2011 found Anglia playing host to several different centres: Anglia, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and, by far the furthest traveled, Devon and Cornwall, who were visiting the area for Janners Week.  It also encompassed many different vehicles...

To VIEW the Auto Test 2011 Report click HERE

Over 40 cars gathered at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk on 3rd July for a memorable 2011 picnic...

TO VIEW The Anglia Centre Summer Picnic Report Click HERE.

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2011's event took the participants from Needham Market, Suffolk, to East Ruston, Norfolk via Reedham Ferry.

TO VIEW the Mid Summer Run Report please click HERE.

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Robin Kerridge kindly arranged a visit to the museum in Maldon for MGCC members on Sunday 26th September. What a gem of a museum; located in a modern building in what is now an industrial estate, but what was previously the road with the station. 

Outside you can see an impressive multi rocket launcher in front and at the side a Chieftain tank, an Iraqi battle tank and personnel carrier plus an Argentine field kitchen.

But these are not what the museum is really about. Inside are three floors with displays of Civil War arms and armour, uniforms and drums with one of the very few surviving Cavalier felt hats. There is a fascinating display of an actual Cockleshell Heroes canoe and a later model among other extensive Special Forces displays.

Military uniforms and accoutrements abound many of them with details of their wearers. The personal touch is everywhere with individuals' effects, medals, papers and letters.

The Donnington Collection is the finest collection of small arms in Europe originally stored by the MoD and now held in trust at the museum. This is an amazing collection, but perhaps not as amazing or fascinating as the Spy Collection which is breathtaking. Peter Mason has passed his entire personal use collection of spy memorabilia to the museum. It is difficult to do justice to this remarkable man and his exploits. He was almost certainly the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, which are, but a pale shadow of the reality of Peter Mason. There is much more spy stuff on display not least that of his wife Prue, code named Zoe.

More than two and a half hours flew by during a very interesting and absorbing visit. I for one will certainly be going back.

I urge you to visit the museum, website www.cmsm.co.uk

PS – Sunday is perhaps the best day to visit as there is limited parking on site, but plenty available in the roadway outside.

Roger Latham, MGCC Anglia Centre.

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IT WAS A new venue this year for the Picnic – our first time at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire.

What a day. With scorching weather, the hottest of the year so far, a great turnout of MGs and a fabulous venue. What could be better?

The grounds were very extensive indeed; vast acres of parkland with large and mature trees, formal gardens and woodland walks and the Lode Mill.

To cool one down the new Visitor Centre was the place to go with shop and restaurant plus the usual offices all of which was light, bright and airy with the ever-helpful staff in attendance.

Then the house itself; once a Priory, later a private house under various owners until its extensive remodelling by Lord Fairhaven who left it to the National Trust on his death in 1966. He asked that it be preserved as he left it, to show an earlier way of life. The house contained his very large and diverse collection of furniture, antiques, art and books together with silver and tapestries. There was too much to take in on just one visit. As a bonus it was a welcome haven of cool as well!

MGs you ask? Some 53 in total – an excellent show of cars. They ranged from an 18/80 through a couple of L or N types, I’m not sure which, a PB, some 9 x T Types, a couple of MGAs, hordes of Bs, a Farina Magnette, V8s, a pair of Cs, several Midgets, a Metro, some RV8s, a ZS and ZT to F and FTs. Marvellous, what a turnout.

The early arrivals grabbed the little shade and it was a sure sign of summer when people looked for it.

It was a very successful day with much to do and see and many gatherings on the grass around the cars to socialise and enjoy a picnic.

 

Roger Latham.

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Autotest results - The Autotest on 4th July took place at Great Massingham Airfield with fine weather and competitive motorsport.
Results: