Plans are well under for our entry into next year´s Uxbridge Auto show, after our second win two years running. I understand there may be a pirate type show in homage to Captain Pugwash, perhaps. There is some debate of the nature of the characters involved. I do remember vividly Captain Horatio Pugwash as he sailed the high seas in his faithful vessel the Black Pig, ably assisted by cabin boy Tom, pirates Willy and Barnabas, and Master Mate. His mortal enemy was Cut-Throat Jake, captain of the Flying Dustman. With this new theme, as Captain Pugwash himself might articulate, "Kipper me capstans! That sounds like a good idea." I must say the team has been successful to date, so I am sure they know what they are doing. What do us "lolloping landlubbers" know. Good luck to all.
On the subject of next year we are holding a meeting to discuss future events at the Bird In Hand on the first Thursday noggin in October - this month in fact. We will be in the dining area that can be found to the left of the bar where we shall be holding our 40th Anniversary dinner. Any ideas for things you would like to do next year, please bring them along. Trips away can take some time to organize, for example, so now is the time to think about them. We shall have a follow up meeting in March 2011, to confirm up our plans for the start of the new season. I for one would love to go to Salzburg again - a great place for a Morgan, I would think. At the meeting when you get to the curtains, just give the password and you are in. I look forward to seeing you there. Bring your drinks from the bar in with you, of course.
Please don´t forget our 40th Anniversary dinner to be held in November at the Bird In Hand. This will be a special event. Please contact Mike Aldrich if you would like to go as soon as you can as we are taking bookings now on a first come first served basis. At the time of writing in late August, there were no places left, so we are now operating a waiting list. You can find Mike´s contact details listed under Events, please see below.
If you were a previous regular at the Reading, Grogmog or even Thames Valley Centre, I would love to hear from you, if you are still able to read this column. I would like to hear your memories so that we can pull together a comprehensive history for our Ruby dinner. Also, if you are still active with us please pass this message on to any old members that you may still be in touch with - thank you. One thing I wanted to mention was the introduction of "hot pants" in 1970, a fashion I have some fond memories of; however, when I looked it up, I believe it started in 1971 and hence out of scope from our anniversary year, it seems. The back covers of old editions of Miscellany around this time were a good source of reference material for this sort of subject - those were the days. In 1970, the Beatles were still together just, and their last number one song was entitled, "The Long and Winding Road." Clearly, this was subliminal song for all Morgan drivers - "the long and winding road that leads to your door", or in our case the Bird In Hand.
With the year passing quickly, next month we have the Veteran Car Run meeting at Newland´s Corner for a run down to Staplefield. If the weather turns nasty, as last year, please assume the run is off. Fingers crossed, this time we and the veterans won´t be confronted with a dire weather warning.
This month´s walk provides an opportunity to explore the famous town of Wallingford and all it has to offer, while enjoying a rather beautiful stretch of the River Thames. There is plenty of history to have a look at on this trip, going back to the Civil War - the ruins of the castle being emblematic of this period. It should be an interesting walk - I hope you can come.
Take care, see you all soon