Morgan Sports Car Club - Cranmog

THE CRANMOG CHRONICLES EDITION No 3 WINTER 2009-2010 Secretary’s Note: A Very Happy New Year to you All. I trust you have all enjoyed the Festive Season and are now looking forward to the many Morgan events that will undoubtedly fill the coming year. The first being the 37th Birthday Party, which is a great chance to meet friends old and new. By now you will all be aware that October started on a sad note, with the death in Spain of Peter Johnson, a long time member of Cranmog. His widow, Denise, wished to express her thanks to all those Cranmog friends and indeed the whole ‘Morgan family’ for their many supportive messages. Congratulations must go to John Donovan who has been appointed the MSCC Overseas Liaison Officer. I’m sure we would all like to wish him well in this post. As I was elected Centre Secretary at the AGM, it looks like I shall be writing to you again during this year at least! Jacqui, Contact details: jacqui.j.booth@btinternet.com 115 Old Hale Way, Hitchin, SG5 1XS Tel: 01462 451025 www.cranmog.com CRANMOG AGM & CONSTITUTION At our AGM on 13 January all Officer Posts were up for re-election, the results were: President: Philip Bell Chairman: Haydn Lightfoot Vice Chairman: Michele Chapman Treasurer: Brian Wake Regalia Officer: Peter Chapman Secretary: Jacqui Booth Assistant Secretary: Alison Holmes At the AGM a change was made to our Constitution with regard to our overseas members, in accordance with a recommendation from the National Committee. The change is as follows. “Overseas Membership A member of an MSCC affiliated overseas club wishing to become a Centre affiliate may do so on proof of membership to said affiliated overseas club. Such membership will give entitlement to all the benefits and burdens of Centre affiliation, excluding the right to vote at Centre and MSCC meetings.” If an overseas member is also a member of the MSCC, then there is no change to their voting rights and their Cranmog membership will be the same as for UK members. A proposal was put forward to have an additional Officer Post, that of Competition Secretary. This was accepted and will be addressed at the next meeting. I therefore invite nominations. ********** WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS I’d like to take this opportunity of welcoming and introducing you all to our newest members: Dr Richard Grayson of Hemel Hempstead, who, following the death of his Father, Donald in October, took over his MSCC membership and indeed his Morgan. Stephen & Moyra Isherwood of Milton Keynes, obviously very keen as they attended the November meeting even before taking delivery of their Morgan from Allon Whites later that month. Iain & Jenny Hugman of Whittlebury Nr Towcester who joined in January and finally, Peter Harrison of Little Houghton, Northants who came along to the AGM and joined there and then. ********** CRANMOG LIMOUSIN TOUR Conceived and organised by Ian and Sally Angus. Report by Brian Lewis It was Monday 5th October when a disparate group of Morganeers began to arrive at the Hotel Arbor, Le Mans. Dave & Lynn Morsley from Yorkshire in their Ivory +4, Vic & Julie Norman in their Silver Grey Aero, Jacqui & Michael Booth, Blue 4/4, Michele & Peter Chapman, Blue +4, Annette & Brian Lewis, Grey +8.We had converged at the hotel by differing routes, and this was to continue on Tuesday as we set off for the Limousin. Those arriving early called in on Ian & Sally (by kind invitation) for coffee and cake and to admire their home, which is in the course of restoration.
Onwards to our hotel, the magnificent Chateau Sallandrouze in Aubusson where we were joined by Terry & Janet Wilson in their Red +8 who were combining our trip with a visit to friends. Ian & Sally in their Ivory + 4 4 seater joined us for a very jolly evening meal before returning to their home overnight. During the evening we were able to congratulate Sally who had learned that day that she had been awarded her PhD. Our tour of the region began with a meet-up with the local Mayor and French members of the local car club at a medieval church from where we enjoyed the sort of views that a tourist guide would describe as breathless. Cranmog gifts were made to the Mayor and President of the car club before we continued on our way stopping for lunch at a pretty restaurant, Les Milles Sources in St Marc a Loubaud where we had lunch of absolutely delicious spit roasted duck. Onwards to an island in a lake (Ile De Vassiviere) where we were guided by our French friends across the causeway to the island, ignoring the designated car park signs. On the island, there was a lighthouse, more spectacular views and a museum of modern art. On our way back to the hotel we made a comfort stop of a different kind as we pulled off into a wooded area where aperitifs and nibbles magically appeared from the back of Ian & Sally’s car (the joys of a four seater)
The next day we visited the remarkable village of Oradour-sur-Glane. This village was the scene of a brutal massacre by the German SS in 1944. The population of 642, of which 193 were children, were rounded up, the men being taken to places of assembly where they were shot. The women and children were taken to the church. The church, bodies and the village itself were systematically destroyed by fire. The Village is now as the SS left it and is in it’s entirety a memorial. A sombre, unique experience.
A unique experience of a different nature was our visit to Chateau Ribagnac for lunch. The chateau was featured on UK TV Channel 4 as ‘Chaos in the Castle’ some time ago and we were most impressed with Ian and Sally for arranging this as it was a one off. The owners usually only serve evening meals, and then only to staying guests The meal might well be called lunch, but in fact it was what most people would regard as a sumptuous dinner. We were joined by a couple of Ian and Sally’s car club friends who were eager to take advantage of this unique opportunity. We were requested by our hosts, Patrick and Colette, to parade the Morgans in front of their chateau for a photo shoot and of course we obliged.

On our last full day we toured the local Creuse area with an early start to the Abbey at Moutier d’Ahun famous for it’s intricate carvings. Here we were met by yet another of Ian & Sally’s car club friends, who guided us to a small bar/ café where we had welsh cakes (lady wife was Welsh). On the way there we stopped at the very small but unique church at Sous-Parsat.The walls and ceilings are one complete mural painted by a local International artist Gabriel Chabrat, in very brilliant colours. The murals portray the story of the bible both Old and New Testament. The artist also has a studio quite near the church. We then headed for lunch at Le Papillon Rouge a very French little restaurant. As you might have gathered there is quite a lot of eating going on in this part of France. Lunch on this occasion was at a cottage where the owners had a room furnished with a huge table where they served a home cooked meal of local produce. After lunch it was off to Chenerailles to meet local classic car club members and then on to Boussac Chateau. The Chateau is usually closed at this time of year but Ian and Sally had persuaded the powers that be to not only allow our enlarged group access, but also to provide a guide. Arrangements had been made for us to have afternoon refreshments at a tea rooms/garden very close by. Whilst we were at the chateau the owner had photographed some of the cars in our group and prepared a Morgan Club Tea (see cake menu) this sustained us for our return run to Aubusson. Incidentally near the tea rooms and unknown to the owners at the time was a nudist camp nearby, popular with the Dutch. When the weather became inclement the campers would attire themselves and visit the tea rooms, an unexpected but welcomed source of trade. After evening dinner at “our” chateau where we joined by members of the local car club who presented us token gifts we were invited down to the cellars where Ian and Sally had arranged a surprise for us. A local acrobatic clog dance group (for want of a better description) were thrilled to be invited to perform at the chateau and they performed their acts with much gusto. Some of us were “invited” on to the floor and Vic was most impressive with his interpretation of the “stick dance”. Due to work commitments, Dave and Lynn had departed for Yorkshire the day before, leaving eight of us returning to Le Mans, each crew travelling independently. We had our rooms at the Arbor pre-booked and were aware that we would be returning to a hotel that was closed and unmanned for the night, however we had the hotel entry code and room keys were left for us and so had access to our bedrooms. We arranged to eat at an auberge in Arnage, the meal was fantastic, six courses and very good value. The taxi’s that we had ordered to take us to Arnage were a rip-off but the manager at the auberge arranged for local taxi’s to take us back to the Arbor so at least we did not get ripped-off twice. Breakfast at the Arbor and then we set off on our different routes home. A lovely trip, good company, well organised, giving us the experience of travelling to a part of France largely undiscovered. The Morgans were well received by the locals with much tooting of horns and enthusiastic waving. Well done Ian and Sally. ********** REYDON WEEKEND 23-24 OCTOBER STOP PRESS!! REYDON NEWS!!! The Reydon Weekend next year will take place on 12th & 13th November - please note this date in your diary. The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that this is not the weekend that the clocks go back - I'm afraid we are breaking with tradition! It has become increasingly difficult to book accommodation for said weekend since it always coincides with one of Southwold's busiest times (October Half Term) and hotels have to give up full week's bookings to accommodate our weekend ones. So we are trying an off-peak date which is much preferred by the hotels and which will also help us to keep costs down. This does not mean that the weekend will always be these dates from now on! We are simply experimenting! Numbers were down for this year's weekend, but that did not prevent it from being a most enjoyable event (in fact, "Best Reydon Weekend ever!" seems to be the popular verdict). A full report will follow in a later Newsletter, so if you have any comments, anecdotes or photos that I might be able to include (or indeed, if anyone would like to write a report from a "non-organiser" point of view!), please contact me redfern414@btinternet.com Thank you - and Happy New Year! Karen Redfern ****** Cheese & Wine Sunday 22 November A good crowd enjoyed this annual gourmet spectacular held this year at Melvyn & Sindy Rutter’s stunning new Pitstop complex. 75 cheeses complemented the wine and other tasty treats. Word is that some may have been swept up in the jovial atmosphere and misjudged their cheese / wine balance causing a slightly delicate Monday morning. However, a certain chairman’s wife reported that her husband’s condition may have been compounded by further refreshments at The White Lion in Sawbridgeworth, followed by a curry at the local Tandoori !! Many thanks to Melvyn & Sindy for hosting, Sarah Lightfoot for her magnificent efforts in organising, and loyal helpers that included John Donovan, Philip & Judy Bell, Annette Lewis, Michele Chapman, and Chris Brazier who provided the pretty flower decorations. ****** Towcester Races Saturday 28 November 19 attended what has become a regular event in the calendar. The weather was better than previous years with the sun shining at times, the going was described as heavy, and that was just the bar room activities! As for the racing we won a few and lost a few... Caution was required however when eavesdropping on other punters' racing tips. Once such tip (dubbed the "toilet tip" for obvious reasons) was so late finishing it had to tip-toe back to the stables (the old ones are the best...). Everybody appeared to enjoy themselves, but of course some more than others, mainly those who's 'pin' was better directed. It is rumoured that Michelle of Regalia Fame, Sarah the Chairman's wife and Eileen the organiser's wife were the main winners (all ladies I note) Anyway we were treated to some fine fayre in the special Cranmog grandstand suite that afforded excellent views of the track and the opportunity to cheer your steed on to victory or blame the jockey for getting it all wrong! Only 3 Morgans took advantage of the special reserved parking area. Many thanks to David and Elaine Roberts for organising a very enjoyable afternoon. ******** Adult Panto 19 February Thirty tickets have been booked for the production of The Snow Queen! At the Market Theatre, Sun Street, Hitchin. Tickets are £12 per head and should be paid for no later that the noggin on 10th Feb. ****** WILD FOOD NIGHT 19 march Enjoy an evening of locally sourced and prepared food with minimal ‘food miles’ at the Red Lion PH, Woolmer Green. Tickets cost £20 per head and should be paid for by 10th March. See www.thecountrybumpkin.co.uk for an example of what is on offer. Please contact Jacqui as soon as possible to reserve your place. ****** SPRING SUNDAY SAUNTER It is proposed to have a scenic run around the Welwyn area of Hertfordshire of approximately 40 miles, finishing at The Waggoners Public House, Ayot Green for Sunday Lunch. The date is still to be confirmed but possible dates are 28 March or 11 April. If you are interested in taking part, please let Jacqui know as soon as possible. ****** MENDIPS IX 7TH-9TH MAY LATEST from terry wilson There are a few changes to timings and the lunch stop on Saturday has now been changed from Stourton to Yarlington. [Better value, Better Pub]. The visit to Stourhead will be to the gardens only due to time constraints. The gardens are the best part. Also it is a musical weekend and there will be several choirs singing in the grounds. Those, who are not National Trust members, will have to pay an entrance fee to the gardens costing about £7 per person payable to me on arrival at Pury End.The main hotel "Lyncombe Lodge" is now full but there are still rooms available at Winston Manor. The Scenic run has now been completed. ****** WALES Some places are still available. Please register your interest as soon as possible with Vic and Julie Norman vicandjulie@yahoo.co.uk Details on the website. ******** DIARY Monthly Noggins are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at The Jolly Coopers, Wardhedges, Nr Flitton, Beds MK45 5ED. The meeting starts @ 8.30pm, or come along earlier if you wish to have a meal first. Everyone welcome. Please let me know of any events in your area that you think the members will be interested in and I will include them in the Diary. Please feel free to organise an event for the Club. Keep checking the website as new events will be added throughout the year as they become known. JANUARY 13th Cranmog AGM 22nd/23rd Birthday Party Weekend Friday Night – St George’s Theme Saturday – Masked Ball FEBRUARY 5th-7th MSCC AGM & Awards Dinner - Malvern 19th Trip to the Adult Panto at The Market Theatre in Hitchin – The Snow Queen! MARCH 19th Wild Food Night at the Red Lion, Woolmer Green Spring Sunday Saunter - TBC APRIL 25TH MK Classic Car Tour MAY 7th/9th Mendips IX – Booking form on the website, or contact: Terry Wilson: 01934 853347. 22nd Husborne Crawley Fete JUNE 12th/13th Le Mans – Contact Dallas Jones dalandmo@tiscali.co.uk 18th/20th MOG 2010 in Buxton. For up to date information visit www.mog2010.co.uk JULY 8th/11th Classic Le Mans 18th Kimbolton Sporting Bears AUGUST 13th/15th August – Mid Wales Lakes & Dams Tour – Details on the website. Contact: vicandjulie@yahoo.co.uk NOVEMBER 12th-13th Reydon Weekend, Contact: redfern414@btinternet.com DECEMBER 8th Christmas Carols