Welcome | TR Register Essex Group

April 2010

Bulletin 67

Welcome to new members

There will be no Secretary’s Bulletin next month as I shall be in America visiting a couple of old TRing Friends who emigrated to the States nearly 20 years ago, so this edition is a little larger than usual! I’ll kick off by welcoming two new members – Bob Brand and Gary Clarke. Unfortunately I have not yet got around to having a jaw with either Bob or Gary so I know very little about them or their cars but I am sure they will be guaranteed a very warm welcome at our regular Tuesday meetings.

Triumph Spares Day

Quite a few Essex Group members attended the Triumph Spares Day at Stoneleigh on the 7th March. The show was reasonably busy but I did not see the usual hoards staggering back to their cars laden down with bargain goodies – in fact, I did not see much evidence of many bargains at all - a sign of these recessionary times, I expect. This year the show was located in the cattle sheds rather than the main building (cost cutting?) and I heard many complaints about the unpleasant animal odours and the cold temperature. I felt particularly sorry for the “gals” from Towergate Solutions who were struggling manfully to cope in 10 degrees assailed by various farmyard pongs!

Group AGM and outcomes

Our own A.G.M. at the Old Windmill, was very well attended and went off pretty smoothly. After five years of Committee service, Trevor Hughes decided to take a break and handed over his responsibilities as Membership Secretary to Nick Quill who had “volunteered” to step in! Apart from Nick, the Committee remains unaltered with all the incumbents being appointed unopposed. The Committee used this meeting to bounce around a few ideas and benefit from the resultant straw polls. As a result of the views expressed, at a recent Committee Meeting, the following policies have emerged.

First and probably most important, it has been agreed to raise the subscription to The Essex Group Newsletter and Events Fund to £15 a year. This is the first rise for five years and, amongst other things, will ensure that Essex Group News continues to appear on a twice a year basis. Although a 50% increase may seem a trifle politically incorrect at this time, this amount should ensure several years of subs stability – as in the past. The new rate will apply to all subscriptions which fall due on and after the 1st July this year.

There was quite a lot of discussion about the Group Calendar – particularly in light of the poor take-up last year. The consensus was that we should return to the “old” style of high quality car portraits and provide a reasonable amount of space on the calendar for making notes/appointments etc. The calendar should also be available no later than the end of October. Your Committee has taken these views on board and we will try to do better this year!

In light of the distinct lack of support for the traditional November Race Night, it has been decided to replace this event (which used to be one of our main fund raisers) with a Quiz Night at the same venue and with the same catering arrangements. Full details of this will appear in due course but, in the meantime, please alter the 13th of November entry on your Events Calendars to read “Quiz Night”.

It was generally accepted that TOW was not entirely suitable as a venue for our annual Christmas Dinner and consequently, this year, the event will be held at the Burstead Golf Club near Billericay. Many of those present at the A.G.M. took the opportunity to reserve their places (£5 a head will do it) at what will be a “black tie do” on 11th December. Demand was such that I have had to reserve a further 10 covers so, if you have not already done so, please see Mary or me as soon as possible to ensure your place(s).

Bob Eve, our co-ordinator for the Essex Air Ambulance charity, complimented the members of the Essex Group on their recent generosity which resulted in raising over £90 in three months. The Committee are happy to support another charitable initiative for EAA which Bob has volunteered to manage. The EAA have a well-established “local” lottery with a monthly top prize of £1,000 and several lesser pay-outs. If you would like to invest in this charitable gamble, please have a word with Bob who will give you the details. Ideally, you should budget for an annual subscription of £40 although smaller (and larger) amounts are also welcome. Bob will be closing the book on this year’s lottery contributions at the end of April – so don’t delay if you would like to join the Essex Group Syndicate – the more subscribers, the better our chances!! If you can’t get to one of our April meetings, give Bob a bell on 07841 565273.

Essex Group windscreen stickers available

Steve Baxter, who was a Committee member some years ago, has unearthed a small quantity of Essex Group vinyl windscreen stickers. These have been added to our stock of Group Regalia and are available to subscribers at the silly price of £1.00!

Upcoming events

The scheduled visit to the Vulcan Bomber at Southend has had to be cancelled due to logistical considerations.

The next Group event will therefore be the Drive It Day on Sunday 25th April. This is a charity event and there is a £6 entry fee. It promises to be an excellent day out so give your sick squids to Steve Tant at The Rabbits next Tuesday or contact him on 0208 5503046 (or 07931 180188) for full details of the day and Essex Group meeting points.

Although Hylands House is not for another 10 weeks (Sunday the 20th June) Steve Tant have been asked to estimate the number of Essex Group members proposing to attend. Please let him know ASAP, but definitely BEFORE the 16th April, if you will be joining us. An added incentive is that it is free to Club members displaying classic Cars.

Do you know anyone interested in advertising in the EGN?

In order to keep the costs associated with the publication of Essex Group News down to a reasonable level, we have traditionally accepted a low level of advertising from reputable (i.e. recommended by you!) local traders. If you have been pleased with the service you have received from your M.O.T. Station, upholstery trimmer, auto electrician etc., etc. please let Terry Blake know. Suitably recommended businesses will be approached to see if they would like to advertise their services in E.G.N. and, as most of us know to our cost, very few people can refuse El Tel when he puts his mind to it!! Terry may be contacted on 01708 768508.

Essex Group Regalia

Polo Shirts @ £17.50
Sweat Shirts @ £20.00
Rugby Shirts @ £20.00
Fleece Gilets @ £20.00
Limited number of Essex Group vinyl windscreen stickers - £1.00 ea.

The above are available from Mike Boling

Items for sale

Ernie Turner would be pleased to receive any offers for his totally re-built at no expense spared TR5 – genuine reason for sale (he’s mad!!!!)

Ernie can be reached on 07711 853557.