Members and their guests had the opportunity to meet and catch up with each other at their final event in their social programme – the Annual Black-Tie Dinner and Auction, held in the National Motor Museum, on Saturday night.

After being entertained by the FB Pocket Orchestra, members sat down to a delicious 3 course dinner before the speeches and auction took place.  Mike Timmins was thanked for his services towards the Trust by Lord Montagu, who presented him with a picture of his favourite car, the frog eyed sprite. Mike opened the evenings bidding by raising his hand for a tank ride for two, which was generously donated by fellow member Jim Carr, finally securing the bid. Charles White was successful in obtaining a seat in next year’s London to Brighton – narrowly pipping Steve Austin in the bidding process – who settled on an overnight stay for 2 at the prize winning 5-star Chewton Glen.

Other great Lots were snapped up. A drive in a museum car, chauffeur driven through the New Forest Drive ending with a cream tea at Montagu Arms, a 2 years subscription donated by member James Elliot of Octane Magazine, and a fabulous opportunity to dine with 9 of your friends in Palace House.

Grateful thanks go to our donors of the above Lots as well as our sponsors – Jan Ward Holmes of Millers Oils for the stunning table arrangements which were given to a guest at each table in a surprise ‘seat’ draw, the delicious chocolates courtesy of Kaye Crouch NFU Mutual New Forest, and our photographs were sponsored by David Bond of Footman James Private Client.
Lastly – a round of applause for our Auctioneer Duncan Moir for his effortless aplomb in achieving a great end result which raised over £7800 for the National Motor Museum Trust.
A great evening all round!

CORNWALL RALLY

The weekend before the dinner had a number of members (24) winding their way down to Cornwall for this years ‘rally’ around St Mawes. As Charles White contributes here:-
The weather forecast for our weekend at St Mawes was decidedly poor. However, as it turned out, the weather experienced over the weekend was contrary to the forecast and barely blighted our enjoyment at all. The suggested visit to the Motor Museum in Moretonhampstead was well-worth a visit, the 150 or so interesting exhibits were displayed on two floors – mainly motorcycles on the top floor. So, onto The Idle Rocks in St Mawes, where in the evening we congregated with the other B100 guests at the Watch House; a restaurant only yards from the Idle Rocks and enjoyed dinner whilst making acquaintance with our fellow guests – most of whom we were meeting for the first time. The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, we departed for Land’s End whilst our fellow travellers departed in the opposite direction for the Eden Project, where David Marklew gleefully made it to the very top of the rainforest biome.

From humble beginnings as a china clay pit and one mans determination to create the impossible, huge earthmoving machines as big as a 3 story block of flats were used to clear the site…(there I got the motoring bit in!)

We then all enjoyed a three-course Gala Dinner at the Idle Rocks adjourning to the lounge for coffee and chat finally tending our farewells around midnight. How lovely that the rain held off over the weekend and it certainly didn’t dampen our spirits. To sum up: an enjoyable and uplifting experience in good company. Cornish Gin Sandwiches anyone?