I hope you are all safe and well. At the time of writing, there was talk of a relaxation of the lockdown rules. This will likely be a gradual process. Please remember, that the latest information on our activities can be found on our website, and our ThamesMOG newsletters will still be going out to keep us all connected.
All this happening in our fiftieth anniversary year has curtailed us, but safety is paramount. We hope, however, to have a special celebration in November at our Thursday night noggin, restrictions permitting. Why November? You may ask. The earliest Centres in the Morgan Sports Car Club included the Midland and London Centres. Morgan owners from the Thames Valley area attended the London Centre and became good friends. They decided that it would be good to cut down on travelling and create a Centre in our area. These founding members included the well-known Morgan owners; the late Arthur Neal; and the late Chris Rowe. The Bird In Hand was chosen at Knowl Hill as it had a good car park, good beer and a large roaring fire. Hence, on the first Thursday in November, at the Bird In Hand, in 1970, the Reading Centre was formed. The rest you could say is history, well, not quite.
The Centre has had two name changes. After being established as the Reading Centre it became known as GrogMOG. That lasted some time, a car badge was even made, and if you are lucky enough to own one then look after it as its value will have rocketed. Then, in the enlightened eighties, the renaissance of our area if you like, we became known as the Thames Valley Centre. Nevertheless, whatever we have been called, we have always been mad keen on Morgan sports cars. If you think in 1970, the Plus 8 was just converting from the Moss box, which will give you a feel for how long ago it was. In fact one of our earliest members had a Plus 8 in the early seventies – a rare car indeed in those days, and even today.
I am proud to say that Charles Neal and Denzil Rowe are still connected with the Centre, and that they drive their respective father’s Morgan sports cars. Long may this continue, and long may our Centre carry on.
If this lockdown persists, next month I will start to reminisce on the greatest adventures of our Centre – recall that camping trip at Le Mans or the Viking Long boat race on the Isle of Man, all eventful. Watch this space.
In summary, for the foreseeable future all our noggins are cancelled, and our planned outings and events are either cancelled or postponed. If there is any change, the ThamesMOG’s newsletter will inform you or you can check our website anytime.
Meanwhile, I hope you will all take care along with your family and friends and that you will all stay well.