The Heritage Motor Centre is on the B4100 just north of M40 junc. 12. We will have a reserved parking area. Members and their guests will be directed to the Lecture Room where stickers will be distributed. These entitle you to free admission to the museum. This is conditional on your attendance at the AGM. Those not attending the meeting should pay the normal admission price. There is a restaurant in the Heritage Motor Centre for meals at lunchtime.

• 10am Assemble for the road run at Sainsbury’s Canley, Coventry, junction of Vanguard avenue and Herald Avenue, CV4 9BJ, at the heart of the old Standard factory site just off the A45. Refreshments available in the store cafe. Road run organised by Steve O’Hara. 0121 708 2813.

• 10.30am Depart on road run to the Heritage Motor Centre.
• 2pm - 5pm Annual General Meeting
• Coffee/tea will be served during the meeting.

The agenda for the meeting and a request for nominations for Committee posts will be published in the March issue of the magazine. Please contact the Secretary, Lynda Homer, with any questions about the meeting.

Lynda Homer, 43 The Ridgeway, St Albans, Herts AL4 9NR

01727 868405 lyndahomer@standardmotorclub.org.uk

(I apologise to those of you Midlanders missing the sea breeze – we will be back on the coast in 2013)

We will be based at the Sysonby Knoll, an AA*** Hotel on the edge of Melton Mowbray, a market town famous for its Pork Pies and Stilton Cheese – we’re sure to be tasting some of the finest local fayre.

Melton Mowbray and the Sysonby Knoll Hotel is a popular base for classic car groups with great quiet surrounding country roads that are perfect for our cars.

I have not yet finally decided on an Itinerary but some of the possibilities are as follows:

Belvoir Castle overlooking the Vale of Belvoir                  or Belton House (National Trust               

Woolsthorpe Manor - National Trust, birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton, with science museum and tea shop – a good morning coffee or afternoon tea stop.

Abbey Pumping Station (Leicester) - Opened in 1891, the Abbey Pumping Station pumped Leicester's sewage to the treatment works at Beaumont Leys. The grand Victorian building and beautifully decorated beam engines were a cause of great civic pride. When it closed in 1964, the site was preserved because of the four magnificent beam steam engines that were used to pump the sewage. The engines were built in Leicester by Gimsons and today are rare examples of Woolf compound rotative beam engines. Three of the four engines have been restored back to working condition. The might, power and beauty of Victorian engineering can be seen throughout the year, and working at special steam events, the only place in Britain this magnificent sight can be seen. The museum also has exhibitions on light and optics, historic transport and public health. Next door is the National Space Centre which is also a possibility for us to visit.

I’m also looking into the possibility of a tour around the Toyota Factory at Burnaston, Derby, just 35 miles away. This is where the current Avensis and Auris Hybrid models are built and the next generation Prius is likely to be built there too – a chance to see how a modern car is made in a state of the art factory by British workers.

Please let me know of these what you especially would like to do, or not do. I need to know quickly for the Toyota Factory visit.

There will be other possibilities … I know you like some surprises too …

HOTEL

For our group, the hotel prices are around 12% lower than their standard 2 day half-board rate, but we must fill at least 20 rooms.

Prices are per person per night half-board and include a 3 course dinner on Friday and Sunday evenings and a light buffet on the Saturday evening.

·         Single bedded rooms                     (6 rooms available)          £75.00

·         Standard Double / Twin                (6 rooms available)          £55.00

·         Superior Double / Twin                 (7 rooms available)          £60.00

·         Executive Double / Twin               (4 rooms available)          £65.00

·         Four Poster                                         (3 rooms available)          £65.00

Please could you book directly with the Hotel, and let me know also. They will ask for a £20.00 deposit per person to secure each bedroom.

The Hotel’s phone number is 01664 563563, and please ask for either Vicky or Jenny and mention the Standard Motor Club and/or me.

If you have ANY questions please just ask.. I would be grateful if you would confirm your requirements (firm or tentative) both to me and the Hotel in the next 2 weeks.

Thanks,

Conan