East Anglia Region

Norfolk - Suffolk - Essex

The East Anglian Region has a long history of successes in shows and cars.  In 2006 the hosted the club Nationals in North Norfolk (see the show reports section).

The joint Area Reps Jim Cawte & Martin Wallis have provided some notes about themselves and the club in East Anglia - if you have a car and are not a member, or if you've never come along to a show, give them a call and meet up.

Jim Cawte has provided some details about his van - GTW 231Y.  She entered Royal Mail service in  1983 at Harleston, Norfolk and subsequently at East Harling, Norfolk.  Withdrawn from active service in 1990 and restored by Royal Mail Vehicle Workshop, Diss.

Resumed service in 1991 for public relations and exhibitions duties only.  Serviced and maintained by  Royal Mail Workshops, Norwich until May 2002.

The Marina and Later Ital vans were a familiar sight, mostly on rural deliveries and represented a long standing arrangement with British Leyland and its' predecessors to supply small vehicles for the postal service, dating back to the 1930s Austin's and Morris's.    

This is example is one of just two of this type preserved by Royal Mail:; one is part of the Royal Mail historic fleet and kept in a warehouse in Essex.  GTW 231 Y is the only other one known to survive in Royal Mail livery and still running.  

Jim worked for Royal Mail for over 34 years and was instrumental in getting the van preserved, later using it for Stamp Issue launches, Exhibitions and Shows.  Jim was part of the Royal Mail PR Team and kept the van at home to make sure it was always available for special occasions.  Now privately owned by Jim and Jennifer Cawte, they are the proud owners of GTW 231 Y having bought it at auction in May 2002.  

Taking early retirement in 2002, Jim handed the van back but was later able to bid for it at auction and now they both enjoy a more leisurely life.  Jim is Chairman of a local Car Club in Wymondham and is in regular contact with Marina owners in Norfolk and organized the Club Road Run when the National was held in Norfolk a few years back.

Martin Wallis

I come from Ipswich and Jim is out in the wilds of Norfolk at Wymondham (its pronounced Windham).  I got into Marinas and Itals by default. Being a Morris Minor freak I had an unhealthy interest in 1275 cars. (this is now under control you will be glad to hear). My Marinas and an Ital now outnumber the Minors.  I seem to be a magnet for stray cars just recently. One Ital that was given to me by a Lady from Essex will shortly be back on the road and the others look as if they will have to be broken for spares.  Talking of which, I have quite a large stock of bits, mostly for 1275s but as I keep an 1800 I try to keep one of everything I may need.

Pictured is my MK1 estate in Aconite (purple), is there another the same colour? I somehow doubt it. I will update the site with pics of my other cars at some point soon.

In 2008 we will be organising shows and entering events around the Easter counties, please come and join us. We will be pleased to see you. If anyone is interested in joining me and a couple of others to the National rally near to Yeovil in June please let me know, the more the merrier.

If Jim or I can be of any help please make contact by any one of the options available on the web page.

All the best,

Martin