It is with deep sadness that I report the passing of our Centre Treasurer, Mike Aldrich. Over the Christmas period he had had to go into hospital for a major operation. Whilst this was a success, Mike had undergone many procedures in recent years and this last one, sadly, took a great deal out of him. Early last December, Mike had been determined to go to the wonderful Richard Thorne’s Christmas Party where Richard celebrated his 35 years as a Morgan dealer. Helen and Richard Thorne along with their family were very pleased to see Mike there. It was to be Mike’s last outing with the Centre.
I have known Mike for over twenty-five years. I first met him around 1992 at a Thames Valley Centre noggin in the Bird In Hand. He soon got to know everyone and was always good at giving new members a warm welcome. A group of us from that era are still good friends and keep in touch. In those days you could say, ’let’s go for a run in our Morgan sports cars’, and we were off without any worries about MSA permits –what were they? Mike organised many trips for us and got involved with them as well, including one memorable trip to Le Touquet, after an International Morgan meeting, involving our newly procured Centre banner that had been designed and organised by Mike. Trips to race meetings, national meetings, car shows and many more – they were happy days.
Early on, Mike offered to take over Treasurer Duties from the late Bill Smallwood and from these initial beginnings the first Thames Valley Centre Car badge was procured by Mike and Brian Taylor. This limited edition handmade badge is now very sort-after and often turns up for sale in different corners of the world. I am proud to say that Mike presented one of the early badges to the late Peter Morgan. Thanks to Mike’s foresight and financial husbandry we have been able to continue with the design and manufacture of our Centre car badges, and Jim Bellew was able to start up our range of regalia that continues to this day in David Mansfield’s capable hands.
Mike was devoted to the Centre and through his commitment gave us great service. Our Annual Centre Dinners were organised by him, starting off in an Elizabethan Manor and finally ending up at the Bird In Hand as we know and love. Our Centre Dinner last month was a fine tribute to Mike.
Over all the years I have known Mike, he has been a true friend to me, to many others, and the Centre as a whole. I will personally miss him greatly. He would give me advice only in a way that someone who deeply cares about you would. I can’t find adequate words to express my feelings, but I would like to send on behalf of the Centre and all of Mike’s friends in the Morgan Sports Car Club, our sincere love and condolences to Mike’s wife Pam, daughter Sue and granddaughter Lizzie and the rest of their family. To live in the hearts we leave behind, is not to die (Thomas Campbell).
For our next event, a beautiful place to remember Mike, we will be visiting Basildon Park. The Basildon House you see today is a restoration of the 18th-century mansion, brought back to life in the 1950s by Lord and Lady Iliffe. The collection includes important 18th- and 19th-century paintings and antiques. Explore the four waymarked trails through the historic parkland and gravel paths around the gardens, and park. Address: Basildon Park, Lower Basildon, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 9NR.
As you know, we were delighted recently to announce that Steve Morris, Managing Director at the Morgan Motor Company, will be our honoured guest at our AGM on the evening of Thursday May 11th at the Bird In Hand, Knowl Hill. So please put this date in your diary. This will be a great opportunity for Centre members to meet Steve and to look to the future. I hope you can make it. If you can look this far ahead please make contact with me so that we can make appropriate accommodation. It will also be a special evening.
During our enjoyable evening at Richard Thorne’s Party, we were able to have a chat with, the new Commercial Director for the Morgan Sports Car Company, Dennis de Roos. Tim Davies and Dave Cleveland invited him to join us on one of our Centre outings. He said he would be happy to get to know us and will be delighted to come along to one of our events. It will be a wonderful chance to meet Dennis and his wife. Please watch this space.
Thames Valley Centre car badges available on eBay - beware
Don’t forget please, as reported previously, a Morgan owner from Australia has brought to our attention that Thames Valley Car badges are for sale on eBay. They appear to be our badges but we would like to point out that these sales are nothing to do with us or our previous suppliers. They are very highly priced, and please remember we can supply Thames Valley car badges new at the nominal club price. If you see any regalia out there and are interested please check with us first. I would like to thank our Australian customer for letting us know about these items.
Thames Valley Centre pin badges
Our range of super new Thames Valley pin badges are now available. These are available in five colours, similar to our car badges. Orders are taken on a first come first served basis, as always. Please contact David Mansfield, our Regalia Officer, to order pin badges or our car badges. Orders can be made on his telephone (0118 3769752) or via email at
Take care, see you all soon – Roger.