This month I would like to say bon voyage to all those of you venturing forth to France with Geoff and Sue Giles, over the late May Bank Holiday weekend. I hope you will all have a wonderful time: enjoy the wine, cheese and chocolate. I hope I haven't ruined any surprises for anyone. I shall be in Toulouse that week, so I will be thinking about you all. Take care. Off and on I have spent quite a lot of time in Toulouse in recent years. The research projects I have worked on with the likes of Airbus, have

As the winner of the Richard Thorne Charity Trophy in 2007, Bert Oslar has the job of nominating our chosen charity for 2008. I am pleased to say that Bert has chosen the Sue Ryder Homes at Nuffield, a local concern. At Christmas fund raisers are invited to a special party when a candle of remembrance is lit in commemoration of received donations. This will be a special occasion to look forward to.With Bert's nominated charity in mind and I am delighted to be able to announce our exciting charity challenge for 2008, as proposed by Glenn and Jane Davies

Over Christmas we had the pleasure of awarding our three Centre trophies: the mileage challenge sponsored by F.H Douglass; the SGT trophy for a person or persons that have best represented the true spirit of owning a Morgan and the Richard Thorne Charity Trophy for the most monies raised during our annual charity event run by the Centre. These annual awards are very important to us, as they reflect very much the character of the Centre: keen to be out enjoying our Morgans; supportive of the camaraderie of owning a Morgan; and while we are having a special time, wanting

I would like to thank Richard and Helen Thorne for their generous hospitality at their annual Christmas Party early last December. Unfortunately, the first production Aeromax was not quite available for the evening. However, Helen did see the car the very next day at the factory and in her own words: "it looked fantastic!" I am looking forward to seeing one on the road in 2008. Charles Morgan was at the party and gave us an insight into another successful year and his exciting plans for the future - long may it continue! On the night a raffle was held

I hope everyone had a very happy and enjoyable Christmas. With the New Year upon us, I thought you may like to hear about the results of our charity raising activities for 2007. As you may know Mike Aldrich's daughter Sue is a Consultant at Great Ormond Street hospital, in the Rheumatology ward. For the last year this worthy cause, and this particular department, was one of our chosen charities. Along with charity activities organised with Richard Thorne, we had an immensely successful year. Helen Thorne supported two local girls: Charlotte Pope and Lucy Bolsover, who ran a 1990

 I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tony Hempel, in a sense it is another link to the heritage of our Centre lost to us. Tony knew the late Arthur Neal and Chris Rowe, all founder members of our group. He competed regularly with his great friends Pat Hadley and Richard Somerset, always under the banner of Grogmog, as we were called then and of course Thames Valley as we have since become known. Tony competed courageously, always giving more than one hundred percent. He was a talented Morgan competitor. He would always help people if he