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It is with great sadness that I report the recent passing of Roger Nickes. Roger was a regular at the Frog and Wicket noggin venue where we would often share rugby football stories. Many members of recent hugely successful England rugby teams lived nearby and were known to Roger. The noggins were always more joyous when Roger and his wife Kathrine were around; for much of the year they lived in Spain. Roger will be missed. On behalf of the Centre, I would like to send our sincere condolences – to live to in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die (Campbell, 1825).

Please don’t forget that I have confirmed that our AGM will be held at the Bird In Hand on Thursday 17th April, arriving from 19:30 for a 20:00 start. Please let Mike Aldrich (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 01628676619) know if you are coming so that we can make sure we can accommodate you at the meeting. I hope to see you there.

Please don’t forget that Mark Ledington, the Global Sales Manager for the Morgan Motor Company Limited has invited members of the Thames Valley Centre to a free tour of the Factory. Mark wants us to see all the exciting developments that have being going on recently. These should be very interesting visits, looking at all the stages involved in building a Morgan Sports Car & Trike. Please contact me if you would like to go (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 07932458071). I will take bookings on a first come first served basis. Spaces are limited, so please contact me as soon as you can if you would like to come. The visits will take place this month.

We had a lovely walk back in February looking at the Snowdrops at Winkworth Arboretum, so we have another walk in these wondrous surroundings of the beautiful Winkworth Arboretum near Godalming, Surrey on Sunday April 27th to see the bluebells. This hillside arboretum has now been maintained by the National Trust for 60 years and they have built up a collection of more than 1,000 different shrubs and trees, many of them rare. There is a beautiful lake set amongst the lower arboretum. They also have a tea shop serving homemade cakes, biscuits and light lunches. We shall meet in the main car park for the Arboretum around 11 am and then we shall go for a gentle stroll round the grounds and lake with a light lunch and cake in the café afterwards. The arboretum is near Hascombe, on east side of B2130 (GU8 4AD) south of Guilford. I hope you can make it – look forward to seeing you there.