Paulerspury People
Autumn 2015
The Newsletter of The RREC Paulerspury Section Paulerspury People October 2015.pmd
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Paulerspury People
Autumn 2015
The Newsletter of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club - Paulerspury Section
Contents Not a Lot of People Know That
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The Chairman’s Bit
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Future Events
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Past Events
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A Slippery Slope The Restoration of a Bentley SI Continental - Part 1
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Future Events Diary
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Committee Contacts
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Front Cover Photograph: Section cars gathered outside Gorhambury House
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Not a Lot of People Know That In 1955, a visitor to a scrapyard in Edenbridge, Kent discovered four Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts standing on top of each other.
In 1953 Rolls-Royce replaced the 4 speed manual gearbox with a General Motors hydraulic gearbox that was essentially the same as the one in a $2,000 Pontiac.
Doctors declared that a Rolls-Royce was the only car they could bring up to a patient’s house and drive away without the possibility of disturbing the patient. (Rolls-Royce advertisement 1910).
In the 1920’s you could buy an American Cadillac with what ‘appeared’ to be, a RollsRoyce radiator grille.
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The Chairman’s Bit It’s been a busy time through the summer, lots of events, lots of meeting and greeting, lots of food and drink. Sylvia and I celebrated our Golden wedding anniversary in September at Brocket Hall, child brides……
Derek Freeman - Chairman
Our Silver Cloud also celebrated its 25th anniversary in our hands, we bought her as a silver wedding present to ourselves, this leads onto our being members of the RREC for 25 years.
The highlight of our events calendar for me was the 35th Anniversary Garden Party. Almost 80 people joined in at the Hunt House for a warm summer’s day in July; it was so good to see so many of you there. We were delighted that Duncan Feetham, the club’s chairman and his wife could join us. Duncan summed up the event for me in a thank you note that said ‘this is what the Club should be all about’. To be able to gather so many members and their families together at the Hunt House, the Club’s HQ, made it a memorable day. Two big classic car events were attended, Classics on the Common in Harpenden, a huge event with every conceivable classic vehicle you could imagine and similarly Classics on the Green at Croxley Green. It is nice to wander up and down the lanes of cars, I remember those, I had one of those, wish I had kept it…………….. Vineyards in Northamptonshire, what a find, this beautiful tiny vineyard at Earls Barton planted on the side of a valley overlooking stunning countryside. This was our first event in September and at the end of the month some of us sailed along the river Orwell from Ipswich in an old, 120 years to be precise, Thames barge and the sun shone. Still more events to come but fully booked which demonstrates that you need to book early to avoid disappointment! It is great that we have a number of members who are not on the committee organising events; if any of you have ideas and would be willing to help please contact one of the committee. I mentioned advertising in the PP last time. This is still a challenge, we do need more advertising revenue to offset the cost of printing and postage so if any of you have ideas or could cajole a local business to advertise please let us know. Your committee are now heavily involved in planning next year and we hope we will have something for everyone. You will see from this PP there is lots to choose from. The warm weather means we can still use our Club cars before they get put away for the winter, let’s hope it continues. DEREK Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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Find out here about upcoming Paulerspury Section events, when they are, where they are and who is organising them. A summary of all future events can be found at the back of this edition and booking forms for all events are enclosed. Event information and booking forms can also be found on our website www.rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
AGM and Christmas Lunch - Sunday 6th December 2015 This year’s AGM and Christmas Lunch will once again be held at Corner 5 Restaurant in Kempston, Bedfordshire. The AGM will start promptly at 11 O’Clock, so if you wish to attend please arrive in good time. Lunch will be served at 1.30. Lunch will comprise of three courses, followed by tea and coffee. The cost is £34 per person. A booking form is enclosed with this edition of the PP and can also be downloaded from the Section website. Please be sure to return your form as soon as possible as this event is very well supported and accommodation for lunch is limited. Corner 5 Restaurant, Box End Park, Box End Road, Kempston, Beds MK43 8TF Organisers: Barry and Ruth Gallafent Email: barry.gallafent@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Tel: 07785 398271
Northamptonshire Sunday Carvery Lunch - 24th January 2016 Following the success of last year’s Sunday lunch in the Atrium at Whittlebury Park Golf & Country Club, by popular request we return there in 2016 and have reserved the private dining area and bar which worked so well. There’s plenty of parking and depending on the weather, we encourage you to arrive in your Rolls-Royce or Bentley as we have selected a large parking area for club cars. For those of you who not familiar with this venue, the Atrium is situated in a stunning elevated position in the middle of the park and enjoys spectacular, panoramic views of Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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rolling parkland which contains hundreds of ancient oak trees and a dozen lakes, at one time forming part of the Royal hunting grounds of Whittlewood. Please arrive around 12.30 to be seated for 1pm. Cost for lunch is the same as last year at £25.00 per person and the three course carvery will include a vegetarian option. More details can be found on their website www.whittlebury.com. When you arrive follow the signs for the Atrium. Whittlebury Park Golf and Country Club, Whittlebury, Northants, Postcode fod SATNAV is NN12 8XW Organisers: Steve & Jan Dolan. Email: janet.dolan@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Home: 01327 351460 Steve: 07739 848368 Jan: 07841 989608
New Members Lunch – Sunday 28th February 2016 Held every second year, our new members lunch is an opportunity to meet at the Club’s Headquarters, The Hunt House, in Paulerspury, Northamptonshire and discover what facilities are available there. The Hunt House contains a wealth of artefacts and information much of which is totally unique to the Club. After a brief welcome and introduction, members will be taken in small groups on a tour of the building to see for themselves the vast array of information and documentation the Club archives hold. If you have the chassis number of your car to hand, you may even be fortunate enough to view its build file. We will visit the library, the workshop, the engine room and tool store before returning to the conservatory where Sunday lunch will be served. For new members and joint members who have not attended before, there is no charge for this event, for all others the cost is £25.00 including wine. It is usually very popular therefore early booking is advised. The Hunt House, High Street, Paulerspury, Northants, NN12 7NA Organisers: Derek and Sylvia Freeman Email: derek.freeman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Home: 01234 823255 Mobile: 07836 715351 Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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Bedfordshire Lunch - Sunday 20th March 2016 Moore Place Hotel , Aspley Guise Village , Milton Keynes, MK17 8DW. Set in a redbrick Georgian manor house and annexe, this refined hotel is the venue for the Paulerspury Section’s three course Sunday lunch in March. Please complete the expression of interest slip, you will then be contacted with details of the menu for your selection, timings and directions, nearer the date. Cost per person is £26.00. Please include your email address when completing the form. Organiser: Karen Hillier Email: karen.hillier@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Telephone: 07881 802904
Visit to JCB - Wednesday 20th April 2016 We have organised a visit to the JCB plant in Rocester, Staffordshire, home of the World famous ‘Yellow Digger’ we all know as a ‘JCB’ but also home to much greater innovations that we are perhaps as yet, unaware of. This visit comprises lunch on arrival, a short audio visual presentation and then a tour of the working plant. PLEASE NOTE: The tour is a walking tour and is approximately three miles in length and two hours in duration. Whilst JCB is totally wheelchair friendly, the tour is NOT suitable for people with walking difficulties. Please arrive around 11.30 for lunch prompt at 12 noon. The cost is £27 per person. A booking form is enclosed with this edition of the PP. JCB, Station Road, Rocester, Uttoxeter, Staffs, ST14 5LS Organisers: Derek and Sylvia Freeman Email: derek.freeman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Home: 01234 823255 Mobile: 07836 715351 Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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St George’s Day Run & Lunch - Sunday 24th April 2016 Come join the section on its traditional jaunt out to celebrate St George’s Day and enjoy a drive around north Hertfordshire. We’ll meet at Knebworth Golf Club for tea, coffee and biscuits at 10.30am, depart for a drive at 11.15am and then return for a two course lunch at 1.30pm followed by teas and coffees. As we will be a large group we have been asked to pre-order our choices. Clearly, the main dish is roast beef but, understanding that some people may not eat beef, there is an alternative as well as a vegetarian option. If that does not cover your dietary requirements please let us know and we will try to satisfy your needs. Cost per person is £ 25.00. Decorating yourselves and/or your cars in recognition of St George is positively encouraged. Thanks to David and Margaret Wells for organinsing Knebworth Golf Club, Deards End Lane, Knebworth, Herts. SG3 6NL www.knebworthgolfclub.com. Organisers: David and Margaret Wells Email: davidewells1@googlemail.com Telephone: 01462 768479
RREC Paulerspury Section South Devon Rally Sunday 8th to Thursday 12th May 2016 (4 nights) This four-night Rally is still in the planning stages, but we do have a block of twenty rooms held for us at the beautiful Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth, Devon. www.victoriahotel.co.uk/ The Victoria is in an unparalleled location overlooking the sea and has secure parking for our cars. There are extensive facilities including an indoor heated swimming pool and spa, an outdoor swimming pool, 5 acres of gardens, an 18 hole putting green, tennis and snooker. The Victoria is a member of the Brend Group of hotels, a prestigious selection of hotels in the South West owned and run by the Brend family. They are the 2015 winners of the AA Award for Best Hotel Group of the Year. Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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As with previous Rallies, things to do and days out will be organised. There will also be the opportunity to drive our cars through some lovely scenery and, above all, have a great time together. Prices are per couple, per room for four nights including breakfast and dinner with wine. Garden or partial sea view double or twin room £1150.00 Sea view double or twin bedded room £1230.00 Deluxe sea view double or twin £1390.00 We have a selection of each type of room and rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis so please ensure you return the booking slip below as soon as possible along with your deposit of £250 (per couple). Organisers: Chris and Linda Ball - Mike and Kathy Martin Email: lindarball@btinternet.com
Steam Hauled Train Trip to York - Saturday 4th June 2016 We are delighted to offer another opportunity to travel back in time, travelling in a Classic railway carriage, this time steam hauled by the newly restored 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’. Our trip will start at Bedford Station, shortly after which we will be served a full English breakfast at our tables as we marvel at the scenery on our journey towards the beautiful City of York. The train takes an interesting route which includes the Midland Main Line but also unusual lines rarely used by passenger trains. This reminder of the great days of steam train travel is an experience not to be missed. Once in York we will have three hours to spend at our own leisure, before boarding the train once more, diesel hauled this time, for our return journey during which we will be Silver Served a sumptuous four course dinner. Premier Dining Class availability is limited on board and following the success of our previous trip, you are advised to book early in order to avoid disappointment. Ideally we will secure a whole carriage for the Paulerspury Section. The cost will be around £220 per person **STRICTLY LIMITED AVAILABILITY - LET ME KNOW TODAY** Organisers: Barry and Ruth Gallafent Email: barry.gallafent@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Telephone: 07785 398271 Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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Past Events
Take a few moments to read through members’ write ups. You may find you have missed out on something you wished you had attended. You may even see someone you know!
Classics On The Common - Harpenden If you have ever found yourself saying “I had one of those”, then Classics on the Common at Harpenden is the place to be. Literally thousands of classic cars of all makes and types filled the Common for what surely must be the biggest annual gathering of its kind. From Aston Martins to Vauxhall Vivas and Cortinas to Cadillacs, this was a classic car lover’s dream. There were even four or five Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars there surprisingly enough! Andrew and Caroline Sykes were responsible for our introduction to this wonderful event, being locals themselves, they even assisted with the marshalling whilst managing to picnic with us a the back of their own car, well one on loan to them actually as Andrew had secretly sold theirs (but that’s another story). Pre-booking is a strict requirement of entry at Harpenden and the Sykes made sure we were all compliant as we assembled outside the Fox at Kinsbourne Green, Harpenden where they had booked us all in for lunch before making the short onward journey to Harpenden. As we assembled outside the Fox, we were just two cars short, one from the Davies stable and another from the Morgan Stable. Neither disappointed us as Keith and Pippa arrived in their S3 and David Morgan in his Phantom II. The car park contained
Just a few of the thousands of classic cars Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015 to be seen
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And just a few more
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Fiat 500 with matching trailer
Some Minis and an E-Type
some ‘other’ cars too, the driver of one of them clearly had no comprehension of the turning circle of a PII and was reluctant to move his Ferrari. Mainly because he was too crotchety to get back in it! At lunch we were aware of a birthday celebration amongst us and whilst earlier there had been some discussion of the age reached, once confirmed I was delighted to play a little Beatles video to Keith Davies – When I’m 64!’. Traffic en-route to Harpenden was considerable but pleasurable since it comprised mostly of classic cars. When we reached the Common, we were amazed at the number of vehicles, the organisation in traffic flow and the pure number of people. We did however manage to park in a row. Derek, Sylvia and I wandered around the site marvelling at what was on display. We walked and walked, stopping briefly at the Three Cups opposite for a beer and a comfort break. At the back of the aforementioned car on loan to the Sykes’ the Paulerspury Picnickers were temporarily sunk in to their chairs under umbrellas. Fortunately the rain did not come to much and the consumption of things less than slimming continued. Thanks to Caroline and Andrew for organising the day for us and opening our eyes to yet another first class event. If your interest in classic cars extends beyond RollsRoyce and Bentley, then do not miss out next year.
Barry Gallafent Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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Classics On Croxley Green Taking part in this event has almost become a tradition, in its fourteenth year this very popular gathering of all types of classic vehicles raises money for local charities. Our section contingent of twelve cars arrived on The Green ‘ en convoi ‘ after having to take a detour from our meeting point in Sarratt because the local highways dept. had chosen that week to close the best access road for ‘essential repairs’… great timing! It seems that this disruption may have deterred many of the usual participants as the numbers although still in the hundreds seemed to be slightly down on previous years when there’s well over a 1000 cars. But on the positive side our plan to arrive a little earlier than last year paid off as we had a prime parking area. Once parked it didn’t take long for the gents to start opening bonnets to discuss the technical merits of each model whilst the ladies popped open the fizz. This event is similar to Harpenden Classics on the Common and attracts an eclectic mix of vehicles making it an interesting and enjoyable afternoon even though the weather wasn’t kind to us this time. Thank you to everyone who took part, fingers crossed for better weather in 2016.
Janet Dolan
Section cars in attendance
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Visit to New Lodge Vineyard Well weren’t we lucky, to have a glorious sunny day at the end of September for a visit to an English vineyard in the heart of Northamptonshire. Karen Hillier arranged this trip to New Lodge Vineyard, just outside the village of Earls Barton in Northamptonshire and we were greeted by Joyce Boulos-Hanna, the owner. She has been on the site for more than 50 years, but in 2000, decided to utilise the horse paddocks she had to grow grapes and is now growing 6 varieties, having planted a second area in 2010. Joyce and her daughter Sara greeted us as we arrived and then gave a brief history of the vineyard and introduced us to the 3 main wines they produce. Two dry whites and a rosé. She was also very excited to tell us that the long awaited Pinot Noir red is due in late 2015. Almost certainly a reason to pop back later in the year! All 2000 vines are trellis trained using the traditional ‘Double Guyot’ system. The grapes are harvested in October, and the award winning wines they produce are made by international Gold award winning wine maker Tony Skuriat in Loughborough. Over recent years the ‘Earls Baron’ brand has gained tremendous recognition, the Sparkling variety in particular. In 2010 New Lodge were awarded Silver and Bronze for their ‘Bacchus’ & ‘Nene Valley Nectar’. In 2013 they were awarded Silver for ‘Nene Valley Nectar’ and in 2014, Silver for ‘Solaris’ and Bronze for their ‘Regency Rosé & ‘Bacchus’. They produce about 3000 bottles a year which are sold locally to businesses and direct to the public. We were then invited to wander around the vines and enjoy a super buffet, which we were not expecting, having booked
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Seeking shade
Ready for our tasting
Mark gleans some info for his write up
Take a very sharp knife and...
Ready for lunch
lunch at a local hostelry! We were treated to kofta balls, stuffed vines leaves, homemade pate and a 10 variety cheese board – a real delight. Not satisfied with that, Joyce then produced samples of the cider and mead she makes. Joyce is passionate about her wine making, but seems even more passionate about sharing the experience. Now aged 83, Joyce shows no signs of slowing down and seems to live for the opportunity it brings to meet and share with visitors.
Happy diners
After nearly 2 hours, we retired to The Stags Head in Great Doddington to enjoy a lovely meal. A thoroughly super day out!
Mark Warnock Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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Sailing Barge Trip If you are setting sail on the river Orwell on the open deck of a Sailing Barge built in 1890, then you need sunshine, lots of sunshine. Fortunately our Chairman Derek and his wife Sylvia had pre-ordered this in abundance and as we waited for others to arrive, we stood on the quayside, outside the Salthouse, which had become home to some the night before. Some other old Sea Dogs, the Balls, had their own boat, Winters Moon, moored in the marina and had spent the night aboard her with the Martins. Our vessel ‘SB Hydrogen’ lay alongside the quay not 100 yards away from the Salthouse and preparations were being made for us to board. Built in 1906, she is the largest surviving wooden barge, a Coaster whose fine lines and sturdy construction are a great example of the shipwright’s craft. During WWII, Hydrogen was sent to the Clyde to work as a supply ship and around that time her engine was fitted. For the Queens Silver Jubilee, she joined the river Pageant as a motor barge, carrying a large golden lion on deck. Hydrogen finished in trade in 1976 and in the early 1980s was bought by Bells Whisky and converted back to sail. Bells took her on an annual UK circumnavigation to promote their brands – so she became a regular visitor at many ports and became known as the “Whisky Barge”. In 1992 Bells sold her and Hydrogen came to Maldon to join the Topsail Fleet of barges. In 2012 she once again took part in the Queens Jubilee, representing Essex for the day.
A motley crew
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Captain Ball at the helm
Something has tickled Pippa
After over a century under sail, the Hydrogen continues to work to earn her living and is actively preserved as part of our national maritime heritage. I could not help notice two gentlemen, clearly not locals, dressed in Hi-Vis jackets inspecting the ‘Hydrogen’s’ equipment. As our skipper introduced us to the First Mate Guy and gave us our safety talk, one Hi-Vis person disappeared below decks. Interested or nosey some say, I need to find out who these two were and what indeed MCA emblazoned across their jackets stood for. Well it was the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of course and the guys were carrying out her six month inspection, a kind of maritime MOT. Reassuringly, as well as inspecting her condition and her equipment, one guy listened in on the skipper’s safety talk, while the one who disappeared below, questioned the rest of the staff and crew on their knowledge of safety procedures.
To inifinity and beyond says ‘Buzz Lightyates’
We left the quayside just after Noon under motor power and headed for the lock. The Section were asked to remain seated at this time and surprisingly enough, they did. Apart from the ones who went to check out the bar of course, me being one of them. This was very enlightening, as it gave us the opportunity to see inside Chris Ball’s wallet. Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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Nautical navigation system Paulerspury People October 2015.pmd
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At the lock, the inspectors disembarked and bid us farewell assuring us that all was well and they were not abandoning ship. We were soon through the lock and into the Orwell. Very industrial at that point, it was interesting to see the various freighter activity. Most noticeably was the unloading of aggregates. We passed the old ‘Tolly Cobbold’ brewery, now derelict and made way for prettier scenery. Lunch was served below deck and a very fine buffet spread it was too. Diners were soon to discover when returning to the deck with their plates, that lettuce leaves need to be anchored by potatoes if they are to remain on the plate. Sails were gently released to enhance authenticity and ease the engine load whilst we were still under power and we were told that sail power only, would bring us back up the river later on. Well it wasn’t too long before our own Sea Making way under sail Dog had chatted the skipper up in to letting him have a go at the helm and Chris Ball took the wheel with an almighty grin on his face. For an hour or more Chris steered the 98 tonne barge on a course pointed out by the skipper. Very smooth it was too. Getting a little windy now up top, some members took advantage of the red blankets available from the lower saloon. Once adorned in them, they became the ‘special ones’, with one seeming to adopt an alter ego resembling Superman! Time passes too quickly in all things enjoyable and we soon found ourselves heading back up river to Ipswich Marina and through the lock once more. We arrived gently alongside at around 4.30 p.m.. Some made their way home, others to the Salthouse where they would be dining later, to partake in afternoon tea. Not all I am pleased to say, across the table there was wine and beer for those in need of something else. This was a relaxing end to a very relaxing day. Thanks to Derek and Sylvia for organising this for us. I know it was not the easiest of events to pull off but as they say, it turned out alright in the end!
Barry Gallafent Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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Derek, delighted we are underway
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Autumn Amble Our ‘Autumn Amble’ was far from that for our organisers Peter and Mairie Kingaby, with sink holes, road works, road closures and an unexpected invitation to a mystery location, the route was changing almost on a daily basis. When leaving home we were wondering what the day had in store for us as there were grey clouds, patches of fog and no hint of any sunshine, however, as we approached Hatfield the sun started to break through and upon reaching The Verulam Golf Club, St Albans (The home of The Ryder Cup) the ‘brightwork’ of the assembled cars glinted in the glorious sunshine – which stayed with us all day. Lots of regular faces and a few new ones chatted over a cup of coffee, admiring each other’s cars or making sly comments about a bit of ‘missed polish’, perish the thought! Due to the aforementioned road works we negotiated the side streets of St Albans to our first destination Gorehambury House, the country seat of the Earl of Verulam, which is currently occupied by his son & daughter in law, Viscount & Viscountess Grimston and their family. Photographs were taken of the assembled cars and a group shot of the members on the steps leading to the House. Then on to our ‘mystery location’ – as we turned into one of the industrial estates of St Albans I am sure there must have been a few comments ‘where is he taking us?’ but what greeted us cannot truly be put into words.
An Essex Section Phantom joins us
Peter chats with Viscountess Grimston ‘Rosie’
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If Aladdin really had a cave...
20/25 open tourer
I want to tell you a story
Yes, we have booked. Now open the gates!
A high steel fence surrounding an industrial unit with a couple of very nice Rolls-Royces, a Humber Hawk, a 1950’s Morris J Type Van, a mid 1800s Brougham Carriage and a Gazebo with a table laden with wine and salmon sandwiches, this could not get better – or could it? Cautiously looking into the unit, ‘the workshop’ one can only describe the scene as breathtaking, a Rolls-Royce, a Derby Bentley, another on the car lift undergoing restoration, shelves & cabinets full to overflowing and the walls laden with memorabilia – all meticulously polished and displayed; a private collection and a lifetimes work by a very dedicated enthusiast. I think most of us could have stayed there for the rest of the day, one young lady was heard to say, “blow this wearing a skirt malarkey, next time it’s overalls”. Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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And finally, lunch
Brocket Hall and not a Ferrari in sight
Time was pressing and we had one more visit before lunch and so we duly thanked our host and proceeded to Brocket Hall on the outskirts of Welwyn, renowned for ‘disappearing’ Ferraris, insurance scams, the death of a former Prime Minister apparently on the snooker table..! We assembled at the gates and duly drove through the beautiful parkland admiring the house from across the lake, access to the estate is very strictly controlled so special thanks to Peter for arranging this. We then headed back to the golf club where we sat down for a lovely meal. I think our table will be put in ‘the naughty corner’ next time due to the raucous laughter about chickens, ducks and the very serious remark, by persons unnamed, ‘what is the purpose of the cockerel?’ Peter recounted a story about his explosive exploits at the club and a brush with the law. After a coffee, a few more admiring glances of our cars by the staff and golfers we started on our journeys home – a few of us staying to watch the sun set from the 19th hole.
Ian Course
Editors Note When I am placing articles in the Paulerspury People such as the Autumn Amble and The Barge trip, having been on both, I realise that the text is not fully supported by all the photographs of the detail it describes. Space is one of our limitations of course but it is sometimes said to me that people are only interested in the photographs if they were there. Personally I cannot agree and consider write ups and photographs on past events invaluable in conveying what has been enjoyed by some and missed by many who perhaps may be encouraged to join us on future events. If you would like to see more photographs of any Paulerspury Section event, you can visit our website www.rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Once there click on the ‘Gallery’ tab and then on ‘Photographs’ in the drop down menu. Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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A Slippery Slope - The Restoration of a Bentley S1 Continental - Part 1 Last September I sold my S3 Continental BC40XA, a two door Mulliner-bodied car of which only eleven were made. A very handsome car with V8 power, and easily capable of keeping up with today’s traffic. It had an interesting history, having been first owned by the Spanish Ambassador to Great Britain, and then spending some time in the USA before being returned to Great Britain. It was fully restored by P&A Wood in around 1981, when its colour was changed from sky blue to burgundy. Around 2005 it was acquired by Peter Livanos, a Greek Shipping magnate who had some mild restoration work done on the car and then sold it to me through P&A Wood in 2006, and that year it won best of class at the Annual Rally – a testimony to Wood’s restoration quality. But … a constant niggle was its poor starting characteristic: it would quickly foul its plugs when starting from cold (“over choked”) and the only technique to prevent the problem was to drive away immediately after starting, so that the engine quickly reached working temperature and came off choke. Now, plugs on the V8 engines could only be reached by removing the road wheels and access panels, and only after the adjacent exhaust manifolds had cooled down could one actually replace the plugs. A serious irritation, and several times I came close to selling the car. The problem was that it was such a nice car to drive when all was working properly, so I tolerated the situation. I’d had the carburettors and choke system overhauled by Woods, but I’ve since learned that this was no isolated problem. Furthermore, I haven’t yet seen a V8 engined car of that era tick over smoothly – they’re always slightly lumpy. So one day I’d had enough, and the car was sold, albeit for a substantial profit. What to get as a replacement? I’ve owned over seventy cars, and can’t really think of any other make I’d be satisfied with. Because of the carburettor and associated problems, I had developed a dislike of the V8 engines. I have a nice MkVI Drop Head Coupé by Abbott, and I’ve always been impressed by the smoothness of the six cylinder engines, but fancied the more modern feel, power steering and air conditioning of the late S1 Continentals. My wife had given me a generous budget (!) but even so there appeared little choice of genuine high quality cars actually available, even from established marque specialists. I could see that their offerings would require perhaps an additional 20% spending on them to reach the highest quality. Why such an objective? Well, since I’m getting on a bit, this is likely to be my last proper car, and I wanted the car to be as good as new, and enjoy it as would a lucky owner years’ ago. Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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I’ve always been ambivalent about S1 Continental fastbacks – colour and viewing angle can make a huge difference, and to my mind they’re a somewhat unbalanced design. The choice was narrowed to a late two or four door. After several weeks of looking at cars at the top end of my budget (and more!), I came across BC29EL, a 1958 James Young four-door Continental. The car had spent several years in the Netherlands, and at the end of last year it was placed by the owner with Ghost Motor Works to sell. When I first saw the car, it looked very attractive in its Brewster Green, and narrow band whitewall tyres, so my mind was almost made up before I drove it. The test drive was only for about half-a-mile, enough to confirm that it did everything pretty well mechanically. At £80K there had been lots of interest, but I jumped in quickly and did the deal for slightly less, and on January 6th the car was mine. I realised of course that at that price it would be a reasonable car, but far from the quality I wanted, and was ripe for a full “factory fresh” restoration. I later discovered that the car had been exhibited on James Young’s stand at the 1958 International Motor Show at Earls Court, when it was painted Beige – not my favourite colour. I had some health problems shortly after buying the car and couldn’t drive, but for a few weeks I used the time to do a thorough check-up. From three metres distance the bodywork seemed fairly sound, with a reasonable two-pack finish. Close up, there was obvious corrosion in some places, and the interior leather had been poorly “restored” by re-Connollising. The woodwork too had been inexpertly restored, but was salvageable. The carpets were of indifferent quality and of varying colours. Some of The chrome plating was fairly new but with loss of definition through poor preparation. In the 1980’s the car had had some fairly major chassis restoration by a well-known restorer, but the work was of deplorable quality. Much recent work on the mechanicals had been done by Brabo in the Netherlands, and seemed pretty good. Once I’d got back into the driving seat, I was pleased that the performance, brakes, steering, lights and air-conditioning were all quite good, although often the heating didn’t work. Curiously, the ride was a bit harsh, but a knowledgeable friend, Steve Dolan of the Paulerspury Section, suggested that I looked at the date of the tyres, because tyres become hard with age. (Bit like my arteries!) They looked nearly new, the spare was unused, but sure enough, all were 33 years’ old! I figured that they Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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would do until the restoration. Hmm … Shortly after discovering the age of the tyres, I’d been driving on the A40 at a bit over 70 mph, and just after pulling off on to a small road into a village, I suffered a catastrophic blowout. As can be seen from the picture, the tyre was completely brittle and I count myself extremely lucky it didn’t happen a few minutes earlier in heavy high speed traffic. Needless to say, the next day four new tyres were fitted. Having found a car that I thought worthy of restoring, the next challenge was to find a restoration company capable of doing the work within a reasonable time. The classic car restoration business is booming right now, and most of the established firms such as P&A Wood and Clark & Carter couldn’t take the car for two years, and then it would be another eighteen months at least before I would have the car back. Because of my recent illness and advanced years I didn’t want such a drawn out programme. Equally, I wanted to be reasonably close to the restorer to keep tabs on progress, and make decisions on various matters arising during the work. I wasn’t too impressed with some of the firms I visited, and I guess I’ve been spoiled by Wood’s high standards (and high prices, but you get what you pay for). Eventually I discovered Norfolk Premier Coachworks (“NPC”) on the doorstep - about ten miles from my home. They have a good reputation for restoring Porsches, but also work on many other makes. And one of the directors has a couple of Rolls-Royces being restored there. I reckoned that the restoration could be broken into three main sections: coachwork, chassis, and trim. To some extent there are quite a few body shops that could carry out a concours restoration of the coachwork, regardless of the make of car, so I gave NPC a paint job on some under-bonnet components of my Mk VI as a test. The quality was as good as it’s possible to achieve, so my mind was made up. I was less sure about the chassis, since these cars are not at all simple, and experience and access to special tools counts for a lot. These days, even the well-known restorers of Bentley and RollsRoyce cars use specialists to overhaul major assemblies such as rear axle, automatic gearbox and engine. Part of the reason is that with fifty years or more of hindsight, many of the shortcomings of the designs have been overcome, and alternative components have been commissioned by these specialist companies. And naturally they won’t supply them to other firms. Fortunately NPC understood this, and agreed that they could remove these assemblies and refit them after they’d been restored, and do all the other jobs such as steering, brakes, suspension, and wiring. The deal was done with NPC at the beginning of June, to carry out a factory fresh restoration, with a strict one year completion date. They are happy to use marque specialists for the soft trim, some of the mechanical work and the woodwork, and I will be closely involved to compensate to a degree for NPC’s lack of experience with our cars. But whichever way you look at it, financially, I’m on a slippery financial slope!
Terry Weston Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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New Section Members The Paulerspury Section are delighted to welcome the following new members and look forward to meeting them at an event soon. Name
Car
Chassis
Captain K Blaesburg Milton Keynes
Silver Shadow
SRH40209 1980
LNF 371V
Mr S Taschini & Mrs C Taylor Great Doddington Spirit
CCH04305 1982
NIL 8984
D Birch Redbourn
Continental S
SCH52416 1995
M721 CCC
Silver Ghost 20/25
11PP GWX60
1919 1933
Phamtom 1
S339LR
1929
N Atherstone Esq Towcester
D F Treacy Leighton Buzzard
Year
Reg. No.
SV 9167
RIMTEC 01908 614482 Alloy wheel refurbishment specialists • Repair
• Resealing • Refurbishment
If the alloy wheels on your pride and joy have been damaged, are cracked or buckled or just tired and lack lustre, we can restore them to as new condition for far less than the cost of replacements. We offer a fixed price for straightforward refurbishment and competitive prices on all repairs. We quote you before we start work and that is the price you will pay. Visit our website to find out more www.rimtec.co.uk
Rimtec Limited 112 Tanners Drive, Blakelands, Milton Keynes,People - Autumn 2015 Paulerspury MK14 5BP Paulerspury People October 2015.pmd
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Future Events Diary Sunday 6th December 2015 AGM and Christmas Lunch Venue: Corner 5 Restaurant, Box End Park, Kempston, Beds, MK43 8RQ Organisers: Barry and Ruth Gallafent Booking Form Enclosed Sunday 24th January 2016 Northamptonshire Sunday Lunch Venue: Whittlebury Park Golf & Country Club, Whittlebury, Northants, NN12 8XW Organisers: Janet and Steve Dolan Tel: 01327 351460 Email: janet.dolan@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Booking Form Enclosed Sunday 28th February 2016 New Members Lunch Venue: The Hunt House, High Street, Paulerspury, Northants, NN12 7NA Organisers: Derek and Sylvia Freeman Tel: 01234 823255 Email: derek.freeman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Booking Form Enclosed Sunday 20th March 2016 Bedfordshire Sunday Lunch Venue: Moore Place Hotel, Aspley Guise, Milton Keynes, MK17 8DW Organiser: Karen Hillier Tel: 07881 802904 Email: karen.hillier@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Booking Form Enclosed Wednesday 20th April 2016 Visit to JCB Venue: JCB Station Road, Rocester, Uttoxeter, Staffs ST14 5LS Organisers: Derek and Sylvia Freeman Tel: 01234 823255 Email: derek.freeman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Booking Form Enclosed
Sunday 8th May - Thursday 12th May Paulerspury Section South Devon Rally Venue: Victoria Hotel, The Esplanade, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8RY Organiser: Linda and Chris Ball - Kathy and Mike Martin Email: lindarball@btinternet.com Booking Form Enclosed Saturday 4th June 2016 Steam Hauled Train Trip to York Venue: From and to Bedford Station Organiser: Barry and Ruth Gallafent Tel: 07785 398271 Email: barry.gallafent@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Booking Form Enclosed Friday 24th June to Sunday 26th June 2016 RREC Annual Rally and Concours Venue: Burghley House, Stamford Organiser: Main Club Event Wednesday 3rd August 2016 Classic on Croxley Green Venue: Croxley Green, Herts Organiser: Steve and Janet Dolan Tel: 01327 351460 Email: janet.dolan@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
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Sunday 24th April 2016 St George’s Day Run and Lunch Venue: Knebworth Golf Club, Deards End Lane, Knebworth, Herts SG3 6NL Organisers: David and Margaret Wells Tel: 01462 768479 Email: davidewells1@googlemail.com Booking Form Enclosed
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Paulerspury Section Committee Chairman Derek Freeman (Sylvia) The Plantation, Village Road Bromham, MK43 8LL Tel: 01234 823255 (Home) Mobile: 07836 715351 derek.freeman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk chairman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Secretary Steve Dolan (Janet) The Old Stables Heathencote, Northants, NN12 7LE Tel: 01327 351460 Mob: 07739 848368 steve.dolan@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk secretary@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Editor Barry Gallafent (Ruth) 222b Wolverton Road Blakelands Milton Keynes, MK14 5AB Tel: 01908 216804 Mobile: 07785 398271 barry.gallafent@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk editor@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Karen Hillier (Ray) Mob: 07881 802904 karen.hillier@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Treasurer Kathryn Martin (Mike) Tel: 01234 714092 kathryn.martin@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk treasurer@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Attention Smart Phone Users Scan either of these QR codes to find out more about what the section is up to.
Events Coordinator Janet Dolan (Steve) Address: See Steve Dolan above Tel: 01327 351460 Mob: 07841 989608 janet.dolan@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk events@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Section Website
Standard Terms & Conditions of Entry I declare that during the whole period of this event, my entries will be covered by the full third party risks. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the organisers of this event from any claim for any damage and personal injury caused by my vehicle(s) or driver(s) thereof whilst taking part in this event or journeying to and from this event. I also agree to produce the insurance documents and MOT certificate if so required. There will be a working fire extinguisher in my car. The Small Print Please be aware that any payments made should not be viewed as refundable as there is often a need to make payments in advance to secure bookings. Event organisers will do their best to facilitate cancellations but this is not always possible. Paulerspury People - Autumn 2015
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