Sunday 7th December 2003

Sunday 7th December - The sun was out, the skies were blue, the light frost had cleared - a perfect winter's day for a topless trip through the countryside. We gathered at the Runnymede Pleasure Grounds with two tops already down and TimM succumbed under threats from Bob and Tom. We let Barry & Sue off as they had their hard top fitted although we did suggest they leave it at Runnymede and pick it up later. 10.30am and no more Fs appeared so we set off along the banks of the Thames with the sun in our eyes. We effortlessly passed through Windsor and on towards Maidenhead where we hit the only problem en route. The bridge over the M4 was closed for resurfacing so we got diverted back towards London on the M4. Unfortunately the lights turned red just after TimM passed through and he lost the rest of the pack. Unable to stop until the next junction TimM headed towards the A4 stopping to wave at the rest as they circumnavigated the roundabout and headed back for the M4 again. Thanks to our Hands Free Kits we managed to make contact and meet up again at The Toad Hall Nursery in Henley. 

Meeting up with Stu, Dave Livingstone and Thelma & Lousie (aka Jane & Alison - sorry girls !) we set off towards Oxford. It turned into a small MG pilgrimage en route as we passed by William Morris' house at Nuffield Place and right past the remains of the MG factory in Abingdon and, of course, the MGCC HQ.

We soon arrived at the double bridge in Newbridge and The Rose Revived pub - a total of about thirty Fs had turned up for the natter. We joined the Milton Keynes run and met up with fellow SEF'er Neil who had organised their run for them as well as other regional stalwarts - Dave Morris from SWMGF and Andy Bates from the new Midlands Group. Of course most of the F Register committee were here and we even had a couple of awards presented . Event organiser Jan Ward won the Priests of Chesham award and Chris and Mavis Parker won the members of the year. A special award was given to Martin Woods who no longer owns and F but has given outstanding service to the F register over the years.

There was also a Christmas Quiz which was jointly won by the SEFers and the Thelma and Louise table. A misheard tie break question resulted in Bob being fed the wrong answer meaning the first prize went to the girls - an MG cake - which was duly shared around the room of course.

We headed back at dusk to fight the motorway system again -  most of us snug with our hoods up though !

Thanks to the F Register for a great lunch and natter and we look forward to next years round of events.