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Newsletter |
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For those of you who
haven’t already heard, sorry to inform you that Mrs Eileen Curtis died early
on Sunday January 18th, aged 67, in Frenchay Hospital. A
very well attended funeral service was held February 2nd at St
Barnabas Church, Warmley, where John and Eileen were married some 47 years
ago. Eileen was a very enthusiastic supporter of her son Steve and
husband John’s hobby of the “green machines” and would usually be in the club
tent, happily chatting to everyone. We shall all miss her very much. Then, barely a fortnight
later, Fred Willetts, Dave’s Father, died in the Bristol Royal Infirmary on
February 19th, aged 87. Funeral was at Southville Methodist
Church, but the service had to be abandoned as the RBL Standard Bearer
collapsed and lost consciousness. Paramedics attended as we made our
way to Bedminster Down for the burial. (I found out later that the Standard
Bearer made a good recovery!) Fred was, with Dave and their
Jimmy, a regular at many of the local shows. He was always immaculately
dressed, as befits his former rank of W.O.2, quietly spoken and friendly. He
served with the Royal Engineers, and later the Royal Corps of Transport. Please note that our local
A.G.M. which was scheduled for the April meeting, has, due to unavoidable
absences, been postponed to the May meeting. So come along and
help vote in a new committee! Ask stupid questions! Keep raising
minor points of order! Forthcoming
Events:-Sunday,
April 19th - Main MVT AGM, usual place, (see p.8, Spring 09
Windscreen) commencing 1300. Free tea & coffee, but no grub! All
are welcome, but do bring your membership card. Sat-Sun April 25-26th
– Westbury Transport & Vintage Gathering, plus White Horse Road
Run. At the Top Field, Westbury Road, (B.3098) BRATTON, Nr Westbury,
Wilts BA13 4TT. To exhibit, call Keith Miller 01373 864166. Or
e-mail keith@flowersfarm.wanadoo.co. AND, Sunday 26th,
another Dallas Digout, at Dallas Autoparts, Cold Ash Farm, Long Lane,
Hermitage near Newbury, RG18 9LT. Bring stuff to sell for a fiver or look
around for a pound See ad on p.80 of Spring 09 Windscreen.. Thursday, April 30th
– Severnside Area Meeting. RBL Kingswood, from 20.00. Bank Holiday Weekend,
Sun-Mon May 3rd-4th – Fortress Wales, at Margam Country
Park, Neath, near Port Talbot. (J.38, M4) “ A multi-period
Re-Enactment, Living History and Military Vehicle show.” I’ve been sent
a few application forms, phone or e-mail me if you want one. There is,
however, a booking fee of £7.50 per vehicle, proceeds to the “Shelter Cymru”
charity. AND, by contrast, nice
and close to Bristol, on Bank Holiday Monday, the North Somerset Show,
at Wraxall. The IMPS have once again been invited to display as many
vehicles as they can muster. Contact James Shopland 07968 274480 for
entry details. Tuesday, May 5TH
– West Wiltshire MVT Meeting, at the Pig & Whistle, Forest Rd,
Melksham. Raffle and free snacks, if enough attend! Sat-Sun May 9th–10th
- Kemble Vintage Flying Weekend, I can’t remember who told us that
MV’s will be admitted free of charge, but just to be sure, I checked with the
organizers. No, they say they’d like a selection of 12-20 ex RAF and
more unusual vehicles, so you need to phone Merv Turner on 01285
771100. Apparently it’s on the North part, where the Battle of Britain
weekend (Page 2 of 2) was last year, and space is very limited
‘cos more buildings have been put up. Tuesday May 12th
– Gloucester MVT Meeting, at the RBL, Green Lane, Hardwick. Wednesday, May 13th
– Western IMPS Meeting at Shopland Sawmills, Clevedon. Sat-Sun May 16-17th
– John and Mandy Keedwell invite you to “The Little Vintage Show”
Cambridge, Glos. All the usual attractions, contact Tony Weston for
entry forms, 01453 890045. Spring Bank Holiday
Weekend, May 23-24-25th – “Trucks and Troops” at Beaulieu,
New Forest, Hants. This promises to be extra good this year as it’s the
starting point for the 65th D-Day Anniversary MVT Normandy
Tour. See p.63 of the Spring 09 Windscreen. AND, Selwood Steam
Rally, Southwick,Trowbridge. Closing date for entries was April 9th,
but Ian Mitchell (yes, Landlord of the Pig & Whistle, Melksham) may
be able to fit you in if you speak to him nicely, on 01373 461578. AND, even closer to home,
Tortworth Vintage Rally, Off the B.4509 Wickwar-Tortworth road, near
J14 M5. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.shakespearesrally.com
, or phone Tracey Shakespeare, 01527 575 003. Sat-Sun May 30-31st
– “Castle Combe Steam & Vintage Workings” on the Motor Racing
Circuit. Very popular, limited space so if you haven’t entered by now,
you’re going as a punter! Event Roundup:- To save repeating myself, for
reviews of the Xmas Meal, Glos MVT Clay Shoot, and our New Year Road run, see
the “Severnside Area News” column, you’ll find it on p.105 in the Spring 09
Windscreen. Gloucester Docks Road
Run:- Not as well
attended as in previous years, we had a Dodge WC51, two Jeeps, three Land
Rovers and an M.35 6 x 6. Bernie was there dispensing hot drinks and
biscuits, and it was a lovely sunny day, hardly a cloud in the sky! Malvern Militaria:- Didn’t seem so crowded as usual,
and no stalls outside this time. I went round the stalls delivering
application forms for Kemble Military on behalf of John K, and got quite an
ear-bashing re changing the date. A good many stallholders wanted to do
our show and Military Odyssey at Detling. The latter is the bigger
magnet, apparently, because it’s primarily a re-enactors show. It did make
a nice change to be driven there, thanks Graham! Evesham Easter
Gathering:- I
just went as a punter, it’s the site South Midlands MVT have their meetings
at, just off the A.46 Evesham by-pass. Over 30 MV’s, in fact they
outnumbered the classic/vintage cars! The SMMVT had a good display in
and around their Nissen huts, with a Dodge WC painted in German colours,
canteen in a 12 x 12 army tent, air raid shelter with sound effects, and a
German command centre. There was even a “cooler”! Coleford Carnival of
Transport:- I
wasn’t supplied with any details, but I gather it was held as usual, and a
few members attended. Weather was good, despite the forecast of
rain. That’s all for now! |
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