Stuart and David Smith are repeating their fun day out for all the family with all the proceeds going to the National Society for Epilepsy. Sandra and David promise even more things to do this year. Once again it will be a fantastic day out for all the family. Please contact Sandra and David for an entry form via email at sandra.stuart@btinternet.com, or telephone 01494 601375. It will be wonderful if you can give this event your full support. Stop press: we have about nine-twelve entries so far so please be quick if you want to book any of the remaining places.

It should be noted that this event was booked through necessity well before Mallory Park. Unfortunately since we have unavoidably clashed with Mallory. However it is a clearly a different event to Mallory and as was stated to us last year by people we approached they could not attend as they were committed to attending Mallory.  We expect similar feedback this year and we are convinced neither event will suffer because they are different events attracting mainly different audiences. As a Centre we feel that members should be given a free choice to attend the type of events they prefer.

Morgans at Brooklands
Saturday 16^th August 2003

We have been giving details of this event for some months now, and prior to the final updates and reports in Miscellany, thought that we would answer some questions ‘why?’ in relation to this event.

Why is the Thames Valley Centre involved? – Because one of our members is a member of The Sporting Bears Motor Club, and was offered the opportunity to co-ordinate a Morgan event within the framework of their annual ‘Dream Rides’ day.  The event is not however created as a Centre only event, but for Morgans from all Centres, including Three Wheelers, and this event has no connection with any other events held previously at Brooklands by any other Centre.

Why is this event different from the regular ‘Dream Rides’ being offered on the day by The Sporting Bears? – Because Morgans have the exclusive use of a their own car park, picnic area and shorter circuit.  No other vehicles have access to these on the day.  The normal ‘Dream Ride’ offered by the Sporting Bears are multiple rides over a specially created airfield oval circuit, with members’ vehicles on call, depending on demand, for the full day. The ‘Morgan Dream Ride’ is a single circuit over historic Brooklands, and vehicles will only be on call for three hours during the day.

Why are we asking for donations if we are also offering rides on the day?  - Obviously we wish to maximise the fund raising opportunities of the day, and the Morgan only event has a large social element combined with the fund raising.  For example members will only be asked to give rides in their Morgan either in the morning or in the afternoon, thus they will be able to join those members on the ‘Display Only’ car park and enjoy all the attractions offered by Brooklands and The Sporting Bears for the rest of the day, including the dedicated picnic area, where it is hoped Members from all Centres will congregate.

Why are the Rainbow Trust and The Brooklands Museum Trust the chosen charities? – Because we will, like The Sporting Bears, be supporting children’s’ charities.  The Rainbow Trust provides care and support for terminally ill children and their families.  Brooklands is providing all their facilities free for the day, including entrance for participants, and funds raised for them will be used to provide access to disabled youngsters and to further expand the educational side of the Museum, which works with schools nationally.

Why is it important that I participate on the day?  Because you will be contributing to two very worthwhile charities, and for every pound raised up to a maximum of £750, Barclays Bank will generously be matching the funds raised on the day under their Community Programme.  Also, it will be a great day out, possibly one of the last times to enjoy Brooklands as it is at present, since the site has recently been purchased by Mercedes Benz Motors.  (The Brooklands Museum Site is just off the B374 at Weybridge in Surrey, and by Junction 10 of the M25.)

If you wish to participate in this event, please register with Ian Sollen at morgansatbrooklands@hotmail.com, or telephone 01923 773246 as soon as possible.  Further information is also available from him if required, and from previous issues of Miscellany.  For those who have already registered and sent their donation of £10, full instructions and passes will be issued shortly.  For those who have already asked for the registration package, please return it as soon as possible, as places cannot otherwise be held.  A few places are still available, especially for ‘interesting’ cars, and for three wheelers.  All Centres are invited.  The moral is, be quick if you wish to actively participate in this event.  (Please note.  If you are not actively participating in this event you will only have access to the ‘Morgans only’ picnic site as a visitor to Brooklands on the Day!)

Annual Centre Dinner
Saturday 7^th June 2003

We shall meet at 19:00 for 20:00 start. Please contact Mike and Pam to book your place as soon as you can, via email at mwraldrich1@aol.com, or telephone 01628 676619 – thanks very much. We have a new venue at a secluded and select country hotel very near to Maidenhead. It should be a great evening.  We are now collecting full payment for the dinner please contact either Mike or myself to confirm your place. 

How to get there.

From the M4

Exit the M4 at Junction 7 and follow the dual carriageway to the roundabout. Turn left on to the A4 towards Maidenhead. At the next roundabout, turn right, following the signs to Burnham. Go under the railway bridge and straight over two mini roundabouts. Keep the garage on your right and go straight over a further pair of mini roundabouts into Taplow Common Road. Continue straight along the road for one mile. The Grovefield Hotel is on your left. Driving time from the M4 is approximately 5 minutes.

From the M40

Exit the M40 at Junction 4 and follow the Marlow bypass A404. Exit at Marlow and turn left at the first roundabout, following the signs to Bourne End. Go through Bourne End High Street and at the roundabout turn left into Cores End Road. Go straight over the next roundabout, still following the signs to Taplow. After 2 miles, turn right at the T-junction and just after the Feathers public house turn left into Taplow Common Road. The Grovefield Hotel is one mile along on your right. Driving time from the M40 is approximately 10 minutes.

Please note that the hotel has its own helipad: grid reference 832 – 921.

Website: www.theaa.com/hotels/102.html

Fawley Steam Day
Sunday 17^th August 2003

I am very pleased that we have been invited back to visit the McAlpine Steam railway near Henley on Thames. Terry Tedman is organising this event, please contact Terry as soon as possible if you would like to go since there are only places for twenty-five morgans and tickets for fifty people available. (Terry Tedman – telephone 01494 637368 or using email at trtedman@aol.com) By August the Sir William McApline steam locomotive will be back from its refit at the Seven Valley Railway. Last time two years ago those that attended had a really wonderful day out including rides on steam trains and a look round the particularly interesting private collection. I really enjoyed the model railway set – a must for model railway enthusiasts. People attending are asked to make a three-pound donation to help make a contribution to the cost of the coal that will be used on the day.  Please note this event is adjacent to the Brooklands day so if you would like to make a weekend of it please note that we have arranged special rates at the local Hilton Hotel. Please contact Ian Sollen for details. I am thoroughly looking forward to this weekend – I look forward to seeing you there.

And naturally we have another monthly walk exploring some more of our lovely countryside.

The King William IV, Hailey
Sunday 22^nd June 2003

This month we shall start and end our walk at the King William IV pub in Hailey. Hailey is three miles southeast of Wallingford and is signposted from the A4074 between the two A4074/A4130 roundabouts. The pub has a small car park. Limited roadside parking is also possible. As we shall be having lunch at pub we may be able to park here, as we shall be arriving early.

The walk is three and three quarters of a mile in length. It is a classic Chiltern walk, enjoying views of the nearby escarpment, the Oxfordshire Downs along the horizon, and green fields and hedges on all sides.

We shall meet at the King William IV at 10:30 am and we shall be back in time for lunch at the same pub.  I hope to see you there.

As a regular feature please find the latest web page report from Dave below.

Web Page News
Dave Vodden
www.thamesmog.co.uk

In January we had 506 visits delivering 2293 pages while in February it was 444 visits and 1764 pages.

The gallery is the most popular page, registering more use even than the site front page.  Other pages used heavily are in order, the events page, the articles page, the news page, the mog2002 gallery, the aero8 gallery, the dealer links page, the 3-wheeler gallery and then the regalia page.

Some of you will have seen the pictures of the 2002 Christmas dinner now in the gallery.  I am also adding older pictures from my personal collection.  Any suitable material you may have is welcome.  In the next report see what brings people to the site.

Also news of a new exciting event:

Thames Valley Morgan Picnic
Sunday 31 August 2003, noon onwards
Venue: Hurley, Berkshire

Directions: From the A4130 (east from Henley) turn north at the East Arms towards Hurley village. After 500 yards, past Ye Olde Bell Hotel and the Rising Sun, at junction, turn left into farm, signed to Riverside Car Park.

This event will simply be an open-air noggin where you bring all your own drink and food. Over one kilometre of beautiful Thames riverbank provides over 10 acres of picnic grounds for day visitors. There is a slipway for medium sized trailed boats. Car park cost £5.00 per vehicle. Toilets and water are available on site.

Everything else is totally up to you. Arrive early or when you like, bring what you like, no open fires or music! No need to book, just turn up.

This is a Morgan event, but Land Rovers allowed if wet!! 

Contact: Jerry Tanner 01494 724018 or tanner@fish.co.uk