Minutes of the Standard Motor Club 2025 AGM

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Minutes of the 2025 AGM of the Standard Motor Company Limited, trading as the Standard Motor Club Date: Sunday 13 April 2025                   

Venue: British Motor Museum, Gaydon


1. Introduction


Peter Lockley welcomed all present to the AGM. He thanked Robert Browett for organising this year’s very well-supported road run and noted that 13 Standards and one Lea Francis had participated.


Apologies had been received from Mike and Pat Beavis, Ian Burt, Conan Lewis, Guy and Suzie Singleton, and Nigel Woodward-Sheath.


2. Minutes of the 2024 AGM


These were published in the January 2025 Standard Car Review. The Minutes were agreed.



3. Matters arising


Lynda Homer confirmed that the SMC continues to try to attract new members, younger members, and owners of other marques, to retain existing members and to engage with other Triumph clubs, citing:



• Involvement with the Borrow a Classic Scheme


• Press Releases and other publicity


• Continuing work with the Standard Triumph Forum


• Invitations to Triumph and other clubs to join our rally


• Promoting knowledge of Standards at events and shows and continued use of the ‘What is a Standard’ leaflet


• Other marques always welcome at local area meetings

Peter Lockley illustrated this by confirming that the Club had attended three major shows in the past 12 months, giving good visibility to classic car journalists:


• Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show – NEC, November

• International MG and Triumph Spares Day – Stoneleigh Park, February 2025


• Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show 2024, NEC - March 2025


• A visit to the TSSC was included as part of the activities planned for the International Rally in June 2025.


4. Chairman’s Review of the past year


Peter Lockley gave his report:


“The year 2024 ended on an extremely sad note. To quote from my 2024 AGM Review of the Year about the Committee and Club Officers, “…the vast majority are over 70 when we should be fully retired and several of us have had health issues which fortunately haven’t yet interfered with our capabilities but soon could.” I could not have predicted that so soon afterwards we would lose two extremely hard-working and vital Club officers and just this week have been advised of a third who had helped the Club a lot, John Barnes, as well as a loyal and active Club member Bob Wilkin who owned a Vanguard Phase 2 and had owned a Vanguard Sportsman.

On Friday 6 December we lost Stuart Lucas, who passed away suddenly. Jointly with Zena he was membership administrator, a post they had held and operated efficiently for some years. Zena understandably had no wish to continue without Stuart but fortunately Membership secretary Conan Lewis took over seamlessly in the short term, though he as his own business to run and so the Committee are looking into a new automated membership system to ease the workload. In the meantime I would ask everyone to renew online if they can, as it saves a tremendous amount of work and is straightforward to do provided you remember to check the prepopulated credit card details and amend to match those on your card. It’s not rocket science and if a dinosaur like me can do it anyone can. Also please try and renew in advance of the expiry of your membership or you won’t get your next Review. In the past the Committee suffered far too many people who rang up asking why they hadn’t had their Review only for a check to find they’d let their membership expire. A hard-pressed Committee, especially Conan and webshop manager Phil Homer, just don’t have the time to respond to such queries as unpaid volunteers with their own lives outside the Cub to run.


Just as we were still grieving Stuart Lucas we equally suddenly lost Steve O’Hara after some seventeen years of doing a superb award-winning job editing the Review. I won’t repeat all the glowing tributes to Steve here as there have been many in the Review and on the website but as a close friend, Committee colleague and editor his loss has been particularly sadly felt by me personally. The January 2025 Review will stand as Steve’s final memorial and because no-one has come forward to fill his shoes that task is now being filled by Lynda Homer who is Acting Editor and collating material, and she is being assisted by David Shadbolt dealing with advertising and Simon Goldsworthy doing design and layout. However this can only go on short-term and we badly need someone to replace Steve. Thirdly I have been advised of the sudden passing of John Barnes who, with his wife Judith, had been following up lapsed members. He was also a stalwart of the North Wales and Cheshire Group.


Meanwhile, to the outside world and indeed the membership, things continue as normal with the Club, with members taking the Club for granted to such an extent that a member rang me last month asking why he couldn’t get hold of Steve. I suppose it goes to prove that some people never read their Review, as he was always saying to me, and don’t look at the website or Facebook pages.

However, there are still a lot of positives within the Club. Though we have shown a small loss this year we are still financially solvent with good reserves and we remain one of the best value Clubs.


Our renewal subscription may rise from its current £34 (£37 to join) but compared with the TR Register, which has no spares scheme, at £52 and £57, we are good value, and the Register are putting a proposal to their members to raise their subscription to £72!


We make a point of being seen at shows such as those NEC even though we spent only £29 on expenses at the March Restoration Show! Most importantly we have the International Rally from 13th-15th June at Daventry with some great visits and a classic motoring journalist as guest speaker, so let’s impress him with a good attendance. If you haven’t booked in do so now.


Our spares schemes are thriving but as we all get older we are looking to relieve the burden on spares and fulfilment officers by looking at the possibility of outside help.


It only remains for me to thank everyone in our increasingly overworked committee for all the work they do, along with spares fulfilment officers, Area Group leaders and helpers and all those who help at events such as Beaulieu and the NEC, as well as those Club officers not on the committee. We can’t go on as we are but let’s hope those listening to me or reading this later on will have been provided with some food for thought as to keeping their Standards on the road.”


5. Presentation of Honorary Membership

Peter Lockley was delighted to reward long-serving member and Vanguard spares officer Peter Foster with honorary life membership of the Club.


6. Treasurer’s Report and 2024 Accounts of the Standard Motor Company Limited, trading as the Standard Motor Club

Lynda Homer presented the annual accounts, which had been published on the website in March 2025, drawing attention to the following points:


• Corporation tax will be nil


• Subscription income is slightly down over 2023, but this is due to timing of when cheques are banked


• Sales of spares and other sales is up on 2023


• Our deposit account interest rate went up


• Accountancy costs including book-keeping have increased because Heather May is our self-employed bookkeeper


• Donation income includes a bequest of £1,000


• The cost of printing and posting the magazine has increased because of increase in both the price of paper and postage


• Stock values have been adjusted slightly - although we can quantify the value of new spares purchased, we cannot stock take all the new old stock and second-hand items


• The Literature Archives and Photo Archives have not been depreciated on the grounds that the assets have indeterminate lives and as such we are advised that no depreciation will be charged, this has always been the case


• The Income Statement shows a deficit for the financial year 2024 of £2,858


• Spares sales subsidise all the other costs needed to keep our club running


• Industry-standard Xero accountancy package adopted January 2024 makes book-keeping smoother, allowing data to be imported from the webshop and from Worldpay


• The VAT threshold rose from £85,000 to £90,000 from April 1st 2024


• Our turnover is above the VAT threshold


• Although we need to charge VAT on appropriate sales we can reclaim the VAT on purchases. We consistently reclaim more VAT than we pay. In 2024 we reclaimed £1464.03 in total.


Chris Janes (721) asked how much the Club charges for a full-page advertisement in the Standard Car Review. Lynda Homer advised that the rate was £100 + VAT per page per issue.


Don Szymanski (7872) asked if we could open an ISA. Lynda Homer advised that this was not possible for a business.


7. Reports from other officers


Vice Chairman’s Report

Phil Homer, who is also Webshop Manager, Website Manager, Historian, Pre-48 Spares Officer and Fulfilment Officer, gave his report.


He started by outlining the systems used by the Club, and their various inter-dependencies:

• Webshop Software (Shopwired)


• Accounting System (Xero)


• Merchant Management System (Worldpay)


• Database of Members and Cars (Excel)


• Bank Account (Co-op Bank)


Then he reported on the webshop:


• Current Software been online since April 2007


• Over 1,000 products - including Memberships and Renewals


• Now over 10,000 successful transactions with Customers


• Between 120 and 130 new orders per month


• Total turnover inc VAT = £600K


• We keep the VAT, thank you Rachel Reeves


He confirmed that his roles were taking 8 hours a day to perform and that help was badly needed. He welcomed new member Hugh Price, who was taking over from retiring officer Paul Newsome as Fulfilment Officer for aluminium castings manufacturing and delivery.



Paul Newsome was thanked for his service to the Club.


Graham Hart is now responsible for the development of new lines of pre-48 spares.



Membership and Registrar Report


Lynda Homer presented Conan Lewis’s report in his absence.

The number of new members had increased and new cars, previously unknown to the Club, were still being found.

Club membership as of 31 December 2024 (previous year shown in brackets):


• Full Members = 899 (882)


• Associate Members = 91 (80)


• Honorary Members = 9 (8)


• UK = 756 (743)


• Rest of World = 143 (139)


New members:


• 2024 = 152


• 2023 = 135


• 2022 = 124


• 2021 = 124


• Best month for new members = Sept (19)


• Lowest month = Feb (4)


How new members heard about the Club (previous year shown in brackets):


• Website = 95 (90)


• Previous owner of car = 13 (14)


• Another member = 13 (11)


• Facebook = 7 (5)


Standards registered with Members: - see the table.


Robert Browett (44) requested that owners of Triumph cars be reported as a category.


Local Area Groups and Post-Vintage Archives


Roger Dealtry confirmed that eleven local groups continued to thrive and that two new ones, Suffolk Coastal and Wiltshire, were just starting up. A wide variety of events were being held or attended, keeping the name Standard alive and bringing club members together socially. He thanked all the group leaders for listening to their members and making this possible. He also thanked Malcolm Pentelow for all his hard work in the Mid-Lincs group which was now closing.


He was pleased to report that the post-vintage archives were starting to be used and provide valuable help to members, with approximately 30% of those present having logged on and accessed the materials. Digitisation has allowed club members to access rare material or print ‘workshop copies’. Model specifications, parts lists, service manuals, wiring diagrams and instruction manuals are all now available in the members’ area of the Club website. Other materials will continue to be added over time.

Borrow A Classic



Roger advised that this is the new name for the Classic Car Loan Project, which is aimed to introduce young people to classic motoring as a hobby. The Club is making available a 1958 Pennant, donated by Mark Hewitt, which has been completely recommissioned by Graham Hart. Graham confirmed it had now achieved an MoT, and that although this was not a legal requirement, it was required by BAC as independent proof of due diligence, i.e. that the car being offered to the scheme by the Club was in a safe and roadworthy condition. He said two new bumpers would improve its appearance if anyone had any, and Steve George (6620) offered a new back bumper.


Don Szymanski (7872) offered a handy tip for chrome cleaning which involved rubbing the area with tomato ketchup on aluminium foil.



Borrow A Classic is now seeking a suitable candidate to take on the car for a 12-month term. Initially they had been looking for a borrower either in the North West or the South West areas, so that Graham Hart and Roger Dealtry respectively could be nearby to act as mentors to the successful borrower. However, as insufficient suitable candidates had come forward, the search area was now being expanded to be nationwide. Roger asked if anyone would be prepared to act as mentor, should a candidate now be found in other areas, and four of those present volunteered:


• Robin Wilson (6147) – Worcestershire


• Frank Williams (890) – North Wales, Wirral, Cheshire


• Steve George (6620) – Bedfordshire


• Peter Mason (135) – North Hampshire



Secretary’s Report


Lynda Homer advised that although she had said at the last AGM that she wished to step down from the role this year, she had now handed over the Minutes Secretary part of the job to David Shadbolt and was therefore prepared to continue. She attends Committee Meetings by Zoom, these take place every 4-6 weeks in the evening, about 1.5 hour long, was involved with running the International Rally in 2023 and 2024 and again this year. She would continue for time being as Company Secretary.


Publicity Officer


David Shadbolt reported that it had been another busy year, with press releases being issued in connection with the Club’s Golden Jubilee year, the International Rally and the various major events attended. Sample press releases were shown, along with the supporting photographs supplied to editors. He asked all present to let him know about anything going on in their areas, so that it could be used a press release material to continue to promote the Club and the Standard marque as widely as possible.

David added that he was now managing the classified advertising section in the Review and reminded those present of the facility to advertise cars for sale, parts for sale and parts wanted free of charge in the magazine.


Don Szymanski (7872) advised that he has some cine film of the Standard works shortly before demolition, and it was suggested that this could be converted into video format and published on the website.


Hugh Price (new member, number not yet allocated) suggested the issue of a story about spares remanufacturing.


Paul Newsome (4854) advised that he has 28 sets of patterns and core boxes, and asked that efforts be made to get the Coventry Evening Telegraph on board, particularly regarding events like Coventry Motofest.


Standard Car Review Editor


Lynda Homer said she was determined to keep the monthly magazine going, despite the sad loss of Steve O’Hara on Boxing Day. She was grateful for Simon Goldsworthy’s expert help with design. She was working with Conan Lewis and Phil Homer to keep the membership database accurate and up-to-date, and was also grateful to David Shadbolt for help with proof reading and Trading Standards classified adverts and to Graham Hart who was pursuing commercial advertising opportunities. A 10% discount with an oil supplier would be announced in the May edition.


She offered thanks to all members who were sending her articles, and particularly to Bryn Healey (5150) for, most recently, reporting the amazing success of the North Wales and Cheshire Group in raising £800 for charity in 2024, details of which would appear in the May edition.

An advert seeking help with the Editor role had appeared in several recent magazines, but without success. She appealed now for a team of sub-editors to help find stories and content material for future editions. For example, about particular models, about restorations, about event plans and event reports, technical tips or anything else of interest to our Club members. Drive It Day was approaching on Sunday 27 April, and a photograph and a few words would make great content.


She asked all present to let her have their stories and photos, as so far she had generated or been sent plenty of (hopefully) interesting copy, but is trying to build up a library of resources to use each month. She is also aiming to link features in the magazine with our website, using QR codes, so a story featured in the magazine and on the website may have more detail or images or video material online.


Richard Pearce (5978) asked if Lynda’s computer was backed up in case of failure. Lynda replied that it was backed up to the Cloud.


Hugh Price advised that he had edited the Lea Francis magazine for 20 years. Lynda explained that Simon Goldsworthy worked in InDesign, an industry-standard software package, and that she supplied him with content as Word documents.


Frank Williams (890) said that he had discussed a story with Steve O’Hara but that it had not yet been used. Lynda asked him to resend it to her as any material that had been sent to Steve O’Hara, but that had not subsequently appeared, must be considered as lost, as Steve worked on his own computer, his passwords were not known, and we had no right of access to his property anyway.

Paul Newsome (4854) explained that every new car sold would have had a list of distributors, and that these could be used as material. Roger Dealtry asked for one to be sent to him.



Pete Foster (3110) advised that he lots of books and other items in his Vanguard archive. Roger Dealtry asked that they be sent to him for scanning.


Chris Janes (721) said that he had edited the Standard Car Review for 20 years and proposed a vote of thanks to Lynda Homer for all her hard work in keeping the magazine going and for making such an excellent job of it, and a round of applause followed. Robert Browett (44) later made a similar proposal and Lynda was given another round of applause!



Paul Newsome (4854) suggested that the Club should regard models badged as Triumph but built at the Standard factory as ‘our own’, i.e. Mayflower, Renown and Roadster. Peter Lockley confirmed that we had always been happy to welcome anyone to the Club, even if they didn’t have a car. The constitution had been changed some time ago to allow the sales of parts for other cars.


Hugh Price suggested that the committee be tasked with coming up with a data security strategy. David Shadbolt agreed to add this to the agenda of the next committee meeting for discussion.


Graham Hart, committee member without portfolio


Graham reported that, as a committee member without portfolio, he had taken on a number of activities for the club, these being:


• Lapsed member follow-ups - emailing members whose haven’t renewed their membership
• Becoming the pre-1948 parts sourcing officer, seeking engineering improvements for pre-48 cars – the latest offering soon to be available will be the “Just stop oil”, a modern lip seal kit with sleeve to replace the rear scroll


• Also looking at any serviceable parts like track rod ends, etc.


Pete Foster (3110) commented that the track rods ends for a Triumph Renown were the same as those for the Vanguard. Graham responded that neither were available anywhere but that he had an appointment with Amsteer in 10 days’ time to discuss the track rod ends issue.


8. Election of Officers of the Standard Motor Company Limited, trading as the Standard Motor Club


Peter Lockley stated that four positions were due for re-election this year:


• Vice Chairman – currently held by Phil Homer


• Treasurer and Secretary – currently held by Lynda Homer


• Chief Engineering Officer – currently held by Brian Parkes


• Registrar – currently held by Conan Lewis


All current post-holders had indicated that they were willing to continue and as no other nominations had been received it was agreed unanimously that all four be re-appointed.



The ratification of two committee members without portfolio was also sought:


• Graham Hart


• Chris Hughes


These were also approved unanimously.


9. Main events 2025


The committee outlined forthcoming events:


International Rally – Mercure Daventry Court Hotel – 13/14/15 June 2025


• Guest Presenter – James Walshe

• Book online or take a form today


• Pre-enter or come for the day


• Road runs and visits, Friday and Saturday


• Static Rally Sunday, Concours, Raffle, Spares Bring and Buy


• Hotel closes for discount bookings on May 15th


• No closing date for Static Rally


• Bring a Modern if your Standard isn’t ready


• Entry £10, includes programme, rally pack and souvenir item.


Lynda Homer expressed disappointment that there were currently only 33 rally bookings, when there had been 70 by this time last year. The hotel had provided excellent service in 2023 and had responded to feedback given by the Club so that air conditioning had now been fitted in the dining room and we have been offered a choice of three starters, three main courses and three desserts for both of our evening meals, She confirmed that a huge amount of work had gone into making this event a success and asked that members support it.


Pete Foster (3110) commented that for the second year running the event clashed with Fathers Day weekend and that this might be affecting bookings.


Standard Triumph Picnic – Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa – Sunday 22 June 2025



Robert Browett (44) expressed disappointment at the choice of venue, but Peter Lockley responded that it was what was available that was affordable.


Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show – NEC – 7/8/9 November 2025


Peter Lockley advised that he has applied for a stand and awaits a response from the organiser.


Also lots of Local Group events


Steve George (6620) advised that the TR Register Lea Valley Group was organising an all-Standard day at the Shuttleworth Collection, near Biggleswade. He will send details to Lynda Homer for inclusion in the Review.


10. Any Other Business


Chris Janes (721) referred to the Bangers & Cash television programme, featuring Mathewsons in Thornton-le-Dale, and asked that the Club impress on them that Triumph didn’t make engines post war. He was concerned that Standard engines and the Standard marque in general received too little recognition and coverage. Chris Baker (7232) responded that when they had taken their 1934 Standard 10 to Thornton-le-Dale they had found Derek Mathewson to be very knowledgeable about Standards. Peter Lockley commented that this would be the influence of the programme’s producers, rather than a failing of Mathewsons.


Robin Wilson (6147) announced that, by agreement with the solicitors handling the late Steve O’Hara’s estate, he had been allowed to rescue bound copies of the Standard Car Review covering the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s up to and including 2007 on behalf of the Club, as they had no material value to the estate. He asked if anyone could give them a home, on behalf of the Club, preferably keeping them all together. As nobody volunteered he agreed to be their caretaker, on behalf of the Club, for the time being.


Chris Muckian (7030) asked that the vehicle classes at the International Rally be reviewed, as his car was often the only entry in the ‘Modified’ class, even though it was no more or less ‘modified’ than many other vehicles present. Dave Homer (7188) commented that he was hoping to bring a modified Standard to the 2025 rally and that he had won a prize with a modified Standard in 2017. David Shadbolt agreed to add it to the agenda of the next committee meeting for discussion.


Steve George (6620) announced that after three and a half years of trying, he and Phil Homer had finally sourced sills for the Standard 8/10 models.

Chairman’s Cup

Peter Lockley announced that, with further confirmation of his choice based on the level of applause given during the meeting, he was awarding the Chairman’s Cup this year to Lynda Homer, in recognition of her magnificent efforts to keep the Standard Car Review alive.


The meeting closed at 4pm.