paulerspury people january 2012

January 2012

The Newsletter of The RRECPaulerspury Section

Paulerspury eople P

2 Paulerspury People - January 2012

3Paulerspury People - January 2012

Paulerspury eoplePContents

Not a Lot of People Know That 4

The Chairman’s Bit 5

Summer Cheese and Wine 8

Ascott House Picnic 9

John Taylor Bell Foundry 11

Visit to Bentley Driver’s Club 11

Poole Weekend 13

Poole Weekend - There’s More 20

Autumn Amble 23

NEC Classic Car Show 23

November Lunch 25

AGM and Christmas Lunch 27

The Saving of ANK 515K 29

Secretary’s Report 33

Editors Comments 33

Forthcoming Events 34

Section Contacts 38

January 2012

The newsletter of the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club - Paulerspury Section

Front Cover Photograph:Robert and Jill Kennedy’s 1923 20hp (80K7) Tourer, by Stevenson of Glasgow at the Ascott House Picnic in August 2011

The quality and quantity of the content of Paulerspury People is provided by our members for the enjoyment of others. If you have something to tell us about, do let us know, by email preferably [email protected] and we will do our best to include it. Supporting photographs are especially welcome. We are keen to revive ‘Me and my car’, so do let us know about yours.


In 1946, four masked men in a Rolls-Royce thundered across the drawbridge ofHever Castle in Kent, home of the Astors, at four in the morning. Ten minuteslater they thundered back again, having stolen Ann Boleyn’s prayer book, Henrythe VIII’s dagger and twelve other items.

Lord Baden-Powell’s Rolls-Royce was a gift from Scouts, Cubs, Guides andBrownies, each of whom contributed one penny to the magnificent gift.

Peter Sellers had number plates PS 199 and PS 1872 on his Rolls-Royces. Hemade great efforts to acquire PS 1 from a dour Scottish woman, offering first£1,000 and then £2,500. To his extreme annoyance, she refused to sell.

On his return from Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral, The Duke of Gloucesterordered his chauffeur to let him take the wheel. The Duchess counselled againstthis. The Duke insisted, not much later the Rolls-Royce was in a field and theDuchess in Hospital with a broken arm.

Not a Lot of People Know That


The Chairmans Bit

Chairman - Chris Ball

It’s that time of year again when we take stock of the 12months just gone and look ahead to what 2012 might bring.

The committee has worked hard on your behalf and asthere were no new nominations for the committee at theAGM, all existing members were elected en bloc.Unfortunately, Trevor Baldwin, the management committeerepresentative was not able to join us due to a bad coldand loss of voice. We were fortunate, however, to haveClive Green who stepped into the breach and gave a very

interesting talk about the Club’s archives and their restoration. I was alsoparticularly pleased to present the Shank’s Rose Bowl to Peter and JoyceParsons who had attended every event in the 2011 calendar. After the AGM wewent to lunch and it was the usual uproarious occasion enjoyed by all.

At the first committee meeting held after the AGM the officers were elected andI was delighted to be appointed Chairman for a fourth term. I am also particularlypleased to welcome Steve Dolan and Mark Warnock as well as Derek Freemanto the committee. I am sure all three will make a big contribution to our work. Iam sad though to lose Ray Hillier whom, due to working commitments, hasdecided to step down. He will, however, be organising some technical visits, soall is not lost. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the committeemembers, especially Kathy Martin our Treasurer and Robert Kennedy ourSecretary, for their sterling work and support over the last year. I also thankAdrian Denham for looking after the website and Barry Gallafent for producingthe PP and flyers throughout last year.

It has been another busy and interesting year for the section. The Pendon Railwaymuseum was a resounding success as was the visit to the new HQ of the BentleyDrivers’ Club. The St George’s Day drive and lunch was well attended and thefive days in Northumberland were truly magnificent. We had all manner ofweather thrown at us, but it was nonetheless enjoyable. At the Annual Rally thesection wiped the board with no less than four of our cars winning accolades.We visited the lovely Fen town of Ely and its Cathedral and drank wine and atecheese by the canal at Blisworth – most enjoyable occasions – both organisedby non-committee members Peter and Audrey Nightingale and David andBarbara Clarke respectively. The Annual Picnic took place at Ascott House,followed by a great weekend at Poole when we visited and stayed at the RNLICollege and toured the Dorset coast.


COLLECTION & DELIVERYAVAIALABLE IN MILTON KEYNES &SURROUNDING AREAS


The ever-popular pub lunches were also well attended with over 65 members at the last one of the year held at the Bedfordshire Golf Club. My heartfelt thanks go to all those who organised events and if any member of the section would like to arrange something, whether it be a lunch, day out or a weekend, please contact me or a member of the committee with your ideas. We would be happy to support and assist you in your endeavours.

Earlier I mentioned the visit to Poole and the RNLI. As you know, my charity is the Harwich Lifeboat and in 2011 we raised £3,206. Even more good news is that the total amount raised since my election in 2008 is £6,478. This is a truly goodly sum for a worthwhile charity, but is in every way due to your generosity and I thank you all very much indeed.

There is a full calendar of events for 2012 and I make no apology for preaching the same mantra as every year: book early to avoid disappointment as some of the events have limited capacity.

First and foremost, we start with a New Members Lunch on Sunday, 4 March and if you are a new member reading this and you’ve not received an invitation, please contact either Mia Murray (Tel: 01908 504606) or David Davis (01462 674347) for details. The day starts with a visit to the Hunt House and then lunch at a local pub. Details of the day are included with this edition of the PP and early booking is recommended.

The St George’s Day Run and Lunch takes place on Sunday 22 April and there is a three-day trip to Aldeburgh organised in May. David and Raelene Morgan are organising a visit to a splendid Motor Museum in Potters Bar followed by lunch on Sunday, 13 May and Steven and Mia Murray have very generously agreed to host the tailgate pre-lunch drinks reception from their Silver Wraith at the Annual at Rockingham Castle in June. Derek and Sylvia Freeman are organising another a visit to Porlock in September and if you want to come, you need to get your booking slip and deposit in pronto!

The aforementioned is a taster of what we are doing in 2012 - there are lots of other events planned, so please come along. It will be great to see you at some or all of events with your cars.

Happy New Year to you and yours and safe driving!

Chris Ball


Summer Cheese and Wine at Canal House

On Sunday, 7 August the section paid avisit to the delightful house and gardensof David and Barbara Clarke for cheeseand wine.

A good selection of club cars parked upin a specially designated car park in amarina near Canal House situated nearthe famous Blisworth Tunnel on theGrand Union Canal.

Some braved the blustery conditionsand took to the garden to watch thecanal boats slipping silently by, whileothers stayed in the house. Verygenerously, David and Barbara providedbeautiful wines and delicious cheesesand when it was time to go we eachreceived a cupcake with the initialsRREC on the top.

A raffle was held for a bottle ofchampagne and a voucher for dinnerkindly donated by a local restaurant.Graham and Joan Tomalin were thelucky winners of the champagne andSteve and Jan Dolan the voucher fordinner.

David and Barbara asked that theproceeds from the event be donated tothe Cynthia Spencer Hospice inNorthampton and a cheque for £740was duly sent.

It was a great day and on behalf ofeveryone, thanks go to David andBarbara for inviting us to their home.

Linda Ball

Beautiful Canal House

Gently chatting over a glass of wine

Ah ha, Canal House, now I get it - says Steve Dolan!

Keith & Pippa, rarely seen with empty glasses


Ascott House Picnic - August 2011

Gentles all, be so kind to lend an impatient ear, while I lay before you a modestdescription of a recent excursion to the house of Rothschild, deep in the vale ofAylesbury. Let your imagination fly to see two lines of English oaks placedalong a country lane, bordering a pasture set aside for some local sport. Then,if you will, to imagine the noble dukes of Kennedy, Fleming, Cowley and Murraywith many knights of the realm drawn up beneath these brave oaks, theircarriages gleaming in the sunlight, a rare sight indeed.

Then as the hour would strikemidday, led by the princely Dukeof Kennedy, dukes and knightsdecamped together with theirfollowers to gather at the finest ofpavilions, put aside for thissporting pastime. Here it will beaccepted, that many a noble heartwas stirred with the memory ofvaliant conquests from such apavilion, how many yearned

deeply to turn back the years to conquer yet again. Did their ladies then, alsowish for those years, as if by magic to vanish and thus participate again in aromantic conquest, but in a field of their own choosing? Amongst these sweetmemories, dukes and knights alike with their ladies, were so refreshed withchampagne and sweetmeats, I wager an unsteady path was trod, as theyreturned to their carriages.

For my own part, together with mylady, I was gratified to share a tablewith my lord the duke of Kennedy,where we were able to taste thefinest of wines. There I felt able topay attention to the passing ofnumerous fair ladies, where I woulddoff my cap in friendly greeting, towhich they would respond suitablywith a curtsy or two.

This advantageous position, in that dappled sunlight of that glorious afternoon,enabled me to observe the cricket pavilion to my left, the white gates leading toAscot house to the centre, then to the right the vale of Aylesbury, with the Downs

The Kennedy’s 20hp next to the Murray’s Silver Wraithand the Tomalin’s 20/25

The gardens were simply beautiful


of Dunstable through the hazeon the horizon. When I felt ableto explore, reluctantly casting offthe effects of generoushospitality, I eventuallymeandered through those whitegates.

Ascot house, much to mysurprise, is basically a two storeystructure, the design as suchsuggesting a building withadditions, all clothed in black andwhite. There being many roof

lines and pinnacles with decorative chimneys to admire. The interior can bedescribed as sumptuous, warm. Ascot House is a home where I felt privilegedto be allowed to wander. How many entering the library were drawn to thatfabulous portrait of a lady, looking down with an imperious gaze on all thosepassing beneath? The gardens were spectacular, a perfect setting for the house.Many features of this garden were exemplified by the perfect setting of thehouse, placed on the high ground, overlooking the gardens and the vale ofAylesbury.

This superbly organized outing ended in the cricket pavilion, where numerouscakes and cups of tea were dispensed to eager members, anxious to shake offthe effects of wine (a’hem tasting !) It was here I was approached by oneextremely fair lady who offered to pour me a cup of tea. Now, did she considerme past pouring a cup of tea, or had she have something other in mind? I havetended to think the latter….

Graham Tomalin

A stunning line-up of motor-cars

Time for lunch


Visit to The John Taylor Bell Foundry - 5th October 2011

Twenty five members of the section met at thepremises of John Taylor Bellfounders inLoughborough on the 5th of October for a guidedtour around one of only two bell foundries left inEngland, the other being the WhitechapelFoundry in the east end of London.

After a simple but enjoyable lunch at the ThreeNuns PH we made our way to the FoundryMuseum where we were met by Mary Barraswho runs the museum and her colleague ChrisBerry who provided the guided tour. Thecompany was founded not in Loughborough butin Oxford way back in 1784, however when theparish church of All Saints in Loughborough wasconsidering have a new ring of bells, it stipulatedthat they must be cast within the parish boundaryand it was at this point that the company movedinto the area. The current site of the foundry waspurpose built in the 1850’s.

After her introduction Chris took us to the foundry itself and explained the methodsused for casting bells, head stocks and welding rods, these being used for therepairing of bells that have cracked, we were fortunate to see some small itemshaving the molten metal being poured into the moulds.

Leicester Bell Founders

From there we movedacross the road into themachine shop and theninto the area where thebells are tuned, Chris’shusband explained indetail the methodadopted way back in19th Century known bysome as the TaylorsTrue Harmonic Tuning.This is quite a skill butensures that all thebells in “the ring” are intune with each other.Having finished in that What has David seen that the others are missing?


part of the foundry we movedback to the main body of themuseum where some more ofthe history of the companywas explained. Some of thebiggest bells in the world havebeen cast by Taylors, notablyGreat Paul in St PaulsCathedral, cast in 1881 andweighing 17 metric tonnes,another being LiverpoolCathedral’s Bourdon bellweighing 14tons 13cwt thesecond largest bell inEngland.

The tour finished about 3pm and it seems that all who attended found the visitfascinating and were delighted that the skills which largely originated in Englandare still with us and in great demand mainly because of the art of “changeringing” in England, which whilst not entirely unique to the UK is probably theonly country which rings bells regularly in this fashion, the art of “change ringing

You needed to be there, it is quite amazing and extremely interesting

“ goes back over 400 yearshere and varies in its styledepending on where you are,methods are in some cases arevery complex and some cantake many hours to ring, quiteamazing when you considerthat the components aresimple, a bell on a wheel sittingin a frame with a rope. Themore bells you have the morecomplicated it becomes, if youhave not tried then make yourway to your local church towerand ask if you can learn theywill be pleased to see you asso many towers are short ofringers, you never know youmay find another absorbinghobby.

David DavisAfter a most enjoyable day, Alan Goddard hails a taxi


Poole Weekend - 16th - 19th September 2011

The Journey

What a wonderful September morning, cool, bright that lovely autumnal smell inthe air. The weather forecast was however saying something very different,rain, rain and more rain!

We set off from Bromham in Bedfordshire bright and early to get to Poole intime for beer and sandwiches before a visit round the RNLI College. The routeis well known to us, across Milton Keynes, skirt round Buckingham to Bicesterthen onto the A34. The vale of Oxford was just turning to autumn colours lookingstunning as the Cloud ate up the miles.

By the time we got to the M3 we were beginning to see some superb old carswending their way to the Goodwood Revival weekend, E Types, a couple ofBlower Bentleys a beautiful Mark V1 Jaguar; great to see on the road. The M3joins up to the M27 and soon you pick up glimpses of the coast, nearly there.

The last part of the journey was uneventful other than a metal garage door flewoff the back of a truck and landed in the middle of the road. Fortunately we werenot directly behind the vehicle and a road-sweeping machine managed to slowthe traffic down so that no one ran into it. It does not bear thinking about theconsequences if it had hit a car.

Poole was now in our sights and finally after a couple of circuits of a largeroundabout we found the entrance to the college, and it did not rain, that waslater.

The RNLI College

10,831 people were rescued by the RNLI around our shores in the last twelvemonths, many of whose lives would have been saved as a result the braveryand dedication of the volunteer crews.

The RNLI is indeed an amazing institution; it survives solely on donations andlegacies with no Government funding whatsoever. Founded in 1824, it now has204 stations around Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel islands and the Isle ofMan, 330 boats many of them multi-million pound vessels bristling with state ofthe art technology and a further 100 plus relief vessels, 4,500 volunteer crewmenand a core of permanent staff. It costs the RNLI £123.5 million pound a year tostay afloat.

So, the Paulerspury section, led by Chairman, or is it Captain Ball and his crewled us on a nautical weekend staying at the RNLI College and what a magnificent


building it is. A state of the art training and conference centre opened by HerMajesty the Queen in 2004; designed by a Cornish architect, it reflects a nauticaltheme shaped like the prow of a boat with porthole windows overlooking Holesbay, part of the stunning Poole harbour in Dorset. It commands incredible viewsof the bay and has for its neighbour the luxury yacht builder, Sunseeker.

Why does an institution that survives on charitable donations need such aprestigious building? Have the RNLI been squandering their hard fought forfunds? Not a bit of it. Lifeboat crews need to be trained, surprisingly only 10% ofnew recruits have maritime knowledge and whilst there is still a strong relianceof on the job experience they do need some core basic training and refreshercourses to hone their skills as technology constantly changes. Larger stationshave a permanent crewmember (some have 2) the rest are volunteers whomust live within a 3 mile radius of the station. 10% of the crews are woman. Atleast one crewmember would be a trained paramedic or sometimes a doctor. Itcan take up to 6 years to fully train a crewmember of a larger vessel.

Prior to the college being built the RNLI had a much smaller facility, in Poole, totrain crews but as the service grew and the training needs more complex theRNLI was spending some £2.3 million pounds a year in housing and buying intraining facilities so the decision was taken to create a purpose built facility. TheCollege not only saved the institution external expenditure but it makes a profitsome £1.3million since 2007.

RNLI College - Poole, Dorset


The college has 60 bedrooms, alloverlooking the bay and all fitted outto a very high hotel standard, they areused for the training sessions but alsomembers of the public can stay there.There is an excellent restaurant, largebar, private dining facilities all ofwhich are used both by the residentsof the college and are available to thepublic generating additional revenuefor the Institution.

The intrepid sailors of thePaulerspury section managed toenjoy all of these facilities eating theirway through some fantastic food plusthe odd pint of Lifeboat Ale, a beerspecially brewed for the college.

There are 12 well equipped training /function rooms for residential

courses; the college also devises online learning programs. A selection of trainingvessels are available moored on pontoons designed specifically to test the skillsof the crewmembers.

The most impressive facility is the lifeboat cabin simulator. It has all the controlsof a lifeboat with a visual representation of differing sea conditions which areprojected onto a 180 degree screen. The sea conditions, location, weather canall be changed and the whole training session videoed to maximise the learningexperience. You could soon get sea sick attempting to steer the vessel (simulator)in a force 9 gale whilst looking for a boat in distress. It is amazingly realistic andof course costs a fraction of taking a large vessel to sea, which would be morethan £500 per hour.

Our Captain Ball did not fair too well in his session mistaking the lights of Doverfor a burning ship, the writer however did little better coming close to runningdown a coastal destroyer which seemed to appear from nowhere in the gloomand raging sea. What this facility did demonstrate however was just how difficultand dangerous it is putting to sea in very inhospitable conditions.

In a separate room there are 4 navigation simulators and the graphics for thesesimulators were created by the in house IT team.

Then there is the survival pool; a 25 x 12.5 x 4.0 meter pool with a 4 meter highjump platform. The pool has a wave machine, wind, lightning, simulated daylight

Kathy and Linda welcome the arrivals


and night time conditions, high pressure hoses to simulate sea spray and iskept at a temperature between 15 and 22 degrees C. The pool has a hoistabove it to train for helicopter landings and rescues and trains the crews in thetechniques required to right an inshore lifeboat. The pool is certainly not designedfor a leisurely afternoon swim!

Adjacent to the College is a large workshop which houses every engine used inthe current lifeboat fleet. Vessels are maintained there from around the UK aswell as it acting as a training facility for the engineers.

Across the road from the college is the Sea Survival Centre which is the RNLIheadquarters and the main operation centre controlling all the life boat stationsaround the British Isles.

The RNLI are not only involved with sea rescues but they train lifeguards notjust in the UK but around the world. There is an exchange program with the USCoast Guards and with the Australian Surf and Rescue organisation.

Funds are all important to the RNLI and life boats which may be 20 years oldbut still serviceable are recycled and sold to third world countries.

What an amazing place, what an amazing institution, what an amazingorganisation. Thanks are due to our guide, Paul Sillence, who put up with ourquestions and banter.

Saturday 17th September - A Day Out“...... familiar with these parts?” “Oh yes! Well a whileback ...... I suppose 40 oddyears ......Studland beach,the dunes, the lane behindwhere you could park,camping in a field with mysons, walking along the ridgeto Corfe Castle, ...... LulworthCove, Durdle Door, the chainferry to Poole, ...... goodmemories!” “ Don’tremember the steam train‘tho’.

The steam train from near Corfe Castle to Swanage was how our day beganthis time. We like steam trains – they are ‘living’ machines – powerful, benevolent,and they breathe, cough, whistle, and almost speak. They are the railway enginesof our childhood, before the advent of characterless diesel locomotives.

Waiting for the train


Swanage was nice – a quietseaside town. We tookpleasure in watching a little girljumping in breaking waves.

Another train took us, (and ahigh spirited crowd ofPaulerspury ‘teenagers’ in thenext compartment), back toCorfe Castle, a lovely unspoiltstone built vil lage. The‘teenagers’ bustled off aheadof us and disappeared(perhaps into a pub) and Juneand I did not see them again.We had lunch in the NationalTrust café, and went into thecastle grounds. Quitesurprised ourselves byclimbing up to the ruins – asuperb fortress built by HenryI, son of Will iam theConqueror, and blown apart byorder of Cromwell’s parliamentafter the Civil War ended! Inthe sunshine we watched aCivil War Enactment in thegrounds with lots of soldiersand civilians in period dress –musket fire, pikemen drilling,and many tents displayingcrafts and customs of life in the1640s ...... very entertaining!!

The train from Corfe to the car park puffed out of the station whilst we watchedfrom the town square! Never mind we’ll catch the next one. Whilst we weresitting on a railway bench on the platform, under cover, the heavens opened.Luckily the shower ended as we got off the train.

Too late, (and too tired!), to venture further we drove along the Studland peninsulato the chain ferry, - beautiful views, - and thence back to our ‘hotel’, a snooze,and another excellent dinner in good company. That is after watching amagnificent sunset in a dramatic panorama of multi-coloured clouds! What wouldtomorrow bring?

Being a full day out, Amarylis brought some more shoes with her

In Corfe, The Orient Express is a Chinese Takeaway - Sorry!


Sunday 18th September- Boat Trip to Brownsea IslandBillions of Bilious Blue Blistering Barnacles and ‘eave ho me hearties! This wasthe day we set sail on a boat trip to Brownsea led by none other than CaptainHaddock, that man of the sea and sometime President of the Society of SoberSailors.

Cars parked up at Swanage

Beautiful Poole Harbour


Having met at the Harbour all filed onto a brightly coloured yellow boat, some ofthem tunefully humming ‘We all Live in a Yellow Submarine’. It was pouring withrain and blowing a gale, but the sea-faring types had got their sea legs andwent up on top to see the scenery as the boat chugged by. We past that wondrousplace called Sand Banks where football managers, their players, magnates andrich businessmen alike live.

On arrival at Brownsea a little group of intrepids disembarked and led by CaptainHaddock, made its way along the footpaths, past a lovely old Church, to theNational Trust Visitor’s Centre were they sheltered from the pouring rain. Allagreed that the island was a magical place, housing that ‘we are never knowinglyundersold’ residential centre. In 2008 it was home to BBC’s Autumnwatch anddescribed by the presenter Bill Oddie as the best place for seeing wildlife inDorset. It’s a thriving home to a population of the scarce and threatened redsquirrel and also offers winter shelter to a quarter of the UK’s winter populationof avocets.

“Thundering Typhoons” declared Captain Haddock as his beard started to getwet, “let’s go back to Poole”. Some of the group said that they had started togrow webbed feet and so the decision was made to return, leaving the Brown’sand Machin’s to their fate alone on the island. With the Captain’s words, “them’sthat dies will be the lucky ones”, ringing in their ears, the group caught the nextboat back to Poole for some much needed sustenance and a warming of theircockles!

After lunch Captain Haddock’s mate suggested the Cockle Trail (how apt), acharming walk around the old town of Poole tracing the town’s rich historicalheritage. After which, the group returned to the RNLI College to put up theirwebbed feet before dinner that evening.

ConclusionOver the three nights at the College we all enjoyed comfortableaccommodation, good food and great service from the staff. We had many laughsand auctioned a knitted RNLI crewman called Bosun and made £300 poundsfor the Sidcup Branch of the RNLI – a long way from the sea – but no matter, agoodly sum brought about by the kind generosity of those who attended theweekend. We savoured (well most did) Peter Parson’s marmalade and lookforward to more of it at future weekends away.

Finally, the organisers would like to thank Derek and Sylvia Freeman, Robertand June Brown and that old rouge of the sea, Captain Haddock, for theircontributions to this write-up.

Chris & Linda Ball and Mick & Kathy Martin


Poole Weekend - There’s More

Since your editor had to miss this superb event, I thought it might be appropriateto have the contingent infiltrated by our mystery correspondent who was locatedat Hambelton Hall with a brand new Silver Ghost, and so then, just happened tobe in Poole during the RREC visit. Ed.

Having visited Sydney Harbour earlier this year, it was quite delightful to be ableto compare and contrast the two largest natural harbours in the world.

The Paulespury Section arrived with every kind of ailment imaginable. Thecars, as always were magnificent, as was the organisation of the weekend, bythe Balls and the Martins, who worked tremendously hard before, during andafter the event.

The first major hicup was the loss of a QC cufflink, sadly never to be located,but maybe claimed by Quinten Clutterbuck, after all we were in Enid Blytonterritory, both Corfe Castle and Studland Bay being inspiration for the FamousFive and Toytown respectively.

Next came compressor failure of the Warnock’s beautiful garnet Shadow II nowhappily rectified. An excellent dinner revived spirits and we all made it throughthe night awakening to what must be one of the greatest harbour views in theworld, and marmalade kindly made by Peter Parsons, as no one can get the lidoff the section marmalade which accompanies all travels.Aches, pains and worse began to receed, and there was a spring in the stepsalong Swanage pier and around Corfe castle.

Only one person got lost on the Swanage Link Ferry, and the sight of the sectioncars rolling on and off was too much for one Lexus owner who flagging amember’s car down to enquire why there were so many Roll-Royces andBentley’s and then proceeded to not only explain why he didn’t have one, buthold up the traffic in the process.

Saturday night’s dinner was absolutely brilliant. Paper planes were assembledto be hurled at the other tables - a revival of a Paulerspury tradition. A youngwaitress confided that it was the most enjoyable dinner the staff of the RNLIcollege had experienced for some time, and I have not had so much fun sincemy first dinner at the Mansion House.

The next day it rained, but this did not deter anyone from joining the speciallychartered yellow “Maid of Poole Harbour.” A most interesting commentary wasprovided by the captain, and of particular note was the oil well on Furzy Island


which I had last visited as a child when it was a private house. Of the fiveislands only Brownsea is readily accessible, and a brave party disembarkedlead by the section chairman. Apart from the sighting of 15 red squirrels by Juneand Robert Brown, what happened on the island stays on the island.

It was time to say goodbye to all but 19 who stayed for Sunday. The remainingcars continued to be admired and the public were encouraged to have a look,and ask questions. “Did you come on a catamaran!” was one of the betterones. Dinner was a quieter affair and absent friends were toasted.Next morning the harbour was being dredged (for the missing cufflink) andanother jar of marmalade was demolished.

The last sighting was of Rolls-Royce Spirit III travelling in Chairman Maximus’slip stream startling an elegant pre war Bentley, out for a Monday morning amble.

It is understood that our mystery correspondent will soon be in the Bahamasand travelling up the Perfumed River in Vietnam, no doubt gathering some morestories for us, but will join us again in 2012. Ed.

O.k., you’ve had a kiss, now give Kenneth his cufflink back! All quiet on Audreys’ watch

A select line-up outside the RNLI College


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1956 Bentley SI having undergone extensive

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As well as body repairs, we are able to carry

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For greater details on what we can do for

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Monday to Friday 08:30 - 17:30

Saturday 09:00 - 13:00

Closed Bank Holidays


Autumn Amble - Sunday 16 October 2011The Autumn Amble always heralds the end of the driving season for the section, so it was good that 16 or so cars and their owners turned up for this annual event.

Members met at the Cross Keys pub in Pulloxhill for coffee and then wound their way through the still leafy lanes of mid-Bedfordshire where they finished the day with an enjoyable lunch at Mitchell Hall, Cranfield University. My thanks go to Val Yates for organising the event.

Note: No photographs available- sorry! Ed.

NEC Classic Car Show

The NEC Classic Car Show mid November was well worth a visit. It was a full day out and a long day on your feet, but if you have ever found yourself saying “my dad had one of those”, there is a pretty good chance you could have seen one there.Hundreds and hundreds of cars from all era’s and all corners of the globe were shown in all their glory, reminding us all how many of these wonderful vehicles are still in existence.

Peter and Joyce Parsons have recently had restored a Rover P6 (see article later in this edition) which was proudly displayed on the Rover P6 club stand. Peter and his socks however, were not.

The RREC of course have their own stand there displaying several club vehicles and inviting new recruits for club membership.

The ‘cut away’ ShadowII and the ‘fairly well stripped’ 20/25 from The Hunt House Workshop were on the stand, allowing interested parties to see what is underneath the splendour that is a Rolls-Royce.

Various other artefacts were on display too including a superbThe RREC stand at the NEC Classic Car Show


collection of radiator mascots. One cannot help wondering what was in theminds of some of their designers.

Mascot cabinet That’s Julian Spencer over there if I am not mistaken

1932 20/25 (GBA 60) Drop Head Coupé by Salmons

And that goes there, it’s quite easy, explains Steve Lovatt


November Lunch - Sunday 20 November 2011

Surely the most magnificent exhibit onthe RREC stand was the 1932 20/25(GBA 60), Drop Head Coupe bySalmons of Newport Pagnell,belonging to Graeme Kidd of Hitchin.This vehicle has been in the samefamily since new, now eighty years.

The Paulerspury Section committeehad offered assistance to the clubstand organisers at the AGM, to helpman the stand for this (last) yearsevent which was warmly welcomed atthe time. Unfortunately that offer wasnot taken up and no reason given thatwe can report.

If you are of a mind to visit next year,remember club members can get areduction on their ticket prices whenbooking online, see the RREC websitenearer the time.

Barry Gallafent

The driver of this may have been the only Phantom here!

1922 Silver Ghost (312 KG) Tourer by Wilkinson owned byAndrew Prestwich of Nottingham

These lunches are still proving most popular andmembers braved the November fog to drive theirClub cars to a lunch at the Bedfordshire Golf Clubsituated at Stagsden near Bedford. 65 people satdown for a very nice lunch and it was good to seemembers, their families and friends turning out onsuch a miserable day.

A carvery style lunch was offered and plentiful itwas. With a seemingly endless amount of wineincluded in the price, this was truly excellent valuefor money.

It is a shme the Golf Club setting could not beappreciated to its full extent because of the mist.

This was not a wonderful day on which to bringThe Bedforshire Golf Club main entrance


Food a plenty at The Bedfordshire Golf Club

your club car out but that did not deter us. Here can be seen two new additions to the club fleet, a 1965 Bentley S3 belonging to Keith and Pippa Davies and our (the Balls) 1956 Bentley S1.

Careful parking by the editor allowed Chris to demonstrate to David Morgan (the S1’s previous owner) and Keith Davies, exactly how far the doors open!

Linda Ball

and

Barry Gallafent

Keith Davies’ 1965 S3

It isn’t pink, it’s red explains Chairman Chris Ball


AGM and Christmas Lunch

Held at the, by now familiar venue, Mitchell Hall in Cranfield. A goodly numberof members turned out for the AGM which was smoothly chaired by ChrisBall. The committee of 2011 were re-elected en-bloc as everyone was willingto stand for re-election and there were no contested positions.

Officers from the committe presented their reports which were all acceptedand for once our chairman found himself with time to spare rather than runningout of it! So, he told us a joke or two. Crackers!

Clive Green, a member of the RREC Management Committee was our guestand spent some time telling us about the negotiations between the RRECand The SHRMF. Complicated it certainly has been but we are assured anear harmonius conclusion has been reached. Only time will tell.

Peter and Joyce Parsons were awarded the Rose Bowl this year and thiswas presented to them twice. Firstly to Peter alone and then again to Peterand Joyce upon her return from the ladies room!

Prior to lunch we were visited in the bar by a very stressed looking gentlemandemanding to see the organiser. Had one of us parked in his space? Had weblocked him in? No. The reason for his stress was that he had just damagedone of our cars. This gentleman was perhaps of a similar height to me andperhaps a little lighter! Well whose car did he choose to scratch? Probably thebiggest person in the room, Keith Davies! Minor abrasions were discoveredon the front bumper of the Bentley Continental and whilst this was not ideal,Mr Davies dealt with it extremely calmly and no blood was spilled.

Val called us all through to the dining room where our Christmas Fayre wassoon served. Given the number of people and the variety we had beenoffered, the service was most excellent. We can all eat a little more of this ora little less of that, or prefer our vegetables a little harder or a little softer, butin all, lunch on this scale and especially for the price, could not be faulted.

Rip roaring activities followed, for which had we been children at school,doubtless detention would have been on the cards. As far as I could tell,everyone had a jolly good time and our thanks go once again to Val Yatesfor doing such a splendid job in organising it all for us.

Barry Gallafent


Santa’s younger brother was told to put

on a clean pair of socks every day

The Chairman explains why keeping the box for his new toyreallly will increase it’s resale value

Ho! Ho! Ho! I don’t know if it was on your list do I? Val, Carole and Pippa enjoying a pre-lunch natter

Surprised or guilty? What hasyoung Master Hennesseybeen up to now?

Kathy explains to Chris how to turn bottled water in to wine

Robert Kennedy asks Graham and Julia ‘Why are Pirates

called Pirates...? Because they AAAARGH!

Christmas 2011


The Saving of ANK 515K

It all started in June of 2006. I had driven to a charity day at Drayton Manor Park in my 1950 MK VI Bentley and on the windscreen was a Rover P5 Club badge. Oh yes I am a glutton for Bentleys and Rovers.

I was asked if I had an interest in P6 Rovers, well, I did and still have. My P6 2000 TC, TGU 350M in 1977, saved my life. I was involved in a head on accident, 250 yards from my then home in Hughenden Valley, and was told by the accident investigators, if I had been driving a different type of car, that almost certainly both drivers would have died. So I was the lucky one and survived, but not so the P6.

Returning to the original plot, the Rover ANK 515K was in a garage in Luton, the owner had recently died, and his widow Mrs Thelma Brigland and her son wanted the car removed from where it had stood since 1974, as at the time of the miners’ strike with a damaged roof and smashed rear screen. Bricks were being thrown off the bridges at mining management cars passing under them on the M1 returning to Yorkshire.

I went to view the car, she had only 48,000 miles on the clock, was very dusty with five flat tyres! Thelma said “You can have it for restoration or spares. If you don’t want it, it will go to the crusher!”. What an easy decision for me to make, I bought it for £1, yes, £1. It seemed like a good deal at the time. The following day I returned to Luton with a compressor on a long hose. Hey presto, all five tyres inflated and held pressure for some years.

Time, determination and skill are all prequisites to getting an oldie back on the road


Andrew, a talented fastidious mechanic acquaintance, had agreed to trailer theRover to his workshop and to strip/weld and re-assemble the car. This was infact, regrettably, not to be. The car was finally totally dismantled in 2007/2008and all welding completed prior to being stripped of paint, de-rusted,phosphoretically coated and primed. The shell was transported to the specialist,up the motorway.

After several weeks the primed body shell was collected by Andrew, now mid2009, and eventually transported to Graham Caddick of Limm Historics, inTwyford near Buckingham, for painting, waxoyling seams etc., etc.. By this timeAndrew decided that the reconstruction was not his prime consideration, althoughit was back at his premises – Oh hell! What now? Who did I know who had thecapabilities of a total rebuild? After some serious thoughts, including shall Iabandon the project, I spoke to Graham Caddick. He had just moved in to hisnew premises in Twyford. The paintwork had been completed by him and heagreed to take on the project. This was now September/October 2010 and thedeadline was 1st April 2011, my 70th birthday – 5 months away.The bodyshell was transported back to Graham, he already had all thedemountable parts i.e. boot, bonnet, doors, wings, sills and roof panel, albeitwithout the ‘to be replaced’ Webasto and so reassembly work started. I had allthe suspension, rear axle and wheels restored and powder coated or painted,and the bumpers and over-riders re-chromed.During 2009, Deborah Squires had told me of a 3500S in Aylesbury, which Isubsequently bought as a donor car. The Sun-Dym glass was removed to befitted to the restored car, along with the dashboard and some instruments. I hadalso bought power steering. I actually have 12 other replacement doors, glassetc., 2 engines, a 3500S manual gearbox and an SD1 gearbox, all for sale.

And, as the song goes... ‘All for under a pound you know!’


So back to the re-assembly. The car now stood on four wheels, with new callipersand brake pipes. We used the original wiring loom. The replacement glass wasfitted to the doors which were nowwaxoyled, and re-rubbered. All the chromedoor fittings were re-plated and the original door cards retained. By Christmas2010, the car was starting to look like a P6.

The engine had seized and so was rebuilt with new pistons and valves etc.. Allthat which needed to bereplaced, was replaced. The carburettors were renewed and polished. By midFebruary the engine was refitted along with the reconditioned gearbox. It startedand ran perfectly, sounding good, even if a little tinny through the stainless steelexhaust system.

The car wasthen transported to Luton to Malcolm of Malcom Barton and Sons,for a new roof lining, new carpets and a new Webasto roof. All the originalfittings were used which had been refurbished, polished and plated.

At about this time I realised I had no road tax, MOT and more importantly, no logbook. Mrs Brigland did not know where the old paperwork might be. The nextstep was to contact the DVLA.

The car was MOT’d and passed without question. I had the last tax disc dated1974 and had to get a copy officially stamped by the DVLA in Oxford who thensent it to Swansea. Eventually a new V5 arrived confirming all original detailsincluding the registration number ANK 515K. Shortly afterwards, Mrs Briglandphoned to say she had been sorting through her husbands old papers and,surprise, surprise, the old log book came to view!

So it is now 30th - 31st March 2011, the car in all her glory is back on the road formy 70th, and we were in Sicily!

She has now done just over 1,000 miles, has been exhibited at SilverstoneClassics, came 2nd at the P6 Annual, won best P6 at the P4 Show at Quainton,been exhibited at the Kop Hill Climb, Princes Risborough and on the P6 standat the NEC Classic Car Show.

Was it all worth £1? Yes, without doubt. I actually found 13p under the old carpet,so it only cost me 83p Ha! Ha! I do not know how much the restoration came to;I have never added it up.

Peter Parsons


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Secretary’s Report

2012, The New Year, one full of events and not just Paulerspury ones. The sporting ones will be dominated by the Olympics and surely we will be watching and hoping for British successes. There will be a great sense of pride in how we can “put on a show” and demonstrate to the World how to host the Games.

The financial situation we are in as a country could improve or the opposite could come about. What do we do with our money? Are the banks a safe place to invest? They certainly give very little interest. Is it a good time to invest in some thing more tangible and enjoyable? Classic Rolls-Royces and Bentleys seem to be holding their value quite well. Bonhams will be holding their auctions, the Advertiser is full of temptation and the dealers will always be with us. Could we use this situation as an opportunity to upgrade or enlarge the collection to which we are addicted? Well, I dream on.

The Ethanol problem, I have mentioned before, continues to cause concern. The proper analysis of the various products now on the market to alleviate this menace is still awaited. In the mean time I am reluctant to drain tanks, Autovacs and float chambers just in case, preferring to take a badly calculated risk. Am I alone with this decision?

On a happier note, Spring and Summer will come. Those beautiful cars will shine and purr through our marvellous countryside. There will be many and various events to enjoy. Oh to be in England and an optimist to boot!

Robert Kennedy

Thank you all for your continued support in providing information and photographs for us to share with other members.

This edition of the PP features a write up on the restoration of one of our members’ ‘other’ cars, a Rover P6, a truly interesting story of one mans quest to return a vehicle to its fomer glory, spurred on by the fact that a similar model had once saved his life!

If you have something you would like to share with fellow members, do let me know and I will be sure to include it in a future edition.

Barry Gallafent

Editors Comments


Visit to Prodrive Engineering Factory - Saturday 25th February 2012

We have arranged for a visit to the Prodrive Engineering Facility in Banbury onthe above date. The visit will commence at 11am and will take approximatelythree hours. The visit will commence with refreshments in the Heritage Centremoving through the engine/transmission centre, Aston Martin and Mini customerworkshop, fabrication, CNC electrical, Aston Martin Racing Team and endingwith the Mini WRC team. The cost per person will be £29.00. Karen and I willendeavour to recommend a local hostelry for those of you that would like tohave a snack or lunch following the visit. The visit is normally limited to 30places but I have pushed them up to 35 as I hope there will be a reasonablystrong interest in the visit.

Please see booking form enclosed with this edition of the PP and respond a.s.a.p.if you would like to join us. Note: Lunch is NOT INCLUDED in the cost of thevisit and will need to be paid for at the time.

Ray and Karen Hillier

New members Lunch - Sunday 4th March 2012

This is our first New Members lunch for two years and it will provide an excellentopportunity for us to meet our new section members and they us, as well as forthem to view the Hunt House and have a tour of the facilities that exist there.The Club Shop will also be open.

The Hunt House visit will be followed by a two course carvery lunch and coffeeat The Barley Mow in Paulerspury. The cost of lunch is just £12.95.

David Davis and Mia Murray

Hertfordshire Sunday Lunch - 25th March 2012

at St. Michael’s Manor, St Albans

For the March Sunday lunch we have chosen the St Michael’s Manor hotel. Thehotel is situated in the picturesque Fishpool Street, St Albans. It has a highstandard of food and service which should give us an enjoyable lunch in a verypleasant setting. The dining room looks out onto a splendid garden and lakewith good carparking in the grounds.

Forthcoming Events


Lunch will be of two courses, main and dessert, with coffee or tea to follow, at acost of £25.50 per head. Drinks will be to your own account and gratuities atyour discretion.

After lunch there is Verulamium andits Museum to see and the Abbeyis a short drive away up the street.

If you would like to join us, pleasecomplete and return the formenclosed with this edition of the PP.

Robert and Jill Kennedy

St. George’s Day Run - Sunday 22nd AprilTo and from The Green Man at Lavendon

This year we have changed the start and finish venues on the St Georges DayRun, moving slightly Southwards in our area.

After coffee we will set off on a leisurely drive through beautiful countryside,enjoying not only the views, but of course driving your club cars. At the end ofthe drive we will arrive back atTthe Green Man for a sumptious Sunday lunchand catch up with friends old and new. The cost for adults is £27.00 per adultand £13.00 for under 12’s.

Margaret and Alan Fuller

Studio 434 Car Museum Visit - Sunday 13th May 2012

On Sunday 13th May 2012, David and Raelene Morgan have put together avisit to a car museum in Potters Bar named Studio 434. It has a collection ofover 100 fine veteran, vintage and classic motorcars together with motorcycleswhich bridge a hundred years of collecting by a local family. The collection is avast one and is cherished and maintained by them. If you want to check it outgo to www.studio434.co.uk to whet your appetite for the visit.Afterwards a three-course carvery lunch (£25.50 per head including coffee ortea) has been arranged at the Brookmans Park Golf Club situated a short driveaway from Studio 434.


Please see booking form enclosed with this edition of the PP and respond a.s.a.p.if you would like to join us.

David Morgan

Somerset House Party - 21st September 2012 for 3 to 7 Nights

By popular request we are arranging a return to Porlock. For those that did notcome last time it is a weekend or longer if you wish, with a difference.

The house sits in a stunning position overlooking Porlock Bay which nestles atthe foot of Exmoor. We have the complete run of the house and the grounds. Itis not a hotel but has been and so the bedrooms are all en suite. Bed linen andtowels are included.

We will arrange for breakfast and dinner each evening and ALL drinks will beincluded, including wine and at least one Champagne reception.

You will however have to make your own beds, make your own tea and coffee;there are no staff so you will all be given designated tasks! Not too oneroushowever.

The approximate cost for three nights dinner, bed and breakfast will be £750per couple all inclusive, the cost for additional nights will depend on the numberof people wishing to stay for longer.

An initial deposit of £100.00 will be required and please state how many nightsyou would like to stay.

The house has 13 double bedrooms and a couple of single rooms so numberswill be limited.

Please see booking slip enclosed with this edition of the PP and return a.s.a.p.

Derek Freeman

Please Note: With regard to booking for any Paulerspury Section event

The only way to book yourselves on to an event or to register your interest inone, is to return the enclosed booking form to the organiser as printed thereon.Telephone calls, emails and personal converstaions can often be forgotten, soif you don’t want to miss out, send the form back now!

You are, as always, bound by the standard terms and conditions of the clubwhen attending events and the details thereof can be found on the bookingforms.


Forthcoming Events Summary

Saturday 25th FebruaryVisit to Prodrive EngineeringOrganisers: Ray & Karen Hillier

Sunday 4th March 2012New Members LunchThe Hunt House, followed by alunch at the Barley Mow, PaulerspuryOrganisers:David Davis & Mia Murray

Sunday 25th MarchHertfordshire Pub LunchSt. Michael’s Manor, St AlbansOrganiser: Robert Kennedy

Sunday 22nd AprilSt George’s Day RunThe Green Man, LavendonOrganisers: Margaret & Alan Fuller

Sunday 13th May 2012Studio 434 Museum Visit,followed by a lunch at BrookmansPark Golf ClubOrganiser: David Morgan

Sunday 20th- Wednesday 23rd May 2012Aldeburgh WeekendOrganisers: Chris & Linda Ball

Friday 15th - Sunday 17th June 2012Annual Rally & ConcoursMain Club eventOrganiser: Hunt House

Sunday 19th August 2012Annual PicnicVenue: TBAOrganisers: Robert Kennedy

Friday 21st September 2012for 3 - 7 NightsSomerset House PartyPorlock Vale House, SomersetOrganiser: Derek Freeman

PLEASE NOTE:The Club’s standard terms andconditions of entry apply to all eventsand these can be found on the back ofall event booking forms. Please take amoment to familiarise yourself withthem as your signature where requestedon the front of the form, confirms youracceptance of the terms and conditions.

If you like what you have seen in this edition of the PP and would like to come alongto one of the above events, just contact the organiser to find out more. We really dohave a great time and it would be lovely to see more Paulerspury Section membersat our events. After all, as the saying goes, everything we do, we do it for you!

The Paulerspury Section Committee


ChairmanChris Ball (Linda) 01525 860880 [email protected] [email protected]

TreasurerKathyrn Martin 01234 714092 [email protected] [email protected]

SecretaryRobert Kennedy (Jill)The Knoll14 Harpenden Road, St Albans, Herts., AL3 5AD 01727 858833 (Home & Fax) [email protected]

Events CoordinatorMia Murray (Steven)Tattenhoe Hall Farm Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes, MK4 3AA 01908 504606 (Home & Fax) 07956 074859 (Mobile) [email protected] [email protected]

Committee MembersDavid Davis (Diana) 01462 674347 [email protected]

Val Yates (Danny) 01234 708513 [email protected]

Mark Warnock (Kay) 07792 906771 (Mobile) [email protected]

Derek Freeman (Sylvia) 01234 823255 (Home) 07836 715351 (Mobile) [email protected]

Steve Dolan (Janet) 191 Baldwins Lane, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth Hertfordshire, WD3 3LL 01923 778207 (Home & Fax) [email protected]

Barry Gallafent (Ruth) 222b Wolverton Road Blakelands Milton Keynes MK14 5AB Office: 0844 504 9500 Home: 01908 216804 Mobile: 07785 398271 [email protected]

Website CoordinatorAdrian Denham 01926 812347 [email protected]

Section Contacts

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