Jun 2025 Newsletter
Back in 1945 Rogers and Hammerstein gave us the musical Carousel. One of the songs was called “June is bustin’ out all over!” Now I have no idea who this June was, or what exactly was busting out but it was a jolly good song. June is also the sixth month of the year (we have counted and checked this) and the first month of Summer. The original meanings of the name include ‘youth’. Something we can all relate to when climbing in and out of a TR. But June also brings us the summer solstice (when we can all stay up late) and midsummer when you can sacrifice your neighbour (or something like that).
However, none of this compares to getting the top down and the car out the garage and heading off to the pub for a beer in the sunshine. And of course hoping the car will start and not embarrass you when it is time to leave.
And now without further ado here is what we did and what we hope to do.
The Printemps Tour
Lot of fun around Surrey with a collection of old and new cars. Taking part from WFTR: Graham and Nick, Christophe and Jenny, James and Trish, Dave and Linda, Laurence and Suzanne and Barry and Jenny. Michelle and Pip joined later for lunch.
Leonardslee Gardens and Sunday Lunch
Sixteen of us met up for a run to the gardens, and after a quick coffee we went our separate ways to explore the many walkways which led down to a series of lakes. One of which way aptly named Engine Pond (not sure why) perhaps they knew we were coming! The azaleas and rhododendrons were stunning, there were cygnets and ducklings on the lakes, beautiful sculptures, lovely sunshine and ice cream! Followed by lunch at a pub up the road, what more could you want?
Click here to view the gallery
Hills and Valleys Scenic Tour
Mike, Andy, Graham, Tim, James and Trish all headed of to Welshpool for a 120 mile run around the hills and valleys of North Wales. 500+ miles from door to door.
In the coming months for your pleasure we have:
Not the Cream Tea Run – 1 Jun
Forecasts of inclement weather in 2024 meant we decided not to do the run but just had the cream tea. As things happen, the weather turned out to be sunny! There is no cream tea this year but we are doing the run and having some scoff to follow.
Registration is now closed but if you really want to come we might be able to squeeze you in.
Club Night – 3 Jun
We hope to see as many of you as possible at the Foresters Arms (https://theforestersarmsbagshot.com) from 7:30p.m. club night this Tuesday.
Long Weekend in Wales – 13 to 16 Jun
A return to the outstanding Llanerchindda Farm. We will all eat too much and drive over the mountains and have lots of fun.
WFTR 2025 Canal Cruise – 29 Jun
A return to the Basingstoke Canal and a gentle meander to Odiham with lifting bridges, castles, food and drink and convivial company. All ably organised by Trish.
Donald Campbell’s Bluebird – Clubnight 5th August
Many people will be aware of the successful location and salvage of Donald Campbell’s Bluebird from the depths of Lake Coniston in 2000. Many may also be aware that, over the next 18 years, a team of volunteers restored the jet-powered boat to running condition and actually ran it at speed on a loch on the Isle of Bute. The man who led and masterminded both these endeavours was an engineer and amateur diver called Bill Smith, based in North Shields. Unfortunately, some agreements with a museum at Coniston and the Campbell family with whom Bill thought he had reached concerning Bluebird’s future were reneged on, and he was forced to relinquish the boat to the Ruskin Museum at Coniston, hitting the headlines yet again. In a rare trip to our area, Bill has agreed to give WFTR a talk about Bluebird and his current passion for restoring rare and high-end rally cars, to coincide with our monthly meeting at The Forresters on 5th August. A rare opportunity to hear the story from the horse’s mouth and meet a remarkably gifted engineer.
CLICK HERE – to see his latest take on the complicated story
CLICK HERE – to see the Bluebird website
EGM Report
Minutes from the EGM conducted at our last club night can be seen at: https://wftr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/WFTR-06-May-25-EGM-Minutes_v1.pdf
Committee Meetings
Each month the committee discusses all matters WFTR. So you don’t feel left out we have always made the minutes of these momentous meetings and the AGM available to read as follows:
WFTR Committee Meeting Minutes
Website and Committee Posts
We are planning to have the WFTR AGM for 2025 at the on 02 December at club night. From the date of that meeting we will have vacant committee positions as follows: group leader, events secretary and membership secretary. Possibly also a treasurer. In addition we will need a website manager and host if we want to maintain our much loved and extensively used WFTR website. It was hoped that we could have volunteers to shadow the current incumbents of these posts before the AGM. Otherwise there will be no smooth handover/takeover of responsibilities. Notice of the departing committee positions was made at the last AGM. For the sake of the continuity of our group please consider if you can give just a very small amount of time to support one of these posts from December.
We were grateful to those who logged in to our last committee meeting to observe how it was conducted.
