Paulerspury People July 2012
The Newsletter of The RREC Paulerspury Section
Auto Effects Limited is a Body Repair Centre located between Luton and Bedford just off the A6 at Barton-le-Clay. A family run business with 30 years experience, we are the definition of accident repair, from the smallest hatchback to the most prestigious cars in the World. Owned by David Broughton, and supported by a dedicated staff of highly skilled tradesmen, Auto Effects has an excellent reputation in Bedfordshire for quality of workmanship and impeccable customer service. Customer satisfaction is our top priority and we have developed an enviable reputation for quality and reliability. 1956 Bentley SI having undergone extensive bodywork repairs and rust removal in our workshops before completely resprayed, now looks as good as new.
As well as body repairs, we are able to carry out a full range of restoration and conversion work including mechanical, electrical and interior. Whether you have a tear in your seat or need a complete re-trim, we can take care of it for you. Routine servicing and maintenance also carried out. For greater details on what we can do for you and to see our photo gallery, please visit our website www.autoeffects.co.uk or call David Broughton directly. Auto Effects Limited Unit 21 Barton Industrial Esate Faldo Road Barton-le-Clay MK45 4RP Tel: 01582 883322 Fax: 01582 883372 sales@autoeffects.co.uk
A crease running the full length of the bonnet has been removed completely without trace allowing first class refinishing. 2
Monday to Friday 08:30 - 17:30 Saturday 09:00 - 13:00 Closed Bank Holidays
Paulerspury People - July 2012
Paulerspury People
July 2012
The Newsletter of the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club - Paulerspury Section
Contents Not a Lot of People Know That
4
The Chairman’s Bit
6
Buckinghamshire Pub Lunch
9
Visit to Prodrive
9
New Members Lunch
11
Hertfordshire Pub Lunch
17
St George’s Day Run
18
Studio 434 Visit
22
Aldeburgh Weekend
28
Broadwell House Picnic and Driving Day
33
The Chariman’s Lady
38
Speak As You Find
39
A Letter to The Editor
40
Never Too Old to Learn
42
Member’s First Cars
43
A Labour of Love
44
Secretary’s Report
46
Menber’s Recipes
47
Editor’s Comments
48
Forthcoming Events
49
Section Contacts
50
Front Cover Photograph: Adrian and Linda Denham’s 1949 Silver Wraith Saloon by Hooper, anchors the sections new flag at the annual rally, Rockingham Castle, 17th June 2012
Paulerspury People - July 2012
3
Not a Lot of People Know That An Australian owner had his 1926 20hp fitted with an enormous (and revolting) caravan body. John Fasals in his book, The Rolls-Royce Twenty, calls it Sweet Lavinia, The Gutless Wonder.
It was an Australian too, who had a sliding partition fitted in the interior of his RollsRoyce to prevent the sheep he often carried in the back, from licking his ear.
Easily the most shocking end to a Rolls-Royce occurs in the film The Long Good Friday, starring Bob Hoskins. As part of a gang war, Bob’s mum’s RollsRoyce is blown to bits outside her church, and her chauffeur Eric is distributed over a large part of East London
In 1912, Fred Karno, director of the troupe of funny men that spawned Chaplin and Stan Laurel, took delivery of a Rolls-Royce that was remarkable at the time for having windows that could be raised and lowered ‘by turning a small handle on the inside’.
4
Paulerspury People - July 2012
The Chairman’s Bit Incredibly, it doesn’t seem like six months since I wrote my last Chairman’s Bit for this illustrious magazine of ours! The weather is still bleak but, hopefully, by the time you read this, things might be on the ‘up’ weather wise.
Chairman - Chris Ball
I’m pleased to say, though, that the inclement weather has not stopped us driving our cars to various events. The forecast for the Aldeburgh weekend was dire - whether Linda’s prayers worked I really can’t say - but the weather opened up for us and we enjoyed a mini heat wave. Read more about the lovely few days away in this edition of the
PP. We also enjoyed a rare, sunny break in the weather when we visited Studio 434; a very interesting car museum in Potters Bar followed by lunch at the Brookmans Park Golf Club. David and Raelene Morgan organised this superb event and I thank them for it. Perhaps some of you reading this might like to come forward with ideas for a future event. You don’t have to be a Committee Member as David and Raelene have proved. The St George’s Day drive and lunch was again ably organised by Alan and Margaret Fuller. I did perform one duty on the day, which I was especially pleased to do, and that was to present the section’s St George Trophy to Bert and Wendy Gladwin. The St George Trophy is officially presented to a new member who has contributed most to the Paulerspury Section in any one year. Bert and Wendy are always at events and it was the unanimous decision of the Committee that the Trophy be awarded to them. The award was also to celebrate Bert’s amazing achievement of gaining a Masters Degree, which has probably made him the oldest graduate in the UK at the age of 90. Mention of the weather earlier leads me to the Annual Rally held again at Rockingham Castle. We all sloshed about in the mud, dodging the showers and desperately trying to keep warm, but everyone I spoke to enjoyed the weekend. I’m also pleased to report that, as in previous years, the Paulerspury Section did well in Concours and there were no less than four winners. Fred Luscombe won the Ben Coleman Memorial prize for his Phantom 1. Andrew Underwood’s Silver Shadow won the Philip Francis Best semi-novice prize for effort and also came 2nd in its Class. Both Steven Murray’s Silver Wraith and Bill McGregor’s Silver Seraph won Elegance rosettes. Congratulations to them all and commiserations to those members who entered and didn’t win. Remember there’s always next year. I have no doubt that all members of the section will be pleased to know that the lease between the RREC and Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation Limited was signed on Saturday at the Rally. A significant group of people worked tirelessly to bring this about, not least of which was Clive Green a member of our section. The SHRMF is the Charity of the RREC and needs members and Paulerspury People - July 2012
5
Recruit them early, that’s the answer
Proudly flying the sections new flag
Smile Kenneth, it’s the man from the Pru
Steven is the host at Murray’s bar...
...whilst the Murray’s car quietly wins a rosette
6 Section members enjoying a chat
Paulerspury People - July 2012
No, they are not trophies, says our chairman, in his new role
importantly donations. By becoming a member it entitles you to full voting rights for the election of all Directors. The right to stand for election as a Director. Full voting rights on all issues requiring a vote of the membership, plus attendance at all general and special member’s meetings. Your Trust needs you – don’t delay and join today – what’s a minimum yearly £10 donation between friends? I would like to thank Steven and Mia Murray for hosting the tailgate party. It was very well attended and at least it stopped raining for a while! Still banging on about the weather; I’m sure all those from the section who visited the Rally join me in thanking Trevor and Patsy Baldwin and team for their superb work in organising the event. Their organisational skills were sorely pushed to the limit in atrocious conditions. It wasn’t until Linda and I went to the site the Sunday before the
The club’s new SHRMF banner
Rally took place that we realised what a small number of people set out the site. Well done to them, the Marshalls and all those who helped over the weekend. There are still many events to look forward to: including the Annual Picnic at Wimpole Hall near Royston in August; the Somerset House Party in September, for which I understand there are one or two rooms left and by popular demand another visit to the Colchester Oyster Fishery on Mersea Island at the beginning of November– look out for all the booking slips in this publication. At the next Committee meeting we will discuss the 2013 calendar of events and already there are some good ideas coming forward. However, I make no apology for repeating myself here, if any members have an idea for an event please contact me or one of the Committee. We would be happy to assist and guide you. Last but not least, if you haven’t looked at the section web site lately, I strongly urge you to do so. When you do, you’ll see a brand new site in the making. Kathy Martin is the new Web Master (or should that be Mistress?) and has taken over responsibility for the site. After a long association with the section, Adrian Denham has hung up his Web Master visor, keyboard and mouse and is enjoying ‘retirement’. I’m sure you all join me in thanking him for his supreme effort in looking after the site on our behalf. Remember though it is your site and all contributions and photographs will be greatly received. Just remember to contact Kathy Martin in the first instance. Finally, I wish you safe, summer motoring and copious amounts of sunshine. You may like to know that Linda is on her prayer mat again!
Christopher Ball - Chairman Paulerspury People - July 2012
7
COLLE CTION & DEL IVERY AVAIAL MILTO ABLE IN NK SURRO EYNES & UNDIN AREAS G
8
Paulerspury People - July 2012
Buckinghamshire Pub Lunch - 22 January 2012 The Old Swan at Astwood, a small but very pleasant village midway between Milton Keynes and Bedford had been chosen for our first outing of 2012. Given the time of year, the weather was relatively kind to us and although overcast, it was really quite mild. The landlord had kindly allowed the early arrivals to park upon his very neat, manicured (and damp) lawns – a decision that I suspect he may well have come to regret after we had all departed ! This was the first event organised by Barry and Ruth Gallafent and they were both nervously hovering when we arrived. Any apprehension they may have had was completely unfounded, for their organisation, the venue and the food were all quite exceptional. This was a true British pub of the kind so hard to find nowadays, and although the pub is quite small, we The picturesque Old Swan at Astwood were all comfortably accommodated in the two dining areas. To some extent, we overwhelmed the locals with our usual noisy chatter and good humoured banter at the Chairman’s extensive ramblings. Bob, the genial landlord, had obviously lost all sense of reason, offering a magnum of wine as a most generous prize for the car that he would most like to be left behind for him after we had finished our lunch. Bearing in mind that it
The Landlord kindly allowed us to park on his lawn
Paulerspury People - July 2012
9
TheAwarmth and real cheer of an open fire welcoming fire
was mid-winter, I can only assume that the more sensible members had left their best cars at home, and that those members who had cleaned and polished their cars in the customary fashion had encountered some extremely poor weather on the way to the pub. Either that or perhaps Bob couldn’t be bothered and had chosen the car closest to the front door. But the upshot was that the mad fool chose our recently acquired Bentley S3. Now, recognising the very high standard of section cars in general, and accepting that amongst us there are numerous owners of awardwinning vehicles, Pippa and I had long since given up any hope of gaining any form of recognition of any of our cars. We were so grateful; we gave Bob a lift back to the blind school afterwards!
Excellent ambience
Settled down nicely awaiting service...
...whilst Chef Proprietor Bob Broomhall checks out the Davies car
Many thanks to Ruth and Barry for a great event.
Keith Davies
10 A bottle too, for the Chef’s favourite party organisers
Paulerspury People - July 2012 Keith and Pippa with their magnum of red
Visit to Prodrive - Saturday 25th February 2012 For those of you who are not familiar with the name Prodrive, it is a British motorsport and automotive engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as Subaru, Aston Martin and Ford. Its automotive technology division provides road car design and engineering consultation for various car manufacturers as well as businesses in the defence, aerospace and marine industries.
A Jensen Button cast-off from his BAR days
Prodrive is perhaps best known for its involvement in the World Rally Championship with the Subaru World Rally Team. While the Subaru World Rally programme ended in 2008, today its motorsport manufacturer programmesinclude Aston Martin Racing in world sportscar racing, Ford Performance Racing in the Australian V8 Supercar Series and the new Mini WRC Team. Dave Pender Richards CBE is the founder and chairman of Prodrive and chairman of Aston Martin. He was also a former team principal of the BAR and Benetton Formula One motor racing teams.
A Mondeo and 3 series BMW both full restored and a ÂŁ1million beauty next them
The visit to the Heritage Centre was kindly organised by Ray and Karen Hillier and upon arrival we were welcomed by Jackie & Les Irwin offering us coffee, tea, biscuits and hospitality. At this point you are encouraged to take photographs, ask questions and sit in the cars if you wish. It soon became apparent that Jackie is a self-confessed petrol head who is passionate about the industry she has worked in for nine years. Due to this fact, she is extremely knowledgeable not only about the cars but the business too. Paulerspury People - July 2012
11
We were then shown around the rest of the complex; an extremely clinical environment with all areas kept immaculately clean and a floor you could probably eat your dinner from. Unfortunately, in many areas, whilst visitors are welcome, photography is not, so I shall not attempt to describe much that I cannot show you. The whole visit was very interesting. From the heritage centre we moved on through various engineering shops seeing gearboxes and engines at various stages of construction or overhaul. Interestingly each unit is built from scratch by one engineer, so no blaming your colleague if it fails! On a wheeled trolley was a Subaru rally car gearbox, fully reconditioned and for sale at £70,000. After 500 miles of hard rallying you will need to bring it back for an overhaul at just £14,000! A V12 Ferrari engine hung from a stand midway through reassembly, the bench at the side of it clear of all tools and parts. Prodrive engineers may only have out at any time, the parts they require immediately and the tools relevant to fitting them. Everything else has to be put away. A sneaky look in to one engineer ’s tool drawer showed a sparklingly clean and very neatly arranged collection. We moved on to the engine testing rigs. There are two ‘sound proofed’ rooms each set either side of a central control room. One is for rally cars, the other for race cars. The engines are fully connected and controllable by the engineers from their computers. Any condition the engine is likely to 12
In the heritage centre
A genuine Colin McCrae Subaru
How to make your Mini go faster
Off to Mexico on Monday to meet two Spaniards
Paulerspury People - July 2012 The Aston destined for the States
encounter in the car can be recreated here, from temperature to vibration, corner simulation and braking. This was an amazing place. As we progressed our visit, we saw other elements of Prodrive engineering excellence, where they manufacture components for the MOD, the aerospace industry and other vehicle manufacturers, none of whose names were mentioned. One little side line we spotted was the manufacture of 12 volt Champagne coolers. Now what kind of cars have those I wonder? Aluminum, steel, brass or titanium, whatever the material, Prodrive can craft zero tolerance components from it. Have you seen a (BMW) Mini 4 x 4? They sit quite high, so are very noticeable. Prodrive buy them from BMW and strip them out completely. They then set about reinforcing them with endless amounts of steel tube. They fit unbelievable suspension systems. Super powerful engines with gearboxes to match. Add carbon fibre this and that and then make them available to anyone with £350,000 who wants to take them rallying. There were no takers today. Last of all we were taken to the Aston Martin race car workshops. Here they do similar, taking an almost complete Aston Martin and doing amazing things to them. These cars race at places such as Le Mans where they have been cutting a mean dash just lately. The cars in our pictures, although seemingly a long way from drivable, were off to the States the very next day and ready to race they would be. This really was a place you had to see to believe and in all our tour lasted three hours. Returning to the heritage centre once more, the section thanked Jackie and her long suffering husband (come to Prodrive or don’t see her) Les for their hospitality and knowledge. The section then departed for lunch in two separate directions. Our gang found our way to The Fox Inn, where we had pre-booked and then turned up with twice as many people. Never mind, they soon got the measure of Peter Parsons! A light lunch, a beer or two, in my case a glass of wine or two, the usual exchange of banter and we were on our way home. Thanks to Ray and Karen for organising a most excellent technical visit.
Ruth Gallafent Paulerspury People - July 2012
13
New Member’s Lunch - 4th March 2012 A Sunday Morning at Hunt House I do believe I was an odd character at the March 4th Rolls Royce new member meeting: a twenty-year old, college student, just as familiar with cars as my future (as in not at all). I have to admit I was somewhat reluctant to tell my new acquaintances that I am from Detroit, Michigan; even Motown would cringe at my car talk, or lack thereof. And I cannot produce even a satisfactory car sputter, let alone the roar of acceleration, which Mia Murray, another native Detroiter, surprised us with at the lunch table. Bert Gladwin gave her an unblinking stare in return; I detected a glint of awe in his eyes. “I wouldn’t have imagined you emitting a sound like that,” he said. An expectant look came my way, but I had to disappoint; Mia’s act was a hard one to follow. So how, then, does a character like myself end up at a Rolls Royce club event? I was tempted to tell members that archival material had recently identified me as the long lost heir to The Silver Ghost. But don’t worry, no need to be jealous; my story is not quite so extravagant. Steven and Mia Murray, longtime friends of my parents, had generously offered to grant my wish of visiting Britain. So, the first weekend in March I became a visitor of Tattenhoe Hall Farm and was whisked to the labyrinth called London, through rolling hills carpeted green, to the golden walls that make up Blenheim Palace, and – Steven and Mia hoped I wouldn’t mind – to the Rolls-Royce new members meeting. Friday and Saturday I’d caught glimpses of the 1953 Silver-Wraith parked in the garage; its headlamps met me with a regal stare. Its shiny metal body curved round the wheel wells in arcs; they looked like waves, frozen in the curls they become right before crashing ashore. I didn’t need to be car-savvy to recognize its distinct beauty; never before had a car’s steely grill so captured my attention. “We’ll take her to the meeting?” I asked. Mia and Steven nodded. “I don’t mind going in the slightest,” I said.
14 Gathering in the conservatory at the Hunt House
Paulerspury People - July 2012 The Chairman welcomes all and introduces the committee
Grey clouds settled into the skies Sunday morning and decided they wouldn’t be moving; they emptied their drizzly stores over Paulerspury and beyond. Despite the weather, Steven moved the Rolls to the driveway, where she awaited us. Giant drops of water beaded up on her hood and left trails across windows and doors. It wasn’t a day for pondering her exterior design, though; we sprinted to her side and took refuge in a dry, more-than-roomy interior. Sinking into the plush leather backseat, I stretched my legs and realized the front seat would not stop me; it lie at least a half a foot in front of my toes. With a cramped, Detroit-bound flight just days ahead of me, I saw this as engineering genius. The cocktail cabinet seemed to suggest it was cause for celebration. We arrived at the Hunt House shortly thereafter. We ducked under umbrellas and from the lobby of the house, I looked out on a parking lot populated with RollsRoyce’s that had braved the downpour. The scene had a sort of cinematic appeal; rain and classic cars seem to suggest impending action. I waited for the plot to thicken. The members seemed to be what I was waiting for. They burst through the door with such exuberance they appeared intent on defying the gloom that a cold, grey Sunday can bring. I squeezed past a bear hug in the main hallway and watched as a group of men, donned in suit and tie, whipped up pant legs to expose their ankles. A collection of grins and mismatched, polka dot socks met my gaze. I could sense in the laughter that followed a rare and strong sort of camaraderie. On an elementary school playground, they would have been the “cool” group that every kid envied and desperately wished they could be a part of. Slowly, the lively bunch made its way to the meeting room. There, bulky, metal treasures clung to the walls and an odd empty space marked the absence of one of the Queen’s Rolls. Members new and old scattered themselves amongst rows of chairs, and the committee took their seats at a table at the head of the room. An agenda and brief introductions ensued, and it took no more than a matter of minutes for the comedic character of the Paulerspury section to introduce itself, too. Joking banter shot across the room, various nicknames
Paulerspury People - July 2012 The Murray’s friend Nicole, takes it all in
15 Dining afterwards at the Barley Mow in Paulerspury
took precedence over first names (Chairman “Minimus” and “Maximus” among them), and bright socks looked out on it all, peeking out from hemlines raised by sitting. At one point a chairman flashed a youthful grin at on-looking members. “The beauty of this club,” he said, “is that we never grow up; we’re just a bunch of boys and girls with toys.” Following the meeting, Robert Kennedy acquainted new members with the Hunt House and its impressive collection of Rolls Royce paraphernalia. Hunt could be called a house turned museum; I encountered some of Royce’s last sketches and scribbles, at least a half dozen classic engines, an archive stuffed with several years’ worth of reading material, and – a museum necessity – a gift shop. As I don’t exactly frequent car clubs’ headquarters, I can’t compare Hunt House to much. In any case, I have been told it is among the most remarkable car club headquarters in the world, and I have to say, I don’t doubt it. We finished out the afternoon at a charming pub just down the street from Hunt House. Over lunch, I had the chance to hear some members’ personal histories and experiences: I saw photographs of a days old grandchild; one woman, upon learning I am from the Detroit-area, fondly recalled a couple years she and her husband had lived there; Bert Gladwin, after recovering from his surprise at Mia’s impressive car acceleration imitation, belted out a well-practiced Ferrari engine roar. It was these moments I treasured most that rainy Sunday. While I certainly won’t soon forget my first ride in a Rolls Royce, it was sharing that story, among others, with enthusiastic members that gave it meaning and made it that much more memorable. If only Rolls and Royce could witness all the little wonders their creation has inspired.
Nicole Allman - Guest of Mia and Steven Murray Obituary - John Alfred Gerard Clifton 17/5/41 - 3/3/12 Graham and I first met John and his friend Colin Hughes at the dinner held in the Midland Hotel in Manchester, 100 years on to the day that Rolls first met Royce there! It was a very auspicious occasion! John and Colin met as young apprentices to Kodak in Hemel Hempstead. John spent his working life there. Colin rather appropriately is the club photographer! John enjoyed the good life wining and dining with his friends and ran a Derby - Bentley. He remained a batchelor and had a great many friends and Godchildren. Both Colin and John obtained degrees whilst working for Kodak.
Julia and Graham Swallow 16
Paulerspury People - July 2012
Hertfordshire Pub Lunch - Sunday 25th March 2012 IMPRESSIONS The first day of Summer Time, a glorious Spring Day, a day to make the spirit soar - clear blue sky, birds pairing, a huge bumble bee, a butterfly, blossom and daffodils. A quiet Sunday morning - a peaceful drive in a cherished motor-car, meeting good friends, renewing old acquaintances, a beautiful garden. Lunch together - laughter and bonhomie. A stroll through ancient streets, an historic cathedral, riverside, sunlight on water, swans and moorhens. Cheery partings, until we meet again - soon. Homeward in the late afternoon - tea in the garden.
Robert and June Brown
So that’s 6.75 RR C? Oh, I get it!
What a lovely dining room
17
Paulerspury People - July 2012 I’ll park here in case it rains, only I’ve left the roof at home!
Obviously the boat is not coming back for us
St George’s Day Run 22nd April 2012 The roadtrip presented by Margaret and Allan Fuller. I belong to the unmentionable club the retired, you might have seen the series on BBC2 called the Antiques Roadtrip which started at 5.15 pm each week day, four antiques experts would drive their classic cars around Great Britain looking for antiques to buy, with the sole purpose of selling at a profit at auction. Our cars are classics, and possible some of us maybe contribute to being antique (only some of us) as regards to being sold at auction I leave that to your imagination, nevertheless, I digress. The rainy season has arrived, and guess what, our famous St George’s rally is here. We arrived at the Green Man in Lavenden to find Allan on parade, six cars already parked, quite an achievement for us, as we are late for most events. The sun came out to warm the 30 cars parked and individuals, as usual small talk around the cars followed by a call for coffee and biscuits in the bar, which was very welcome after a long drive. Margaret was busy handing out the Rally sheets, by 11 o’clock most people were heading for the door to embark on the 35 mile journey, forthwith. (Raelene and I) took over one and half hours to arrive at the Green Man, it was decided we would take a shorter route of our own making, but on leaving the car park we found a large convoy of cars behind us, alas, no club cars in front (let’s do it we thought) ?. We entered Harrold, we like the thatched cottages, Oakley 18
The charming Green Man at Lavendon
The Fuller’s car on pole position
Paulerspury People - July 2012
No, I haven’t got any flags left, Alan tells the Dolan’s
The Mitchell’s arriving in Flo, followed by the Ball’s in Hector
Arms public house and especially the bandstand on the village green then on to Shambrook, on exit we were confronted with a large horsebox and outriders, (pedal biker riders) the road was narrow, overtaking worrying, so decided to stay behind, I am sure much to the annoyance of the following convoy Barry and Ruth Gallafent complete with Steven Murray were behind mile after mile then a chance to overtake we thought, but unfortunate he turned left complete with escort.
We passed through Easton Maudit turned right to Wollaston a pretty area spoilt by electricity pylons. Through picturesque lakes and entered Grendon (noted the Half Moon pub) There is still much to do for organiser Alan Fuller turned right into Church Way with some effort, only to find two men in conversation with a bicycle between them obliterating the road sign, we continue past Castle Ashby lakes ancestoral home of Marquis of Northampton, sun still shining, lambs in the fields what more can one ask for, then on to Denton and Brafield on the Green, then left into Horton Village, golden rape fields were very evident everywhere , passed through more picturesque villages and went When the slayer had done her work, this poor dragon was eaten into to Olney, wind farms were evident, continue through Clifton Reyes, on to Blossomville the river was very full and flowing fast, back into Lavendon. The route instructions were great we did not go wrong once, we could hold our heads up high, car park full, lunch commenced at 12.30 pm, our special thanks to Margaret and Allan we can appreciate the time and effort put into this event. Our thanks go to our host for fitting us in at the last moment. Seated next to me at my table was Adrian Denham who kept us amused by his conversation also, in passing I met new member whose registration is (GHOST MR) Simon Redman remarked he had a great liking for Peter Nightingale Phantom 5, watch out Peter possible competition. During the latter part of lunch we were all given a slice of “dragon cake” which Paulerspury People - July 2012
19
Lea Boxes Manufacturer of Cartons and Supplier of all Packaging Materials
♦ Polythene Bags
♦ Made to Measure Cartons
♦ Postal Bags
♦ Stock Cartons
♦ Bubble Wrap
♦ Pallet Boxes
♦ Loose Fill
♦ Die Cuts
♦ Strapping
♦ Solid Board
♦ Corrugated Paper
♦ Corrugated Board
♦ Kraft Paper
♦ Printed Cartons
♦ Tissue
♦ Printed Die Cuts
Same Day/Next Day Delivery on all stock items
Lea Boxes 20
38 Camford Way, Sundon Park, Luton, Beds., LU3 3AN Telephone 01582 505561 Paulerspury People - July 2012
had been made by Margaret’s daughter or (grand daughter ) ? and what a special treat – thank you from all of us. Lunch virtually over, coffee arrived to the tune of our Chairman Chris Ball. St George Trophy Bert and Wendy Gladwin are popular, well loved members of the Paulerspury Section. For several years running they have been serious contenders for the Tom Shank’s Rosebowl which is awarded for enthusiasm. They won the Trophy in 2009. The St George figurine is usually presented to a new, Bert and Wendy with the St George’s trophy or newish, member who has contributed most the Paulerspury Section in any one year. This year I’ve moved the goal posts a little and it is being awarded to mark a great achievement by a section member that is not connected to their membership of the club. At the tender age of ? Bert undertook quite a monumental task when most of his contemporaries were relaxing by the fireside in their slippers. This task was studying for a Master’s Degree in Intelligence History and Bletchley Park Studies. It was achieved in part by regular visits for lectures and tutorials at the Centre for Security and Intelligence at the University of Buckingham. He gained a merit overall for his Degree and a Distinction for his Dissertation titled ‘The Role of Electronics in Support of Special Operations Executive’s (a branch of the British Secret Service) Activities in France during World War II’. The Dissertation is about the use of radios and the like which the SOE used to communicate with the UK whilst in France during the war and how they helped them carry out the work they did. Now come the journey home.
David and Raelene Morgan Paulerspury People - July 2012
21
Studio 434 Visit - Sunday 13th May 2012 An 09:30 departure from Milton Keynes set us on our 41 mile journey to the fringe of Hertfordshire. The town, Potters Bar. The origins of this town name are unknown to us and quite irrelevant to the rest of this article. As we neared, Sat Nav lady politely asked us to turn left in to Cecil Road, we did. Bong! Speed camera alert. There was one on either side of the road. As Cecil Road became Mutton Lane, “You have reached your destination” she exclaimed. Indeed we had and caught a brief glimpse of the Chairman and his good lady to our right. Quickly we turned about and in the blink of an eye; the Chairman had thought to park us on the pavement outside the venue. His excellent thinking was that if others saw a Rolls-Royce, they might realise they too had ‘reached their destination’. They did. Shortly afterwards, event organiser David Morgan arrived in his beautiful Silver Wraith, himself suggesting that perhaps he should have been there first. No matter. From the outside you would never believe that such an ordinary grey fronted, former bus garage, in Mutton Lane, Potters Bar housed what could easily be described as, the best toy shop in the world. This was truly Lamb dressed as ‘Mutton’, for behind those grey walls is a collection of over 150 classic motor cars, classic motor cycles, memorabilia and a Dalek. Yes, a Dalek. Studio 434 is a private collection of motor vehicles amassed over a number of years by Rodger Dudding and his family. Some of the vehicles have been bought by the family for their own use and retained; some bought singularly from individuals and others from the estates of smaller collectors. Open only for viewing by appointment, Studio 434 houses vehicle makes and types from all eras. Be it an Austin Seven, a Ferrari Dino, A Triumph Stag, a Jensen or even a De Lorean, you will find one or more here. Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars are in abundance here too as they are a particular favourite of the collections owner. Rodger’s everyday car he describes as his ‘Transit Van’, we know now, it is actually a Rolls-Royce Phantom Special Edition. Why then does Rodger call it his ‘Transit Van’? Because, he tells us, he can get everything he ever needs to take with him in his Phantom, probably more than he could in a Transit anyway! You may or may not know that when a Phantom is stationary, its wheel disc centres, bearing the Rolls-Royce emblem, are always upright. How does this happen? Initially it did not, but our host Rodger, persuaded Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to listen to him, view his design for rotating centre discs and include them as standard. Rodger has other connections with RR design and is currently trying to convince them that the Phantom’s power closing doors at the rear, need to be complimented by power closing doors at the front. At this point, 22
Paulerspury People - July 2012
David Morgan, Alan Goddard and Chris Ball line up outside
A matching pair of MG’s
The ‘ill fated’ £1million Jensen SV8
A quality Jensen from more prosperous days at the factory
A trio of Aston Martin Lagonda’s
One of several beautiful Jaguar’s
Paulerspury People - July 2012
The collection owner’s personal Phantom
23 A Bentley T1 and a Stunning Jaguar
Beyond the Daimler Dart, Jaguar alley
An extremely rare Citroen DS Convertible
Could the Dalek in the background replace the Spirit of Ecstasy?
Messrs Gallafent & Warnock seeking to exclude the Chairman
The terrace at Brookmans Park Golf Club
Why do they all look suspicious?
24 A superb line up on a beautiful sunny day
Paulerspury People - July 2012 David has forgotten the michrophone but not the pose
yours truly was invited to sit in the driver’s seat and close the driver’s door. Firstly you can only just reach the handle without falling out of the car but more importantly Rodger says, is that when the car is facing down hill, only someone of Geoff Capes’ stature would be strong enough to pull it shut! RR has agreed to submit drawings to Rodger for him to modify and he intends to have P & A Wood fit power closers to his own car. Watch out on production models in the future. You never know. We were free to wander amongst this enviable collection as we wished, opening doors and sitting in any of them if we chose to, save for just a few with notices stating they were clients own vehicles in storage. If we had stayed all day, we would still not remember all we saw. One or two stick in your mind of course and for me one such was the Jensen SV8. When trying to save the company, investors raised ten million pounds. They developed the SV8 but only ten were built before the business closed. Costing the company then one million pounds each, this was probably the most expensive car in the collection if not the most valuable! It was far from the best though, having been rushed in to production, poorly fitting panels and hood, an abundance of ‘Ford’ badged components and highly visible wiring, meant this car was doomed from the start. It’s only saving grace was the formidable roar of its Ford Mustang Cobra 4.6 Litre V8 engine, which driven at speed, would probably have shaken the doomed SV8 to bits. Have you ever been in or seen a Clyno? No. Neither have I. Studio 434 has four Clyno cars, a Clyno van and a Clyno motor cycle. Remember the Aston Martin Lagonda of the early 80’s? Well here you can see four of them under one roof. Coffee, tea, biscuits and cakes were served throughout the duration of our visit and Rodger and his son Guy remained on site too, happily answering any questions we may have had, whilst exuding the obvious pleasure ownership of this collection affords them. Reluctantly we began to depart Studio 434, not en mass, as members had arrived over a period of time but gradually, towards our lunch venue. We were headed in the direction of The Brookmans Park Golf Club. After one or two of us from the advance party had parked in the members car park, a rather jolly chap pointed out that arrangements had been made for us to park on the front field and led us in that direction. Soon Chairman Chris arrived and again quickly
25
Paulerspury People - July 2012 Attention to detail shows here
They are on your head Bert, says Alan Goddard!
26
Paulerspury People - July 2012
donned his Hi Vis jacket taking over control of the car park facility. This duty kept the Chairman from the bar of course but your humble editor found it in his heart to provide a pint of foaming ale for him at his post. As I delivered said ale, I discovered the Chairman had recruited an assistant, Mike Martin. Mike was not so lucky in receiving a pint but the Chairman did offer to share his. Passing through reception and in to the bar we were greeted by the very same jolly chap as had pointed out our parking error. This time he was offering us wine. Quickly forgiven, we welcomed his offering. This wine had very generously been provided for us by David and Raelene Morgan at their own expense and well it was received by all. Soon a convivial gathering had assembled on the terrace from where we had a most excellent view of our cars. Much furniture was relocated on the terrace in order to accommodate twelve people at six seat tables but this seemed to be acceptable and we were not ejected from the club. Soon to lunch, a carvery affair where we were to be called one or two tables at a time to firstly choose and collect our starters. Very nice they were too. Unfortunately, our table (Gallafent’s, Dolan’s and Warnock’s) were destined to be last! This did not upset us much, and still there was plenty to choose from. Our glasses were constantly topped up by, yes you have guessed, the same jolly chap. Somehow during the starter, the natural charm emanating from the gentlemen of our table attracted the attention of the restaurant manageress. Whilst she enquired of our well being, we were elevated to a much higher place in the pecking order and set off for our main course. Choice there was, beef, gammon, lamb and more, a vegetarian dish too. All superbly presented and served with a smile by Chef and his team. The vegetable selection was endless and quickly our plates were full. Having escalated our way up the pecking order, aforementioned manageress, again checking on our well being, decreed we should go for desserts whilst she had the table cleared. Choice again, yes there was! Home made desserts to die for including apple crumble and custard and a good selection of cheese too. After we had finished eating, our host David Morgan stood up to say a few words which were warmly welcomed by all. The Chairman followed offering thanks to David and Raelene for organising such a splendid day out. This was of course endorsed by us all and there followed a round of applause for both. New members David and Jane Hodgson attended this as their first Paulerspury Section event and we hope, were made to feel most welcome.
Barry and Ruth Gallafent Paulerspury People - July 2012
27
Aldeburgh Weekend - 20th - 23rd May 2012 The Journey to Aldeburgh - Sunday 20th May The weather had been mixed all week, but in between the showers, the S3 had been washed and polished, the interior buffed, the leather treated, she had been serviced, and even up on the hoist for a good dose of WD40 to that annoying squeak from the rear suspension. Sunday dawned grey and grim. We set off quite early, estimating that it would take us about 3¾ hours to get to Thorpeness where the Good Pub Guide suggested that there was a decent pub with excellent food. By the time we got to Cambridge, gentle rain was falling, which progressively turned heavy but then miraculously, as we approached the Suffolk coast, it stopped and the sun came out. Even after a stop for petrol, we were still at Thorpeness in less than 3 hours (it’s amazing how well that V8 engine runs on 99 octane fuel) and the sun was shining bright and warm. We even enjoyed our lunch (just as good as promised in the guide) sitting in the pub gardens. After a walk around Thorpeness and a trip to see the fabled “House in the Clouds”, we decided that we would get to the hotel earlier than planned and defy the organisers. Some chance – they were there waiting for us in the Wentworth Hotel car park! Having caught up with the gossip from Chairman & Mrs Minimus, we checked in to our very comfortable room, unpacked and refreshed, then went downstairs. By now, friends were arriving in a steady stream and slowly the hotel started reverberating to that most characteristic Paulerspury section noise and banter. A brief excursion around Aldeburgh followed, simply to get our bearings and take advantage of the warm sunshine. That evening, we enjoyed a drinks reception and the first of our evening meals in the usual raucous Paulerspury fashion. The organisers had, of course, been generous with the wine and hence the noise got louder and louder as the evening progressed. Perhaps the only thing louder was that bloody squeak from the rear suspension which had re-appeared just as we pulled into the hotel car park! Visit to the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club, Lowestoft - Monday 21st May The day dawned well, a good sea running with a fair wind. At breakfast there was friendly banter between old friends. As one lady moved away from the table another is heard to say ‘she won’t die, she will have to be shot’, well, being new into this society we wondered how many get shot. All good fun, I think. 28
Paulerspury People - July 2012
As we stepped out of the hotel it becomes evident that just about everything that can fly had decided that our cars needed to be re-washed and polished. I felt particularly sorry for Peter Nightingale, as his Phantom V like most cars had arrived in immaculate condition, had received a large direct hit on the bonnet. Somehow the day feels right after a good breakfast, so we slid into our ‘Admirals’ Barge’ and set off to Lowestoft using the concise directions given in our arrival pack. We soon found ourselves following the 25/30 Sports Saloon of Robert and June Brown, now this does make navigation much easier. We noticed heads turn to look at the 25/30 followed by big smiles. So after a few miles, when they signal a left I do likewise, but hang on a minute we do not need petrol, a very last second change of direction, now we are at the front of the phalanx, so it is back to ‘concise directions’. We miss the final turning and as a result see a little more of Lowestoft. Arriving at the RNSYC our Head Car Park Attendant tells us where to park – we follow orders and are quickly ushered into the Clubhouse. The building stands well in prime position overlooking its floating charges. First impressions of the interior would liken it to the hushed gentility of a London gentleman’s club. We are later told that you can ‘summon a steward for refreshment’, probably for a gin sling. We all assemble in the dining room for an introduction to Anthony Knights, the Club’s Commodore who gives us the essential information, particularly about the early days. The first regatta was in 1859, and original buildings built in 1886, but were replaced by the present building in the Arts and Crafts style ‘with watery references’. Lord Claud Hamilton of the Great Eastern Railways arranged for his company to cover the cost of the rebuild and leased it back to the Club, which became Royal in 1898.
Listening intently to Anthony Knights, Commodore
Paulerspury People - July 2012
29
Anthony described how, in his early days he took a Broads built yacht to Harwich, some forty miles by sea, quite an achievement. We toured the facilities of the Clubhouse before enjoying a buffet lunch. Bidden farewell by Anthony accompanied by an invitation for us all to become members. The Lowestoft lifeboat, the Spirit of Lowestoft, was moored a short distance away so many accepted the invitation to go aboard with the Coxswain, John Fox, who gave an excellent introduction to us ‘rescue novices’ on what the RNLI do, and do not do. There were eleven of us in the cramped confines of the main crew area and my personal impression was that even with only a crew of six there was little enough space, everything aboard is very functional. No home comforts here particularly for any poor souls rescued, who, placed into a forward compartment with no portholes will only wish their journey to safety be short. It became obvious that John Fox was in love with his lifeboat and a little melancholy that in two years will have to part with it for a new up-to-date vessel. We left with even greater respect for the RNLI and what their crews achieve. Southwold sea front was given a treat on the way back to Aldeburgh with many of our cars being inspected and appreciated by the public. The day went well and Margaret and I had a wonderful time. Visit to Languard Fort, Felixstowe - Tuesday, 22 May The day started with a touch of confusion. There was something big, red and warm in the sky which took us all by surprise. What could it be? It’s the sun. What a start to the day.
Only the best Premier Cru for Chairman Maximus’s car!
30
Breakfast over, itinerary read (by some!) and we’re off. Kathy and I had the honour of taking Chairman Maximus and the first lady as their car was “resting”. The scenic route had been planned for our journey to Languard Fort, then lunch at Seckford Hall and an afternoon to indulge ourselves. Can’t find much to grouse about with that! So we left Aldeburgh at our own pace for a most pleasant drive to Landguard. So began the first part of the day. Paulerspury People - July 2012
“Are you sure this is a good idea Admiral? The place looks pretty well built”. “Don’t be such a wimp man, there are only 500 of them and we number 1,500. We can’t fail”. I guess the conversation went something like that when Admiral de Ruyter arrived from Holland in 1667 thinking he would take the strategically positioned fort and then begin to fan out and complete his ill conceived invasion of England. Needless to say Captain Nathaniel Darell, the fort commander, and his men gave the cloggies a sound thrashing and saw them off. Begun in 1543 on the instructions of Henry V111 the Landguard fort did what It’s name suggested, it guarded the land. Pity old Ruyter didn’t pick up the clue in the name. The fort is built on classic lines, very similar to the designs of the great French military architect Vaubun. However the fort has not stood still, adapting and improving as artillery technology adapted and remained in service till 1971 when it was sold off. It probably worried Adolf which may be one of the second world wars closely guarded secrets! Seriously though, we had a fascinating tour of a most interesting piece of military architecture. Parking was in the in the centre of the fort, accessed via the bridge over the moat and through a narrow access tunnel. We were split up into 4 manageable groups (if we can ever be classed as “manageable”), each with a knowledgeable guide. Our guide Dave was very well informed and had excellent delivery with just the right amount of fact and humour.
Entrance to Languard Fort...
...and will Steven and Mia Murray’s car fit through?
Commencing with the ablutions block Dave explained the change of use of the buildings through the forts life, from stores to showers, cook house, ammunition stores etc. All rather Spartan by today’s standards. We went down the Sally Port, an entrance into the moat used to repel invaders, then onto the magazine rooms, where the soldiers had to take off most of their kit to prevent any sparks, and into the mine room. This was fascinating as the mines were accurately positioned in the River Orwell and connected to the mine room by wires, enabling the mines to be detonated when enemy ships were nicely positioned over the top of them. Then onto more magazines, where shells and charges were sent Paulerspury People - July 2012
31
up to the gun batteries via a winch, interestingly enough freed up by constant fiddling by schoolchildren! (who said they had no use).The winches were manufactured in Scotland by Stother & Pitt which only ceased trading some 10 years ago. We continued through further tunnels, into a Caponier, again giving access to the moat with firing positions to deter any invaders. The moat incidentally has not got any water in it. Conditions in the fort were not the best and in 1628 the troops mutinied as they had not been paid, and were living on bread and inferior Suffolk cheese. (I’d like to say that this was the origin of the term being “cheesed off” but I’d be lying!). Up to the top of the fort and into one of the large gun emplacements, which regrettably no longer contain any guns, these having been removed when the fort was decommissioned. There is though, a full size mock up of a Victorian 27 ton muzzle loading gun, an absolutely awesome piece of kit. The gun crew of 18 could fire a round every 6 minutes.
Our cars parked inside the fort
The fort was occupied right through the two world wars and especially during the second where the anti aircraft operations for the Harwich area were commanded. The guns at the fort were in operation against shipping on two occasions, regrettably on our own ships, who failed to give the correct recognition signal. Troops stationed at the fort were under instructions to guard the fort to the last man in the event of an invasion. Luckily this was not put to the test. 32
Paulerspury People - July 2012
View from the ramparts and not an enemy in sight
We departed having, had an excellent taster of a most interesting site, to Seckford Hall for lunch. By now the temperature was up into the mid twenties, so drinks on the terrace were the order of the day upon arrival. An excellent venue and a delightful lunch which whiled away a couple of extremely pleasant hours. Back to the Wentworth and later dinner with an excellent red wine from the Lebanon, into the bar for a nightcap, and that was the Aldeburgh break almost over. A wonderful day which just continued to delight till the last. Conclusion Over the three days at the Wentworth hotel, we enjoyed comfortable accommodation, good food, and great friendship, had many laughs and enjoyed the sun! David Wells alluded earlier to the ‘flying kangaroos’ (the seagulls), which were a bit of a nuisance but, hey, someone said it was supposed to be lucky to be pooped upon from a great height. Did anyone win the lottery that weekend? We held a silent auction for two beautiful floral displays, which raised £210 for the Lowestoft Lifeboat, and, although asked not to, our guests, in their usual generous manner, raised £210 for the benefit of the Harwich Lifeboats. This was a very kind gesture and much appreciated by us. We set out to make this a relaxing Rally and achieved this judging by the many cards and emails of thanks we received. Finally, we would like to thank Keith Davies, Mick Martin and David Wells for their contributions to this write-up. Paulerspury People - July 2012
Cars outside Seckford Hall
33
Picnic and Driving Day - Broadwell House - Sunday 24th June 2012 Adrian & Linda Denham kindly invited us to their house and grounds between Southam and Rugby for the now traditional picnic and driving test. The weather has been cool and very wet. However, in most places the grass, where we drove and parked, was surprisingly dry. The only wet/ muddy parts were in the drive The Lawn at Broadwell House where tea and coffee was served into the field where we parked and two or three places on the driving test course. About 35 Club cars parked in two crescents to the side of the house. On arrival we were welcomed with tea/coffee and biscuits on the garden beside the house. This involved us walking over a bridge which took us over the ha-ha (a wall to prevent farm animals getting into the garden). The driving test was in an adjacent field, in almost a figure of ‘8’. We entered about 1/3 of the way from the left boundary, driving to the far side, then in a circle to the left, arriving just to the left of the entry. There we entered a ‘garage’
34 Broadwell House picnic appeals to owners of all RR and Bentley types
Paulerspury People - July 2012
where the passenger had to drop a rubber ball into a bucket, but the driver had to avoid touching the cones at the end of the garage. Then, for me, in a Bentley Continental GT (with very poor rear visibility), there was a reverse through a right angle into another ‘garage’, going in far enough without hitting the cones at the back. After the garage, there was a relatively straight section, ending in a right hand bend (not going too fast), a short straight and then a hairpin (rather muddy!). The ‘front wheel drive’ of the Bentley helped me round this corner. This was followed by a short straight, and a combination of a relatively ‘friendly’ 180 degree crescent, a straight, another 90 degree bend, a long straight and then a turn into a garage to the right. The reverse into the next garage ‘caught me out’ as I hit the cones at the back. Then, two right angle bends back to the start. Mike Stanley, in a 1970 Vauxhall Viva, was the fastest at 2 minutes 14 seconds, closely followed by Keith Davies in a Bentley Continental GT with David Howard in his Bentley Turbo R finishing 3rd with 2 minutes 34 seconds. Had I not knocked over the cone in the last garage, I would have been 3rd! However, it’s hardly a fair contest with a 552bhp 4 wheel drive car. And, we were all beaten by the 1970 Vauxhall Viva, with probably 1/10th of the power of the Bentley and 35 years older. For this contest the Viva is ‘the Best Car in the World’! And, it was immaculate! Tom Smith drove his 1938 14hp Armstrong Siddeley round the course in a very creditable 3 minutes 55 seconds.
Paulerspury People - July 2012 A goodly number of the Paulerspury contingent
35
One does not throw balls from a Rolls-Royce 20/25, one simply places them!
36 It’s called the ‘Hokey Cokey’ Adrian, knees bend, arms stretch, rah, rah, rah!
Paulerspury People - July 2012
You may ask ‘what about Steve Dolan’. His S2 Continental has a ‘poorly’ inlet valve, so he drove Keith Davies’ Continental GT. He was very fast, but incurred a penalty, so was not included in the final rankings.
In 3rd Place, David Howard in his Bentley Turbo R
There was only a light sprinkling of rain, most of the time it was dry, so we were able to have our picnics, with views of the cars, the course and the Warwickshire countryside. As in previous years, members of the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust were present and brought three Armstrong Siddeley cars, a late Star Sapphire, the 1938 14hp and a 16/18hp Whitley, the latter two with pre-selector gearboxes.
In 2nd Place, the 550bhp 4x4 Continental of Keith Davies
In 1st Place, Mike Stanley in his 56bhp Vauxhall Viva
The event raised £1,900 for the combined Warwickshire & Northamptonshire, and the Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance charities. At the end of the event, there was the prizegiving, with the 1st to 3rd mentioned above and Debbie Howard gaining the lady’s prize in her Turbo R. There was thanks all round, to those who helped with all the arrangments prior to and during the event, and to Adrian & Linda for all their work. Debbie Howard presented Linda and Adrian with a large bouquet of flowers – well deserved. Members departed slowly after the event, with some staying to 7pm. In fact, Pat & June McGrath stayed the night – in their caravan!
David Towers Paulerspury People - July 2012 A cheeky grin from the editors friend Hazel
37
The Chairmans Lady Linda Ball we all know, is the Chairman’s good lady wife. As if that were not fame enough, our attention has been drawn to the American Air Force, who from April 1943 to May 1945, flew B-17 Bombers from Polebrook in Northamptonshire, over occupied territory in Europe. The 511th Bomb Squadron were known as the “Ball Boys”, flying under their commanding officer Captain Clinton F Ball and each of their aircraft were named ‘Something’ Ball. One of those was The ‘Linda Ball’.
US Army Air Force B-17 (Flying Fortress) The Linda Ball
The Linda Ball got its name and nose art when, just before being sent to Europe to join the war, the commander’s wife had a baby girl named Linda. The Linda Ball was one of the original twelve planes of the 511th Bomb Squaron. Other planes of the the “Ball Boys” squadron were, Cannon Ball, Snow Ball, Meat Ball, Fire Ball, Screw Ball, Speed Ball, Spit Ball, High Ball, Spare Ball, Foul Ball and of course, Eight Ball. Of the original squadron, the Linda Ball and Screw Ball were the only aircraft to survive but both were decommissioned and scrapped after the war. The Linda Ball was flown to Walnut Ridge AFB in NE Arkansas; Screwball ended its days at Altus AFB in SW Oklahoma. Linda Ball information: Model B-17F-75-BO (manufactured by Boeing) Callsign DS - U A/C serial # 42-29849 38
Paulerspury People - July 2012
The crew of B-17 the ‘Linda Ball’
Those members attending the Little Gransden Classic Car Show and Air Display on 26th August, will witness first hand the might of the Flying Fortress as Europes last airworthy B-17, the ‘Sally B’ circuits the airfield. The B-17 we are promised will be accompanied by another very rare aircraft. This may indeed be the first and last time the pair are seen flying together. For more information on the ‘Sally B’, visit www.sallyb.org.uk
Speak As You Find On our way to The Annual at Rockingham Castle on Friday 15th June, my Mark VI was seriously pulling to the offside which could have been really nasty; i.e. into the oncoming traffic! I had decided to go the “pretty route” to Rockingham, via Linslade and Milton Keynes, thus avoiding motorways, and onto the A509 to Wellingborough. It was now about 12.45p.m. and we were approaching Olney. I was not at all happy with the braking, which was not getting any worse, but understandably I was not happy. Of course I knew that in Olney there is a specialist organisation in RollsRoyces and Bentleys. Joyce said, “It is Friday and they probably close at 1p.m. Paulerspury People - July 2012
39
for the weekend!” Anyway, we arrived at their front door at 12.59p.m., and sure enough they do close at 1.00 p.m. - “Ooops!” However, they listened to our plight, - “Bring the car in and we will have a look to see if we can fix the problem!” They found that the nearside front brake was leaking fluid over the brake shoes, resulting in no nearside braking, and all effective on the offside - hence the problem. Regrettably, they had no spares in stock for a Mark VI, but after a quick telephone call spares were ordered to arrive by 10.a.m. the following day, i.e. Saturday. They suggested we borrow their Honda to help us on our way, so as not to miss the Friday night hospitality, - so we went on our way. We were at Rockingham Castle the following morning where we received a telephone call to say that the spares had arrived and our Mark VI would be delivered to Rockingham Castle site by 11.30 a.m.. Sure enough the car duly arrived at 11.30 a.m. as promised and we returned the Honda to the driver who then took it back to Olney. So as I said, “Speak as you find”. The car is 100% on braking, so many thanks to the specialist organisation in Olney for their exceptional support, service and valued assistance. P.S. No - I am not on their payroll!
Peter Parsons Editors Note The section have no objection in revealing who the Parson’s knights in shining armour were since they are section members themselves and generous supporters of the section publications every quarter. It was Hillier Hill of Olney, Bucks., who rescued them and you can find an advertisement for them on the outside back cover of this edition.
A Letter to The Editor Dear Barry I have just received my copy of your section magazine and was very interested in your notes on page 4 under the heading “Not a lot of people know that”. The note I was most interested in was the reference to the Duke of Gloucester’s accident whilst returning from the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill. At that time I was an apprentice working in the Service Department at Crewe when the car 40
Paulerspury People - July 2012
came in for repair following the accident. It was badly damaged and showing signs of distress internally. It was immediately hidden under a dust sheet to keep it out of public view whilst in the department, with instructions to all service personnel not to go near it until told to do so! I remember well a number of important members of staff 5AT30 Beautiful and undamaged including the MD at the time namely Dr. Llewellyn-Smith (popularly known as “Doc or Fred Smith”) coming into the department to view the damage. He was accompanied by several of his underlings and important senior persons from the police, and we were told afterwards, a number of royal representatives too. As was company policy at the time all significant crash damage resulted in removal of engine/gearbox and rear axle for examination and testing. At the time I was working in the transmission overhaul area of the service department and clearly remember having to replace the gearbox sump owing to damage as a result of the accident and also the gearbox output flange that couples to the propeller shaft was damaged. Everything else was still satisfactory and following the rig testing of the gearbox which proved it functioned satisfactorily, it was then refitted to the car. The damage to the gearbox was superficial but any accident damaged car would have had everything that was even remotely damaged by an accident changed in line with Company policy, as the Rolls-Royce reputation was to be seen as beyond reproach and who could argue with that. N.B. As I was not involved with the engine inspection and testing when it was removed from the car I can’t remember if any damage was caused to it during the accident, but certainly remember it going back to the engine test beds for a vigorous test prior to being refitted in the chassis. Paulerspury People - July 2012
The elegance of 5AT30’s James Young body clearly evident here
41
One further comment concerning this car during it’s time back at Crewe for repair, as many other customer’s cars were in the service department for general repairs etc, most upon coming to pick them up were discouraged from entering the workshop since the Company wished to keep the knowledge of the fact the Duke’s car was at Crewe as secret as possible since the press obviously knew of the accident and as you are no doubt aware always after a scoop. From memory, the car was in Crewe for about 3 months before being returned to the Duke. The vehicle was a Rolls-Royce Phantom V (James Young Body) Chassis No. 5AT30 Reg. No. XH 8888 it was delivered to the Duke of Gloucester in September 1960. Last known whereabouts was the USA in 2008. I spent 40 years at Crewe and could talk of many similar incidents. I trust you find this of interest. Regards
Tony Flood Secretary RREC Northern Section Editors Note: Many thanks Tony, for taking an interest in our magazine and spotting a ‘quip’ that has led to this interesting article. I am always looking for other items of interest to include and contributions are welcome from all RREC members, from any section.
Never Too Old To Learn The UK’s oldest graduate, that’s section member Bert Gladwin. Bert collected his MA in Intelligence Studies and Bletchley Park history at the ripe old age of 90! Bert’s wife Wendy, received a post graduate diploma at the same time. A delighted Bert Gladwin on Graduation Day
42
Well done Both. Paulerspury People - July 2012
Members First Cars What was your first car? Email editor@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk with your pics and get them in the next edition
PP Editor Barry Gallafent in his Austin J40 circa 1962
Events Co-ordinator Mia Murray (right) circa 1960/61
Paulerspury People - July 2012
43
A Labour of Love Section members, Andrew and Julia Underwood, scooped two awards at this year’s annual rally and concours as the chairman mentioned earlier, with their beautiful Silver Shadow, taking second prize in Class 14 Concours as well as The Philip Francis Trophy for the best non-professional restoration. Andrew and Julia have owned their Shadow since 1998 but despite having won many awards in that time, they felt if they were ever to win a big award, they should take her off the road and see exactly what needed doing to be in with a chance. So, for fourteen months Andrew spent many, many hours (and no doubt, many, many pounds) in getting her in to the shape she is in now. Andrew says it is nice to look back at all the hard work carried out mostly by himself but with help and advice from the experts, seeing her now being appreciated and admired by others. In all, Andrew and Julia have over 1,500 photographs of this extensive project, we are privileged to be able to show you just a few (opposite). N.B. If you have a similar story to tell fellow members, do let me know and I will be delighted to include it in a future edition.
Barry Gallafent Editor
44 Proud winners, Andrew and Julia Underwood, with their Silver Shadow
Paulerspury People - July 2012
Pre-War Workshops (an invitation)
In paint awaiting refitting
Dash and top roll stripped out
A vacant interior
Not what you want on a long journey
Preparing for the paint shop
Paulerspury People - July 2012
The East Midlands’ committee have gestured the importance of pre-war cars as part of The Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club’s foundations by contributing to buy exhibits which are helping to demonstrate the maintenance of these older vehicles. The committee consider these cars to be a major part of the club’s heritage and recognise that they can help to equip members with the skills and knowledge to help preserve them. John Eastwood and Martin Carnell lead the Pre-War workshops which offer a unique opportunity for enthusiasts to come together to learn in a practical and enjoyable environment. We have purchased a number of items that can be used in practical, hands-on demonstrations. The newly purchased items enable both John and Martin to pass on invaluable classic car keepers’ tips with the hope to make it easier for enthusiasts to keep these cars on the road for their own, and future generations’ enjoyment. The first pre-war workshop was held on the 28th April 2012 at John Eastwood’s home in Alrewas. At 10:00 the day started with tea, coffee, chocolate biscuits and homemade cakes (thank you Jenny) and all participants getting to know each other. John presented a slideshow as an icebreaker then we got stuck into the demonstrations covering all the exhibit items, the lubrication system and driving techniques. The day came to a close at 16:30 and a good day was had by all. Paulerspury Section members are more than welcome to join these workshops, so please contact Martin Carnell on 01332 840262 / 07913 122 985 for details of future workshops and how to get involved in these unique, informative, learning opportunities. 45
Secretary’s Report July 2012 Midsummer has passed and with it the Annual Rally where the weather was almost reasonable for England, well almost. Many Paulerspury members were successful in the Concours although last year’s bag of trophies was not equalled. It is always good to meet old friends and make a few new ones at this event. The Tail-gate Party on Sunday hosted so ably by Mia and Steven Murray was a great success, good drinks, food and excellent cake. There are many more events to come and we must be due for a modest change in the climate to encourage good turn-outs. I have been reviewing the Ethanol scene. There is some good news in that a number of additives have been approved by the FBHVC and we should seriously consider their use in our pre-war cars and many post-war. The matter remains a complex one and a visit to the FBHVC web-site is recommended for details. There is good news about MOTs. Pre-1960 cars are about to become exempt. The All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group have announced that this will come into effect on 18th November 2012. Interestingly, there has been a mixed response to this decision from owners of older vehicles. At least it demonstrates that we have friends in high places! Another piece of information I have picked up is that when we motor in France we must carry a breathalyser kit in the car, in fact, carrying two is advised. It is also important to note that the French drink-driving limit is 50mg per 100ml of blood, against the UK’s 80mg. This is a significant difference. The boot is filling steadily with warning triangles, first-aid kits and Day-glo jackets. All such items may be purchased at the Channel ports and termini. They may be cheaper in France. The pleasure of travelling in France, the uncongested roads, the superb wayside food and the contact with French culture still outweighs the cost and trouble of complying. Will such measures become the law in England? There is a good case to be made for them. There are changes to our web-site. Adrian Denham who has been our Website co-ordinator for many years has stepped down. Adrian has managed the site with great enthusiasm and carried the Section forward into electronic communication. We owe him a great deal. It has become an essential tool and an increasingly useful one. Now Kathy Martin is taking over and will continue the work, developing a new site and co-ordinating. We are in safe hands. The AGM, Sunday 2nd December 2012 at the Mitchell Hall, Cranfield University Although the AGM is some way off I would suggest we start to think about any items to be added to the agenda in A.O.B., nominations to join the committee and re-selection of existing members. Two members have stated that they wish to retire after long service so there will be at least two vacancies. I am very 46
Paulerspury People - July 2012
happy to advise any prospective committee members as to the degree of commitment that is entailed and answer any questions that might arise. The Committee will continue to be a dynamic group and a welcoming and friendly environment for any one wishing to join. It is a rewarding experience.
Robert Kennedy
Member’s Recipes - Mia’s Mom’s Cookies Tailgate party revellers at this year’s annual rally were entertained by Mia and Steven Murray as you will have read elsewhere in this issue. A big attraction in the fayre provide for us all was Mia’s Mom’s cookies. They were delicious and the Murray’s have very kindly provided the recipe for us here. 6oz (¾ cup) butter 6oz (1 cup – firmly packed) soft brown sugar 4oz (½ cup) granulated sugar 1 egg ¼ cup water 1 tsp vanilla extract 5oz (1 cup) plain flour 1 tsp salt ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda 9 ½ oz (3 cups) oats 2 x 100g bags (Morrisons) white chocolate drops Beat together all the wet ingredients. Measure out the dry ingredients (except the oats and chocolate drops) and beat into the wet. Stir in the oats and chocolate drops. Drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture onto greaseproof paper on a baking sheet and cook at 180C for 10 minutes. In a fan assisted oven I find it takes 10 minutes at about 170C. When cooked leave on greaseproof paper to cool before storing. Makes 4 dozen cookies. If you have a recipe you think section members would enjoy, send it to editor@rrecpaulerspury.orguk and I will include it. Pictures too please! Paulerspury People - July 2012
47
Editor’s Comments I hope you have enjoyed this edition of the Paulerspury People as much as I have producing it. Throughout the year our section enjoys a multitude of events and it is their recollection in the PP and the Flyer that reminds us all what a good time we had. We hope too, that it will encourage those section members who have not yet joined us at an event, to do so. We really are not a bad bunch! There have been some technological advances in the way the section communicates with members over the past few months and I thought I would let you know about them all here. We have a new website which can be found at www.rrecpaulerspury.org.uk This was created by our current treasurer, Kathy Martin, its intention was to offer a more modern feel and provide valuable source of information on forthcoming section events as well as providing links to a pictorial history of past events. Here too, you will find contact details for all your committee members, so do get in touch. Your editor has been busy too in joining us to both the Facebook and Twitter communities. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rrecpaulerspurysection and Follow Us on Twitter at RRECPaulerspury. These two modern social media sites allow us to convey things almost as and when they happen. If you are not already familiar with these sites, have a look now. Better still get the children or grandchildren to show you how they work! It is a bit of fun as well as providing a valuable portal through which to convey the benefits of joing our section. Those of you with ‘i phones’ or ‘Android’ phones may care to scan these QR codes which will take you directly to each of the above.
rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Fear not those of you not so well versed in the wonders of computers and social media, for we shall continue to send to everyone copies of the PP and Flyer each quarter as we always have. We make no charge for the PP or Flyer nor do we intend to. Their publication and postage are largely funded by the advertising contained within them. If you 48
Paulerspury People - July 2012
have a business you would like to promote, for a very modest sum each quarter you can advertise it in your section magazine. Do contact me and I will be happy to include it in the next edition. Advertisements can be created free of charge if you have no suitable artwork.
Barry Gallafent Editor Forthcoming Events Summary Sunday 19th August 2012 Wimpole Hall Organisers: David Davis Sunday 26th August 2012 Little Gransden Classic Car Show and Vintage Air Display Little Gransden, Cambs. Organisers: Barry & Ruth Gallafent ** This event is Fully Booked ** Friday 21st September 2012 for 3 - 7 Nights Somerset House Party Porlock Vale House, Somerset Organiser: Derek Freeman Sunday 21st October 2012 Autumn Road Run Organiser’s: Mia and Steven Murray Friday 2nd November Colchester Oysters *Option to stay NIGHT BEFORE* Organisers: Chris and Linda Ball
Sunday 18th November 2012 Bedfordshire Pub Lunch Woburn Golf & Country Club Organiser: Kathy Martin Sunday 2nd December 2012 AGM & Christmas Lunch Mitchell Hall, Cranfield Organiser: Val Yates
PLEASE NOTE: The Club’s standard terms and conditions of entry apply to all events and these can be found on the back of all event booking forms. Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with them as your signature where requested on the front of the form, confirms your acceptance of the terms and conditions.
If you like what you have seen in this edition of the PP and would like to come along to one of the above events, just contact the organiser to find out more. We really do have a great time and it would be lovely to see more Paulerspury Section members at our events. After all, as the saying goes, everything we do, we do it for you!
The Paulerspury Section Committee Paulerspury People - July 2012
49
Section Contacts Chairman
Chris Ball (Linda) 01525 860880 chairman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk chris.ball@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Treasurer
Kathyrn Martin 01234 714092 kathryn.martin@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk treasurer@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Secretary
Robert Kennedy (Jill) The Knoll 14 Harpenden Road, St Albans, Herts., AL3 5AD 01727 858833 (Home & Fax) robert.kennedy@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk secretary@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Steve Dolan (Janet) 191 Baldwins Lane, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth Hertfordshire, WD3 3LL 01923 778207 (Home & Fax) steve.dolan@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Magazine Editor
Barry Gallafent (Ruth) 222b Wolverton Road Blakelands Milton Keynes MK14 5AB Office: 0844 504 9500 Home: 01908 216804 Mobile: 07785 398271 editor@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Website Coordinator
Kathyrn Martin 01234 714092 kathryn.martin@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Events Coordinator
Mia Murray (Steven) Tattenhoe Hall Farm Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes, MK4 3AA 01908 504606 (Home & Fax) 07956 074859 (Mobile) mia.murray@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk events@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk
Committee Members
David Davis (Diana) 01462 674347 david.davis@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Val Yates (Danny) 01234 708513 val.yates@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Mark Warnock (Kay) 07792 906771 (Mobile) mark.warnock@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk Derek Freeman (Sylvia) 01234 823255 (Home) derek.freeman@rrecpaulerspury.org.uk 50
Paulerspury People - July 2012
protecting your leisure √
Travel Insurance
√
Cruise Insurance
√
Skiing & Snowboarding Insurance
√
Scuba Diving Insurance
√
Boat & Small Craft Insurance
√
Party & Event Insurance
protecting your lifestyle For more information call us on FREE on
0800 458 3769 Or visit our website at www.leisureandlifestyleinsurance.co.uk
Paulerspury People - July 2012
51
52
Paulerspury People - July 2012