MGCC YORKSHIRE CENTRE
END of August 2023 All Natter Notes.
EAST – Jill Thornton Good attendance at the September Natter with a hilarious game of alternative pass the parcel, thanks to Chris Moore for organising. Lovely to see some new members, welcome. As usual we will be running our end of year Scalextric Challenge at the December Natter, Thursday 14th, an annual favourite. The Bensons are once again organising the Christmas run and lunch on Sunday 3rd December starting and finishing at Cottingham Parks Golf and Leisure Club, Cottingham, HU16 5SW, East Yorkshire. More details to follow. If you wish to be added to our mailing list for updates, please contact Chris Moore at camoctagon@gmail.com
WEST – David Copeman We enjoyed North Yorkshires End of Season run thanks to Mike Payne for organising. I reported last month on the passing of our oldest active member Geoffrey Wilson whose funeral took place on the 25th September it was a fitting and well attended send off for a wonderful gentleman, on returning home we learned of the unexpected passing of our late Yorkshire Centre director Brian Woodhams. Hopefully October will be a happier month.
SOUTH – Goeff Norcliffe
Natter attendance this month was decimated by covid and coupled with another dozen people on holiday meant that we had only eleven members present. Nevertheless, we had a good evening and members heard a brief report of the SY Borders Tour enjoyed a couple of weeks earlier. Twenty-two members in twelve cars spent three nights in Scotland and three nights in Northumberland, some adding in a stopover on the way to Scotland. We received a warm welcome from everyone at the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum and at the Jim Clark café Bistro where we were booked in for lunch. We booked a tour guide for our visit to the museum which really added to the experience. Alas, somewhere in the tour half of our members contracted covid, only discovered by testing on our return home; happily, all are recovering well. Very good feedback has been received from the Yorkshire Centre Dales Run in August, this was very much appreciated by our organisers, Malcolm Perry, Keith Pinder and Pete Long. View the Centre website for more detailed reviews of these events.
VALW of YORK – James Thornborough The September Natter saw an excellent turn-out with 20 members attending in full sunshine. The Natter conversation covered a November visit by John Towler, Vice President of the MGCC Calgary who will come bearing charity donation merchandise. Members were offered MG Centenary Baseball Caps from across the pond, with 50% of the price going to a well deserving food bank. Lots of orders, so the charity will be served well. Members were delighted to hear that the 93rd Anniversary of the MGCC Run planned for Saturday October 14th has been dedicated to the memory of Alan Dakeyne, former Honorary President of the MG Yorkshire Centre.
NORTH – Colin Brear – Geoffrey Wilson: It is with sadness I had to advise the Natter of the Passing of the Centre’s oldest Member: Geoffrey Wilson. A survivor of the 2nd World War as a Navigator in Lancasters, a Headmaster after the War, he was a thoroughly interesting gentleman to know. Talking to his son Nigel, who advised he wanted a Card from King Charles, unfortunately it was not to be. Geoffrey’s funeral took place at St. Paul’s Parish Church, Main St, Shadwell, Leeds LS17 8JF. Followed by Funeral Tea at: Castle Grove Masonic Hall, Castle Grove Hall, Moor Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 4BP. DALES RUN: Yet again the South Yorkshire Team did an excellent Dales Run on Roads I had never seen! The only issue the very limited Car Parking at the Buck Inn. We knew it would be an issue when they received notice of the Craven Heifer closing and other suitable locations were already booked up. (The problem of a Bank Holiday Sunday!). Some of the North Natter members attended the Croft Nostalgia Weekend. (Goodwood Revival of the North). (The Sunday was a better day than Saturday for people attending), the Otley Vintage Transport Extravaganza. Big event with plenty to see. Hot weather gave way to rain at the end. (Biblical in Burley on my son’s journey home!) Thanks to Terry Hartley for his organisation. George Martin, returned for his third talk, this time on the Red Arrows. Very interesting, End of Season Run – started at 1pm in the Car Park of the Anchor Inn Hellifield Road, Gargrave, a run to a Mystery Restaurant to eat at 5PM, somewhere on the outskirts of Skipton!
