September already? The summer seems to have come and gone with alarming rapidity, not least the sun or absence thereof.
Just the same, the grass does not grow under the WGMW and September and indeed the rest of 2015 is already looking pretty busy.
I attended the annual MIPAA/AMWG meeting hosted by Peugeot at their head office in Coventry in late August where we had a useful exchange of views between journalists and PRs. Members will get my notes and MIPAA’s notes from the meeting before long.
As a group we have had an interesting breakdown assistance offer for members. The Midlands Group has already taken up a similar offer and it will be something for discussion at our next meeting.
I am hoping that we will be able to hold another meeting prior to the AGM in November and I am currently pursuing one possibility. After our last meeting, kindly hosted by JLR at Bowood in July, it seems as though we have a committee taking shape for the next year.
We have also booked the Group Christmas Dinner at Bishopstrow House at Warminster and at the last count, have around 36 planning to attend. Once again we have Andrew and Katherine Morland to thank for making it all happen. They have looked at a long list of hotels that might be suitable and with dates being snapped up fast, we had to move quickly to secure a venue and Bishopstrow, known to most of us well, was very keen to have us. I’m sure Andrew will have more details in due course.
The launch calendar is filling fast with at least two staged in the past week and more to come. September will see us getting to grips with the new Kia c’eed, Vauxhall Astra and Renault Kadjar, to name but a few. Then there are the shows. Frankfurt will dominate in September, with much shoe leather to be worn out across the vast exhibition halls. There’s also the Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) Show at Millbrook to keep us up to speed with what’s happening in the growing world of electric, alternative fuel and low carbon vehicles.
Group Treasurer Ross Durkin will be presiding over the MPG Marathon at the end of September, based this year at the Heythrop Park Resort at Enstone near Chipping Norton on 29/30 September. Several group members have shown their ability to make a gallon go further on the event over the years. There may still be cars looking for drivers, so contact Ross if you think you are up for the challenge.
Further ahead it’s time to start planning next year’s PR Driving Day in June. Our survey showed that we are doing what our guests want with the event but if there is anything you would like to see included for 2016, please let us know.
It was sad to hear of the death of Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, on Sunday.
He was the devoted custodian of his family’s 7,000-acre Beaulieu Estate in Hampshire which he inherited at the age of 2 upon the death of his father and he went on to champion the historic vehicle movement and founded the National Motor Museum on his estate.
Lord Montagu was one of Britain’s best know promoters of the motor industry and British models and our group members extend their sympathy to his family for the loss of a remarkable enthusiast and man.
John Kendall | Chairman WGMW
