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Terry Waite arrived a little late for lunch at Athelhampton House in Dorset thanks to the efforts of Dorset Traffic Management directing him on a diversion around around Bournemouth. This gave the rest of us a chance to further enjoy glasses of Pimms on the manicured lawns of the house whilst viewing the assorted MGs resting on spilt confetti  on the gravelled drive leading to this15th century house. 

The occasion of the visit was for Terry Waite to see his old MGB Roadster which is now in the caring hands of Bournemouth & Poole MGOC member Chris Piercy. Chris has spent much time and effort in restoring it to it's current condition. Thoughts of his MGB helped sustain Terry throughout his ordeal as a hostage in the Lebanon. When he was finally released the MGB was restored and presented to him at a special event in January 1992  in Covent Garden - a televised event seen by 400 million world wide ! He used the opportunity to launch his charity "Y Care" and the MGB was auctioned to raise initial funds for that.

On his arrival Terry was greeted by the event organiser, and MGOC 10 region Secretary, Nigel Hedges along with Patrick Cook, the owner of Athelhampton House. 

Patrick is no stranger to the world of MGs and annually hosts an MGOC picnic which this year is on the 8th August. He is also the owner of a unique MGB Roadster himself. A car found for him by Nigel which was driven by Michael Caine at Athelhampton during the filming of "Sleuth" at the house, a film that also starred Sir Lawrence Olivier. 

Terry was shown the assorted MGs present guided by Nigel and was interested in them all but was eager to get back in the seat of his old MGB. So it was off to The Coach House restaurant where the car waited for him in the conservatory. He whipped open the door and started to climb inside but the roof was up which caused a problem as Terry is not a small man ! The roof was quickly lowered by Chris Piercy helped by Patrick Cook and Terry squeezed into the cockppit with a big grin. 

An enjoyable  buffet lunch followed and a few words from both Nigel and Terry afterwards. The other purpose of the event was to raise money for the Y Care charity. A cheque for £350 was presented to Terry after lunch and copies of his two books were sold to raise funds which Terry kindly signed in the oak pannelled Great Hall 

All the guests , of which there were about sixty five including Richard Ladds from the main MGOC, contributed to the charity and many thanks were passed on to Nigel Hedges for making  the event happen and Patrick Cook for the use of Athelhampton house.

You may like to check the following links :-

www.ycare.org.uk - The Y Care Charity

www.athelhampton.co.uk - Athelhampton House Web Site

The cars gather at The Imperial

The cars huddle around the F Register flag on the hotel lawns

F and Martello Tower Cannon

Tim Morirs Flags Nigel Cromey away in his nightfire red F....

...then Chris & vanessa Raby in their MGA...

..and finally Bob Larcombe and Caroline Woodley hide behind the flag

Rye Harbour - a popular half way stop.

Fs gather at Tower 74 in Seaford

The F Register flag fights the elements

Three Bs take a look at the fairground

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside !

Gordon & Marilyn Neville's TD at Seaford

So which was your first computer ?

Seaford Museum

Anyone fancy doing their washing in these ?

Seaford Museum

MARTELLO TOWER TOUR  - MGF Register - Sunday 30th June 2004

Several diversionary tactics were employed along the route - you could check out the WW2 Sound Mirrors at Denge Marsh , stop and sun yourself on the pebbly beaches, join the holiday makers at Camber sands, find some Candy Floss in Hastings or Eastbourne, have lunch in one of the numerous seaside pubs en route , enjoy the somewhat bleak scenery at Dungeness overshadowed by the nuclear power station, the windswept heights of Beachy Head or watch the wildlife vast nature reserve beside the road at Pett. 

Several participants gathered  at Rye Harbour for lunch in the William the Conqueror pub before tackling the slightly more difficult second part of the route. 

Finally, and with showers starting to set in, the cars started to roll on to the seafront at Seaford  gathering around Tower 74 - the final one in the chain. This was a public parking area and despite notices being put out by the kind people at Seaford Tower there were several ordinary cars parked amongst us. Most cars got there around 4pm with a couple of late comers arriving an hour later  - well done Dave Mills and Heather for actually  stopping at every tower en route for a closer look ! 

The custodians of Seaford Tower - now a local history museum provided us with some shelter and a warming cup of tea as the shoewrs became heavier and the wind whistled in from the sea giving the F Register flag a trying time ! This gave plenty of time for a look around the museum itself - a must if you are ever down this way. The tower is a bit like the Tardis - doesn't look too big on the outside but inside you discover fascinating displays of domestic appliances,  Radios, Hoovers, Sewing Machines, Typewriters, a model railway - a "street" with several period shops set up and numerous other quirky displays. This is the place to find your very first computer (ZX81 in my case !) or your old valve TV set warming up in the corner. Several people were heard saying they would have to pay a return visit when they had more time.

Commiserations to Don Kimberley and his daughter who got as far as Hythe in the morning on the way to the start before the sound of grinding metal stopped them by the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch railway. A broken cambelt tensioner was the culprit - they managed to get home on the back of a trailer safely. Still an MGF run without some form of breakdown is not really an MGF run !!

Links

Seaford Museum                      Imperial Hotel Hythe