:: [ New Year's Day Meeting - The Beehive, Woodhatch - January 2007 ] ::

The following text is based on the SVVS Magazine report by Chris Cuss and the photos by Bozi Mohacek. Please click on any thumbnail picture below to see the full size picture. To return to the thumbnails please click the Explorer "Back" arrow (top left of screen). 

     

First to arrive was my 1935 Riley 12/4 Kestrel. This was followed seconds later by Harry Scott's 1924 Lancia Lambda. Harry had suffered a mishap the day before when one of his rear beaded edge tyres came off of the rim. Luckily Harry was travelling in a straight line at the time and was able to bring the car to a safe halt on the rim. Third car to arrive was the Rover 110 of our chairman Derek Wright and Jackie. 

     

Two Amilcars made the brief journey from the other side of Reigate. Desmond Peacock was in his 1923 CS whilst Bryan and Mary Goodman were in the 1926 Italiana that they have owned for over 50 years. Other early arrivals were Alan Rothwell in his 1972 M.G. BGT and Raymond Hobbs in his 1972 Rover 2000 TC. Magazine distribution wizard Chas Moody exercised his immaculate 1928 Morris Cowley whilst David Smart brought his delightfully original 3 litre Bentley tourer.

     

Alan Benewith journeyed in the newer of his two Jowetts, the 1938 8 h.p. saloon and parked alongside the Aldertons' M.G. Y type saloon. He later had difficultly extracting it from the car park owing to the proximity of Tony Tester's 1929 Chrysler 75 phaeton. 'Two Jags' Mohacek brought the V12 powered projectile from his collection. More sedate was the mud free 1963 Landrover owned by Howard Palmer. Bryan Shepherd had left his Riley at home and gave an airing to his 1966 M.G. Midget. Gordon Tapping brought his 1929 16/50 Humber tourer and Rob Hubbard arrived in his 1975 special edition M.G. BGT. 

     

Graham Capel brought a Lotus that I have not listed before; I think that it was a later model Elite although it may have been an Esprit. I tend to get confused by post-war cars. In addition I must mention another post-war M.G. an Austin 7 saloon and a Rover 3500 that do not appear in my records. In addition there were a number of familiar faces in the bar who had travelled in their moderns; John Maxwell, Clive Bracey and Tony Simmonds to name but a few. Final mention is of a 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray in gleaming black with its top down. Its owner Pete Bolton had brought along a membership application form and became our first new member of 2007.

     

Once again we enjoyed a pleasant start to our New Year at the 'Beehive' public house in Woodhatch near Reigate. Since our last visit the interior had been refurbished and those of us lunching were able to completely take over one end of the bar. Indeed it has to be said that our members must have made up at least 75% of the pub's clientele for this lunchtime. We were fortunate with the weather as the gales and rain that had disrupted so much of the country's celebrations the previous night had cleared by daybreak. Nevertheless it was rather too chilly to stand around and kick tyres but a couple of sorties in the car park revealed around 20 proper vehicles.

     

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