NEWS CHRIS TWIGGER Chris Twigger was a devoted and passionate man, not only in business but equally with his loving family and numerous friends. Chris was always drawn to his boyhood dreams of being involved in motorsport and he was approached due to his knowledge of Saab to be part of Erik Carlson’s Saab rally car team and in this endeavour Chris met and pitted beside one of his heroes, the late Colin McRae, as well as countless other rally icons. As Chris successfully built up Redhill Garage over 40+ years he suffered a heart attack, which put his racing ambitions on hold, but one of Chris’s two daughters, Kayleigh, showed an interest in motorsport. Like any loving father would do, Chris
encouraged Kayleigh! She went into his original ex-Dunlop Rover Tomcat and was soon lining up on the grid with the MG Cup. Chris being Chris couldn’t just watch, he wanted to be out there racing against/with his daughter! So, he purchased another Tomcat so he could be “out there”. Chris successfully competed in four MG Cup races before unfortunately falling ill to motor neurone disease. Chris was always a friendly, helpful man in the MG Cup pit area. He would help anyone and everyone and made many friends! Unfortunately Chris lost his short battle with the disease. Despite his valiant and brave efforts he sadly passed at home on March 10 2021 surrounded by his loving family.
Guy and Bob having fun in the MG K3
GUY MAATHUIS 1970-2021 Whenever Guy couldn’t be found at an MG meeting, one only had to search for an open bonnet, finding him hard at the repairs, that’s the type of man he was. If Guy couldn’t repair it, nobody could, and it was beyond repair. Whenever a light blinked on a dashboard or another problem occurred, he was the first to seek out. Thereby initiating a passion for cars and the Club among youngsters. For this reason, our Club is the largest in Luxembourg, counting some 250 members and the lowest average in terms of age in Europe. I got to know Guy really well ten years ago. Following the wish to erect the Cercle Triple-M once again, I asked for his help. His reply, “join the MG Club’s committee and I’ll join the Triple-M Club’s.” A deal I couldn’t refuse, and from that time onwards we worked closely and organised many events for our members. Working on cars with Guy was always a wonderful affair. To start off, his wife would ask if I wanted some coffee and I’d join her in the kitchen. We’d have a lengthy chat and I’d return to the garage. Guy, meticulously working on my car, would bark: “Are you here to work on the car or to chat.” Of course, he was right ...
8 SAFETY FAST! APRIL 2021
Chris leaves behind his amazing wife Gale, two equally amazing daughters Lisa and Kayleigh, his best friend and grandson Oby, a loving family and countless friends. RIP Christopher Twigger 13/01/59 - 10/03/21
Though he was a hard taskmaster when it came to my repairing skills, he was overwhelmingly kind-hearted when I got married some nine years ago. Three days before the date, he spontaneously asked me to join him on a Guy (left) and Bob Rallye. Of course, I said yes. My wife-to-be shared my delight... When the Rallye was about to start, he told me I was sitting in the wrong spot. Instead, I should drive the rally in his MG ‘K3’, his stag party gift to me. Those are exactly the Guy-moments every one of us holds dear. One of Eric’s memories is his first fish and chips at a P&O ferry, which was an experience in itself. Guy led them all into the restaurant for lorry drivers on the ship. The food there was cheaper and better and only occasionally, they were thrown out, especially if they were dressed too cleanly and weren’t looking like lorry drivers. However, if they had previously repaired the MG on the quay and then showed their dirty trousers and black nails in the truck drivers’ restaurant, they never had a problem. Every year, before the Stoneleigh event in February, they regularly had to share ten places at Guy’s favourite Indian restaurant with 20 people, because he invited all MG people he encountered that day. The loss of Guy is tearing a big hole in our hearts in the classic car scene of Luxembourg, and even beyond our borders into the MG Car Club scene across Europe. At Guy’s funeral, thousands of people around the globe were thinking of him. The days following the tragic news delivered proof of this sentiment via the hundreds of emails and messages that have arrived. Thank you for everything you did for the MGCCL and the CERCLE Triple-M. You can never be replaced. Farewell, my friend. May you rest in peace. Goodbye Guy! Bob Nosbusch and Eric Tanson
www.mgcc.co.uk
