25th and 26th June – National Rally

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Six Branch members made a weekend of the National Rally, by attending on both days and staying near to Kelmarsh Hall, Northants. We were also joined by former Chairman of Cambridge Branch, Frank and his wife Sue and we all met up at Boxworth Services to drive to our weekend stay at the Premier Inn at Corby. We saw a few other Minors en route to Kelmarsh here too.

The Saturday of the Rally saw us setting up our tent and arranging our Minors on the stand. Carolyn and John had brought their Old English White Traveller, Tricia and Jimmy had driven their Maroon Traveller, Victoria, Chris and Marion came in their Grey Austin Pick-Up and for the Saturday only we were joined by Frank and Sue in their white saloon.

Over the weekend we were selling our charity themed squares in aid of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and managed to sell them all. This year we entered a team in to the inter-Branch driving challenge. Chris and John took part in John’s Traveller where he had to be blindfolded, while Chris gave him directions around the course.

We met up with a few of our members, as Robin and Martin came to give us a look on the stand and we went to see Bryan in the spares section. We saw Malcolm who had wanted to buy one of our badges for his badge board and also a gentleman who we had seen at the last National Rally when he wanted to see if he could fit in to Tricia’s Traveller. He did and he told us that he had bought one. We caught up with another member Ton, who was staying with the Dutch contingent. And that was just Saturday!

On Sunday we were down to three vehicles on the stand as Frank and Sue had gone to be with the Modified Register display. Chris and John learnt that they had come fifth in the inter-Branch challenge, so were not taking part in the Sunday section. The eventual winners were 1st, West Yorkshire, 2nd, South Cheshire and 3rd, Bristol Branches.

Branch Liaison Officer Sue Akrill drew the ticket for the winner of the charity squares which was Lewis from Peterborough Branch who one £20. With donations over the weekend we raised a total of £96 for our charity. On the Branch stands there was judging for a decorated themed stand and a non-themed stand. We came a very close second to West Norfolk Branch in the no-themed stands (apparently there was only one point in it) and we received a bottle of bubbly. All in all we had a very good weekend.

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