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Morris Minor Owners Club |
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BRIDLINGTON & WOLDS - Our Own Inaugural Rally. It was all a bit like waiting for Christmas, the planning and the time scale, then here it comes crashing towards you with everything needing to be pulled together at the last minute – then poof……….its over in a flash…………and that’s a bit like I feel about our Rally……… But we did have a great time thanks to all of our Branch members, everyone did their bit, and that made it all the more special – it belonged to all of us, it was every members success………. Friday Pippin and I had to work until 4pm but Chris and Pebbles got to Sewerby for around 11am to meet with the early arrivals and erect our Trailer Tent, the loos were already in place so that was a bonus……… When I arrived Chris and Keith were there also, beer in hand and relaxing in the glorious sunshine – no Minor with them though as they had technical problems. They have just acquired a ‘period’ Trailer Tent off E-Bay which I am dying to see. So is a certain other member of our Branch who was also bidding on the same item. The next arrivals were Ted, Stuart and Yvette from North Lincs, then a steady stream, Sue, Dave and Dale Cook, Brian (Yellow Peril) Graham, Jackie and kids then Paul Sheena and Alfie. It’s now quite a known attraction in our Branch watching the dexterity of Paul parking their caravan on a ‘sixpence’ it’s a bit like compulsive viewing………. Their awning of course was forming part of the camp entertainment area. So the lads all had to have their input into getting in the right place ready for the arrival of Maurice and Jean the next day as they made up the other half……….. Time to crack open a bottle of wine………. Most of the campers went off to the Ship Inn for something to eat, super little pub just a hop and a skip away – they also welcome dogs (one of Pebbles favorite pubs). Not this night however as Chris, Pebs, Pips and I elected to ‘camp sit’ so we had a BBQ instead, Brian joined us so we had a good old laugh and a catch up until the others came back from the pub and we all went to the ‘hospitality’ awning………. Chris and I elected to have an early night, but we could hear the others enjoying themselves for quite a long time after…………. Saturday had a bit of a dismal start with quite a heavy ‘sea fret’………not to worry it always burns off……….eventually…….. Sheena and I made a pit stop to home (handy living so close) and did some last minute signs for the tombola etc……….isn’t there always something simple that you forget?………then to the supermarket for more supplies…….. Norman and Jean arrived so did Steve and Jody with little Rachel, then Maurice’s RV and caravan, where was the Minor? Not to worry, Jean was following on after apparently taking 2 hours to find reverse and get out of their driveway at home………. (Maurice said that, not me)…………. The team walked over and got the events pitch organized for the following day, the banners were all put up and the Minors that were there made a display for the public…….. Some of the campers made the short walk into Bridlington to take in the sights and have some local fish and chips……….. Sandy and Rosie arrived and that about made our campers complete………..then we had an extra arrive by the name of Colin from Leister……… Chris had taken Mabel our van into Bridlington as we always do the Life Boat Flag day with one of our Minors, then he and Brian hit Aldi for Brian to buy some rope lights to go with the generator he had bought, this gave me time to organize blowing up some balloons for the awnings as it was Chris’s birthday on the Sunday, so Saturday night was going to be ‘party night’……….. The ‘Bring and Burn’ went down a treat, the wine and beer flowed (the only unfortunate thing was Brian had had to go home as he was at work the next day) Keith had brought his Boules, now don’t laugh but since I have discovered this game I just love it………… I am going to get a set of my own……. Chris, Keith, Sandy and myself with Jackie being referee played until we were playing by torch and candle light, we even had quite an audience as well…….. funny to think what drink does to the human brain…………anyway the lads won………..only just……… Not long after we had gone to bed the rain started and boy did it rain………depression set in, all I did was toss and turn and listen to the torrent going on out side……… Soggy but sunny……….yes, this was Sunday morning, we couldn’t believe it, at least I only had to leather our two Minors down, easy peasy………then on to the events pitch… My Chris was elected for entrance gate duties, Sheen, Jackie and kids set up the tombola, we moved the ‘quick erection gazebo’ into place for the ‘Chuck Wagon’, the signs were knocked into the Branch parking areas, Norman and Jeans ‘Frontier Post’ was set up and we were ready to roll……… Paul was middle man again, making sure everyone new their parking spaces, we had organized 2way radios and they were a real bonus, saving lots of leg work and shouting………. Minors started arriving at around 9.30 along with Chris’s mum who had come out to wish him Happy Birthday and meet some of our members, and get a ride in our Pick-Up (all of which she really enjoyed) by 12 we had a really fab display of over 40 cars on the site……….only one of our reserved Branch pitches remained empty……….. Time for the Lunch Time ‘Bring and Burn’, before Kev, Richard and the two Colins did the first set of the three that they were going to play for us. All the green and white deck chairs were full………then on came TeamWork, as always they had us all hoppin and a boppin to the sounds of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s………….. We did have extra entertainment slotted in between the band’s sets in the form of a Punch and Judy man called Micky Dean, he also played the trumpet and sang……………the general public certainly got a great free show from us Morris Minors, and all thoroughly enjoyed it from what I could see… Then on to the prize giving………….I think Norman and I made a pretty good team……..I was also pleased to present a picture to Keith that he had been trying to acquire all afternoon………that was one of those nice moments when you know that you have really surprised someone……….. Then of course it was time to start packing up………..I hate this time at a Rally, but I think that the relief of knowing that it was all finished and that it had gone well took over instead……….the few of us that were left sat down and had a drink and something to eat, just to relax before saying goodbye and setting off in out different directions…….. Well done guys, we did it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lastly I would really like to thank all of the other Branches who showed us so much support for our first Rally, I hope you all enjoyed yourselves. Our 2007 event is Fri 27th, Sat 28th & Sun 29th July |
Bridlington & Wolds
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