At this time of year, as ThamesMOG members prepare for their Christmas Lunch at the Harte and Magpies, we start to reflect on the year that has just gone by. There have been plenty of ups, and sadly a couple of downs.
This year we lost Chris Nickless and Terry Tedman, both strong characters who had helped to shape the Thames Valley Centre over the years. Gone but not forgotten.
On a brighter note, we have had plenty of great outings during the year. These started with the New Year’s Day meets at the Phoenix Inn and at Stony Stratford. Later, a very interesting visit to the Prodive factory, and a splendid visit to the Shuttleworth Trust. For Drive-It-Day we visited the Crofton Beam Engines for their steam-up day, and later in the year, the Aston Hill Centenary Hill Climb, and many, many more outings. The event that stands out in our members’ mind is the Ten Hills Scenic Tour where nineteen Morgans (+ a Caterham) drove through the lovely flowing Chiltern countryside, up and down ten hills associated with very early 20th century motor sports competitions. On behalf of all ThamesMOG members, I would like to thank all those who made these events possible.
In the past couple months, ThamesMOG has continued to be busy. We have viewed the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run with SexMOG at Stapleford, and 14 members went on our Morgan Factory tour. In October, we were honoured to be joined at our Sunday Lunch Noggin by Jann Robinson, Director and Chair of the Morgan Sports Car Club. Members took the opportunity to ask questions about recent changes, with Jann providing clear examples of how past losses have been eliminated through careful management. She closed her talk by praising the warmth and camaraderie of ThamesMOG, remarking: “It’s just like a lot of old friends getting together and having a chat.”
We are holding our Christmas Lunch at the Harte and Magpies on Saturday 13th December. By the time you read this, bookings for this festive event will have closed. We all look forward to enjoying ‘turkey with all the trimmings’ in a few weeks’ time. I would like to thank Richard Clayton for arranging it.
Don’t forget there will be no Sunday Lunchtime Noggin on December 21st as it is too close to Christmas Day.
ThamesMOG kicks off 2026 with two events on New Year’s Day. Why not join with other car enthusiasts for an impromptu gathering of cars and car folk at The Phoenix Inn, Hartley Wintney, from about 8am to 2pm. This is where you are likely to see cars of all types, shapes, colours and conditions. Vintage, Veteran, Classic, Hot-Rod they will all be there at some time. Alternatively, you could spend New Year’s Day at Stony Stratford. Expect to ‘see’ a great deal of Vintage cars and bikes and even a few commercials, expect to ‘hear’ a cacophony of engines as they celebrate the New Year with ‘one minutes noise’ at midday. You can expect a free bacon butty if you are one of the first of the vintage drivers to arrive. The event ends at 2.00pm. It’s free for spectators and drivers but donations to Willen Hospice would be appreciated. They need to raise an astonishing £4.7 million a year to make it all happen, so please give generously – every little helps and any donation no matter how small will be gratefully received.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.