Past Events

2011 Dinner Dance and Presentation of Trophies

On 3rd December, we had an excellent attendance of 55 members and guests at the Gibside Hotel in Whickham, where once again they put on a superb evening for us. Hopefully, the pictures will confirm the party atmosphere. In addition to having good food with good company we also had the presentation of trophies to very worthy winners for their various efforts over the past year.
Below, Peter and Lyn Ebdon, Chairman and Treasurer are seen welcoming Honorary Members Pam Wright (left) and Brian Wright (right).

We were delighted and honoured to be joined by MG Car Club Overseas Director Paul Plummer, who also has special responsibility for our Centre. After telling us about his year and travels on behalf of Main Club Paul then got onto the serious side of presenting the trophies to the 2011 winners.

David Alexander won the Enthusiast Trophy with Margaret Farquhar taking the Lady Enthusiast crown:

Winners of the southern Pride of Ownership trophies were Keith Dunn for his Abingdon built Midget and Dennis Hope for his post-Abingdon built ZS, both shown below. Dennis also won a share in the Marshal's trophy along with Owen and Pam Frankland.

Colin Ellenden seen below left, won the northern trophy for his post-Abingdon ZR (but more of the Abingdon-built car trophy winner at the end of this report), and Peter Sewell again won the Long Beach trophy for yet another excellent year in the speed championships.

Chairman Peter Ebdon always describes the Chairman's Trophy as the 'Poisoned Chalice' because it is down to his personal selection and not determined by calculating points. However, it was agreed that the deserving winner was David Alexander, who as a new member of the TTC Committee had brought his own brand of enthusiasm and assistance to various events. The delight and surprise at being awarded this accolade can be seen on David's face. Well done to him!

After all the excitement it got rather out of hand with people getting up and gyrating on the floor as best they could.

Winners who couldn't get to the Dinner Dance were Maurice Standish, Owen and Pam Frankland and Bryce Edwards. Maurice was taken ill on the day and couldn't collect his Tyne-Tees Old Speckled Hen cup but I'm pleased to report that Maurice recovered a few days later. Owen Frankland was presented with his Cups for the Cobweb Run and Prince Bishops Run at the next Natter for his TA and Bryce Edwards got his northern Pride of Ownership from Peter Ebdon for his superb PB.

To crown an excellent evening it was most gratifying to take £250 from the raffle and share it between the Butterwick Hospice in Stockton and St. Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle. We are grateful to the people and companies who donated prizes to help us to help others less fortunate.
Finally, thanks must go to main organiser Lyn Ebdon, who was assisted by Sheila Hope. Together they combined their efforts to create a splendid end-of-season evening for us all.

16th October 2011 Chairman's Autumn Leaves Run

Thursday, 27 October 2011 20:54

Following the success of the MG80 celebration run in 2010 it was decided to continue with a repeat in 2011. Peter and Lyn Ebdon combined their resources to provide a superb run over some 52 miles starting at the iconic Angel of the North and ending at the Gibside Hotel in Whickham. The weather was kind to us as 29 cars assembled at the Angel and as soon as the drivers received their instructions they were off, safe in the knowledge that they were covered by the Motor Sports Association.

At the Gibside Hotel, 61 sat down for a traditional Sunday lunch and without doubt the whole event was a resounding success.

Below:
Chairman Peter Ebdon declares the winners of the draw under the watchful eye of Lyn:

Trevor and Kay Leighton won the main draw of £20; Nick Owens won one of the bottles of wine very kindly donated by The Gibside Hotel and Mervyn Gillespie and Janice got the other.

11th September 4th Tyne-Tees Old Speckled Hen Run

Following the problems at Kimber House with the Club website, now thankfully fixed, I can put some images of the Tyne-Tees Old Speckled Hen Run on our microsite. They will be added cautiously in stages so keep watching for more. Barrie Hope, Secretary TTC.

CARS ASSEMBLED at Hardwick Park near Sedgefield to receive instructions for the 92 mile route that would take them across the 3 main rivers of our region, the Tees, the Wear and finally the Tyne. After a lunch stop at Durham Dales Centre in Stanhope the cars finished at the National Trust's newest acquisition, Seaton Delaval Hall near Whitley Bay.

10th July: Prince Bishops Run 2011

On a bright Sunday morning in July, 41 cars gathered at Lord Stones café in the Cleveland Hills above the beautiful village of Carlton in Cleveland. The café is a Troglodyte sort of place built into the hillside. Owner John Simpson provided everyone with drinks and some tucked into bacon sandwiches before setting off on a 90-mile tour through Durham to see areas familiar to the powerful Prince Bishops of Durham many centuries ago. Most of the cars were MGs but we did have a splendid Triumph TR3A, along with a Triumph Dolomite-based kit car and a Rover 400, which was cunningly badge-engineered by owner Eddie Mahoney to sport MG badges. Eddy owns a TA bought as scrap 40 years ago and over all that time he has restored it to superb condition. Unfortunately a head gasket problem prevented Eddy from bringing the TA on the run but he'll be back.

A view from the edge of the hills afforded everyone a panorama of much of County Durham, a foretaste of what was to come as they headed off to Durham City and the Cathedral.

The first port of call was Hardwick Park near Sedgefield, where everyone stopped for refreshments, either a picnic or food bought from the café. At the same time it allowed the many visitors to look over the cars and chat to the owners. Although some of the cars had experienced a cloud burst on the way to Hardwick Park, the sun shone brightly allowing everyone time to enjoy not just the food but a good natter as well.

A short ride from Sedgefield took everyone to Bishop Auckland to call in at Auckland Castle, the home of the Bishops of Durham for centuries. Sadly this tradition is about to change and the newly appointed Bishop of Durham will not live there when he takes up his post later this year. Nevertheless it gave everyone the opportunity to see the splendid building that lies hidden from view as people pass through Bishop Auckland.

A good number took the time to go inside to see more of its treasures.

Another 35 miles took everyone to Palace Green at Durham Cathedral, a site and a sight of unequalled splendour. The cars made an imposing spectacle against the backdrop of the Cathedral and again provided many visitors with the opportunity to look at the cars and chat to their owners.

We were served with afternoon tea by the efficient staff at The Almshouse Café, owned by the University of Durham. Whilst we all enjoyed more sunshine and pleasant atmosphere, the Café Manager Diane Wells took her role of Judge very seriously. Her remit was to choose the car that captured her imagination, not necessarily the car that was perfect in body and mechanical detail. As happened before on our Cobweb Run and quite by coincidence, Diane chose the 1937 TA of Owen and Pam Frankland. Her reason were similar and twofold: firstly, she explained: I can see all the mechanical details of the steering and suspension and that fascinates me; secondly and perhaps even more importantly she said: This car just looks as if it;s been well-used and given someone a lot of pleasure over its life and I love it. She could not have been more accurate and Owen and Pam were delighted to receive yet another trophy “for Pam to polish", said Owen out of earshot!

Thanks are due to everyone who made the run an enjoyable experience: John Simpson at Lord Stones; Paul Everson, Visitor Centre Manager and Susan Howells, Café Manager at Hardwick Park; The Volunteer ladies at Auckland Castle who opened early for us; Phil Coxill, Head of Security at Durham for allowing us access to Palace green and Rachel Harding at University of Durham Catering and Diane at The Almshouse Café for looking after us at the final stop.
Thanks are also due to several contributors to the pictures: Peter and Lyn Ebdon; Noel Lindford; Trevor Leighton; Sheila Hope. The many messages of thanks were all unanimous in their complimentary comments on the four venues and it seems that the new format of the annual Prince Bishops Run is set to continue for years to come.

17th June Supper Run

On a beautiful summer's evening, Tyne-Tees members and their cars assembled outside the Ridley Arms in Stannington for a supper run organised by member David Alexander. Someone decided that a mock Le Mans start would be a good idea and the drivers 'sprinted' off across the road,
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although once on the other side David Rawlinson wasn't looking quite so sure.

Christine Standish obviously felt that Maurice needed a little encouragement so she came over to help
and by his flying start her influence clearly worked. Peter Ebdon looks full of good intentions but perhaps with more style than action.

In spite of Maurice nearly being scooped by a Skoda, they all got safely away and Bob and Jean Heslop can be seen enjoying a trip down a country lane,

presumably the right one, but Matthew Alexander looked a bit worried about where the other cars were.

He needn't have fretted as they all got round and everyone enjoyed a good meal and natter back at The Ridley Arms, home of our northern Natter.

When it was all over, David Alexander very kindly presented Maurice with a bottle of wine for having the car that David would most like to take home. Maurice and Christine can be seen during the fine evening in their super MGA Coupe.

Well done to David for giving everyone a good night out.

17th April - 2011 Cobweb Run

In 2010 the Cobweb Run started in a deluge; for the whole of April to the Sunday of this yearâ€™s run the weather had been glorious. It was natural to believe that it wouldnâ€™t last and weâ€™d all be driving through yet another 85-mile car wash, but no, the sun shone all day and the organisers, Peter and Lyn Ebdon must have breathed a sigh of relief. Only they knew what beautiful scenery lay aheadÂ for all the participants and the weather really showed it off in its full glory.

We set off as usual from Brocksbushes Farm near Corbridge, where the management had provided us with a super marquee for signing on as well as cups of tea and coffee, accompanied by bacon butties for those who had come a long way or just couldnâ€™t resist the smell of a second breakfast.

The Tyne-Tees marshals were out in their usual, efficient manner, greeting and guiding drivers to their starting positions, but we had 3 new senior marshals this year. From the left belowÂ we can see Charlotte Goodson, granddaughter of Peter and Lyn Ebdon then Emily and Joel Hope, grandchildren of Barrie and Sheila Hope. How we would have coped without them is anyone's guess.
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Charlotteâ€™s Mummy and Daddy did the run in their Caterham 7,Â whilst Emily and Joel should have done the run in Grandadâ€™s ZB Magnette, but a burst bottom hose and a blown head gasket from overheating meant a swift change to their Audi A6 â€“ quicker, more economical and more comfortable but a fraction of the fun.
Gill Watson couldn't resist trying her artistic talent at photography and what better model than Charlotte reflected in the headlamp of the Caterham?
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Peter Ebdon gave all participants the usual briefing before departure, with the comforting information that the event was covered by the Motor Sports Association and all relevant insurances through the MG Car Club. First away were Owen and Pam Frankland in their 1937 MG TA, followed in age order of car up to the latest MG TF85 of Noel and Carole Lindford. In between we had an assortment of makes, although MGs dominated amongst the 55 cars taking part.

Some people really liked full-flow ventilation and then some really liked it full on!

Charlotte concluded that space was at a premium in the Caterham so stayed on to complete her Starter duties with Grandad.

The first stage took us to Lanercost Priory, founded sometime between 1165 and 1174 and now in the care of English Heritage.Â Â As we approached the priory, Abingdon Works Centre member and B Register Chairman John Watson was pictured by his wife Gill taking a rest on Hadrianâ€™s Wall, although he did stretch his muscles from time to time and take some of the pictures.Â

We couldn't see a Rally Plate on this one belowÂ but John obviously thought itÂ was an artisticÂ shot and took it anyway.

This proved to be a very popular halfway house, with marshals Peter and Sue Sewell doing a terrific job of getting everyone safely parked in the Tea Room car park.

Many took advantage of the food there and some took picnics and enjoyed a break in the sunshine, just having a good old chat. Other visitors to the priory took a lot of interest in the cars and we hope some might even think about satisfying a desire to have a classic car in the near future.
The second half took us back to Brocksbushes Farm where a cream tea awaited everyone.
Most cars made it safely home although a couple did fall foul of old age problems, but nothing that a bit of blood sweat and tears wouldnâ€™t easily put right to fight another day.
We relied on the good judgement of Brocksbushes Tea Room Manager Jan Kidd to select the car to take home. Jan is shown with the winners Owen and Pam Frankland with their TA â€“ christened Numbum (for reasons that probably need no explanation). Jan said that she chose the car because it was, how did she say, used and abused. Owen and Pam drive their TA in all sorts of weather in all sorts of conditions and get immense pleasure from it. They were part of our signing-on team for the run and also help in many ways in the running of our Centre and were well-deserving winners.
Having said that, all who took part were winners, sharing in a super experience of camaraderie, beautiful weather and scenery second to none. Thanks are due to Peter and Lyn for giving us all such a splendid day out. The final picture is of Tyne-Tees Centre CommitteeÂ Membership SecretaryÂ and Public Relations Officer Martin Rodgers and partner Helen Camsell setting off home at the end of a very satisfying day.