| Report
on the Cotswolds Roadrun, August 2006
The cars outside
Chevenage House, Tetbury, click on the left or right of the photograph
to see an enlargement of that half
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" What a masterpiece
of organisation! Every
thing well planned and obviously well researched. We
thoroughly enjoyed our few days and thank you both most
sincerely for all your hard work - John and Brenda
Worby"
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Here is the
report on Members enjoying 3 days slow rambling around the
Cotswolds. The
participants met at Gloucester Docks on Tuesday lunchtime,
following lunch in "Fosters on the Docks". As we set
off, we were caught in a shower of rain, but that was to be
the only rain we saw during daylight hours for the duration.
Heading south down the A38, the rain cleared and by the time
we arrived at Slimbridge Widfowl |
Some of the
party with a tallship in Gloucester Docks |
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Flamingos in
Gloucestershire |
and Wetlands Trust the
sun had taken over. The collection of birds is quite remarkable,
what is more remarkable is how they are persuaded to stay there
for us visitors to enjoy and not to fly away! And so easy to get
round too, due to the level nature of the ground.
Next stop after a short drive
through tiny lanes was the Jenner Museum at Berkley. There is a
connection with Slimbridge as Jenner was one of the first to
investigate bird migration, previously no-one had known what had
happened to birds in winter. But Jenner's most famous discovery was
inoculation against smallpox, and his work has resulted in the
elimination of the disease worldwide - thus he is the greatest saver
of human life, ever. |
| The next part of the
run was most tricky for the cars. We needed to climb the Cotswolds
escarpment, and there are a number of routes, each of them varying
in difficulty, but all of them serious climbs. The one we chose
was out of Wotton under Edge, rewarding us with fantastic views at
or near the top. From there it was a short run to our overnight
accommodation at the Egypt Mill Hotel.
Pre-dinner drinks in the hotel
were followed by a super meal in the hotel. |
The cars at the Jenner Museum
(Len Barr) |
|
John Worby,
with dirty trousers, emerges from the entrance of Hetty Pegler's
Tump" |
Whilst everyone
complained about the prospect of a 9-15am start the following morning, it seems
that everyone made, it except for the two organisers who were
suitably chastised for still being in breakfast!
Our first stop was at a 3000 year
old Long Barrow, Hetty Pegler's Tump. We sent a band of plucky explorers, armed
only with a flashlight to investigate the burial chambers! Extraordinary
that we are able to do such a thing in 21st Century
Gloucestershire!
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Bob Richardson, Pat Beavis and
John Worby "deep" underground!
(Mike Beavis) |
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Another view of
the line-up at Chavenage |
Then another pretty
run to Chevenage House, near Tetbury.
There's a certain amount of pride
to be able to drive the cars through the main gate and park them
outside a private stately home, to be greeted by the owner. And we
were certainly made welcome at Chevenage by the Loosley-Williams
family. Firstly we were entertained to coffee in the ballroom then
followed a highly entertaining tour of the house, being treated to
stories associated with it over the past 500 years ( ghosts and
all) After an hour and a quarter Graham was just getting into his
stride when unfortunately it was time to leave. Not before
pictures of the cars lined up outside were completed of course.
From there it was just 2 miles to
Tetbury.
First there was time for a visit
to the Tetbury police museum and a short stroll around the
village. Having spotted no "royal" residents, it was
then into the Priory Inn for lunch. |
| The afternoon was
taken up by a short trip to Rodmarton Manor, where once again the cars
were invited to park with the house as a background for our
photographs. Rodmarton was build in the early 20th century and is
the largest example of a house completely furnished in the Arts
and Crafts style. Whilst we didn't get a guided tour this time,
there was adequate time to stroll round the rooms and the gardens
- refreshingly we found these to be a little overgrown, this
seemed vaguely familiar, someone was clearly having difficulty
keeping up with the weeding - I know just how they feel!
The return run to the hotel was
spectacular and memorable for a couple of steep hills and hairpins, this time
downhill from Minchinhampton Common into Nailsworth. Plenty of
time for a refresh before the evening meal. |
(above) Dennis and
Shelia Brown with the Flying 12
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Bob and Val
with the '34 Avon |
Brian and Betty
Parkes with the 14 |
Mike and Pat
Beavis with the Triumph Stag |
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Phil
and Lynda at Rodmarton |
For Dinner,
we had chosen to eat at the " Britannia", a
short walk away in Nailsworth. When we arrived, the
place was already full, a testimony to their super food
but consequently a delay before our meals were served.
Plenty of time to chat about the interesting events of
the day.
Then early to bed (!)
of course as there is another 9.15am start tomorrow. |
The
"Egypt Mill, superbly situated on the River Frome |
|
Bob
Richardson on the towpath at the Coates Portal of the
Sapperton Tunnel |
Wednesday
starts on a watery theme with two visits to supposedly
"wet venues". The first is the Sapperton
Tunnel on the defunct Thames and Severn Canal. The
second was a walk to find the source of the Thames. In
this second endeavour we failed miserably. No doubt as a
result of the dry summer, we found the riverbed
completely dry ( we could walk in it) and the springs
that were bubbling when we did a reconnaissance back in
March had disappeared. However, a nice morning's walk
across English meadows to walk of our breakfasts. |
The
group of participants take a coffee break outside the
"AV8" restaurant on Kemble Aerodrome |
The next
was a refreshment stop on Kemble Aerodrome. Surprisingly,
our entry onto the field was not challenged. Following
the signs for our destination, the cafe by the control
tower, we had a most interesting trip around the
airfield buildings, scrap and brand new commercial jets
and were held up by traffic lights from crossing the
main runway whilst an aircraft took off. Suitably
refreshed at the "AV8" restaurant we then set
off up the Fosseway to our final destination, the
Cotswolds Motoring Museum in Bourton on the Water.
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The
cars arriving at Bourton
(Len
Barr)
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Len
Barr |
Here we had arranged to park the 7 participating cars in
the small gravelled forecourt, where they instantly became a source of
interest to the visitors to this busy venue. This allowed us to view the
exhibits in this recently extended museum, have lunch and walk
around Bourton from a central point. Sadly, this was the last
arranged stop of the tour so it was time to say farewells and
head off in our separate directions.
In summary then,
an ideal opportunity to use the cars for what they were designed
and a great social event with friends. All of the Standards,
dating back to 1934, performed faultlessly and the sun shone
more or less all the time. In years to come we will remember
this trip as one of the best Standard Roadruns ever.
| "Just
a few lines to thank you both for organising such a
splendid couple of days. Both Bob and myself thoroughly
enjoyed ourselves" - Len Barr |
If you would like
to organise a similar event in your area of the country, we
would love to hear from you. There may be a willing band of
enthusiasts just waiting to explore your area of the
countryside. I look forward to hearing from you.
Report by: Phil
Homer
Photos by: Phil
Homer, except where acknowledged
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