​I feel very humbled having read the Facebook campaign to keep me as your Centre Chairman for another year due to the Covid-19 outbreak.  The comments were lovely and made me feel very proud that you think so highly of me. 
 
However, due to the ongoing issues Andrea and I still continue to face on the rally field from a very small number of ralliers, following the suspension of a centre member, I don’t feel it is possible for me to continue as your Chairman and, quite frankly, I don’t feel the need to suffer any longer.  Hopefully, with a new leader things will change.
 
I will continue leading this great centre to the best of my ability until September when my three year term will end.  Again, thank you for your lovely comments and I remain one incredibly proud Centre Chairman.
 
Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I hope this message finds you all safe and well.  

With the lock down measures being relaxed a little in certain areas, and Nick Lomas, Director General of the CAMC, campaigning to the Chief Medical Officer to allow the CAMC sites to open its sites it’s time for us, as a centre, to look ahead.  Each month, during our virtual committee meetings, we have been discussing the viability of our current year’s rallies, obviously we can’t do anything until the government and CAMC give us authority but Rally Officers should start reviewing their plans for autumn rallies*.  

We also need to think about the 2021 rally programme.  Currently we only have 33 rallies in the proposed programme, so those of you with time on your hands, get planning those weekends away and contact the Rally Sec to get them in the calendar.  It would be a shame not to hit the 100 rallies target.

*I do not have a crystal ball or a direct line to the Prime Minister, just an optimistic view on life, LOL.

Stay safe.

Hi all, 

I hope you are all still safe and well.

Dave Howarth’s funeral details are now available: it will take place next Monday 11th May at 3.15 p.m. at Stockport Crematorium.  Unfortunately, the crematorium will only take 10 mourners, places that understandably will be for his immediate family. 

The family just want their own floral arrangement but donations may be sent to Guide Dogs For The Blind for those who wish to do so.  Anyone who knew Dave, will remember how passionate he was about Guide Dogs, having spent lots of his own time assisting in puppy training.  His Remembrance Book on the Centre’s web site will be removed on Monday and the comments sent to Sheila, so if you want to upload a message for her and the family, please do so before then.

Last Saturday night, on what would have been the Saturday evening at the 50th Celebration Rally, Freddie Fantastic, who was booked for the rally, gave a very successful virtual performance to the centre’s children via Zoom (on line video conferencing).  The best comment I heard was “it was so nice to hear the kids laughing together”, so it was really great to hear that the committee’s efforts had been appreciated; well done team.

Stay safe.

​Hi, I trust you are all safe and well.  

I have read that some of our centre members have lost loved ones to this dreadful covid-19 epidemic.  My heart goes out to you and your families as, I am sure, the rest of the centre also feel for you in your ‘hour of need’; much love to you all.

It was interesting reading what you had got up to during the Easter weekend, very imaginative!  There was play your cards right, whisky tasting, stair climbing, magic shows, singing, van cleaning, sun bathing, BBQ’s but best of all was the reminiscing.  There were some great photos.  It also seems that there will be a lot of fit ralliers when we finally all get back out in our vans!

On Tuesday evening, we held our virtual committee meeting; the good thing about the virtual meetings is I don’t have to go shopping for the ingredients to make the brews half way through the meeting, LOL.  It was suggested that we present Rally Officers who have had their rallies cancelled due to Covi-19 with their Rally Officer gifts which are different style drinking glasses with the 50th Celebration motif engraved on them.  This was unanimously agreed as it was felt they have already done a lot of prep work and when the rallies were cancelled they have had additional work.  So, at a suitable time after the lock down has been lifted, we will get the presentations organised.  Thanks again Rally Officers.

To finish I would just like to say how impressed I am of Captain Tom Moore, if he can raise that incredible amount of money, £12,000,000, for the NHS by walking 100 lengths of his back garden at his age, we, Cheshire ralliers, can surely survive a bit longer with lock down.  You can’t keep a Military Vet down.

Stay safe.

Hi fellow ralliers,

​I hope you, your family and friends are all safe and well in these troubling times.  From what I have heard and seen you are all pulling together to enable us all to get through these terrible days, some of you by some very ingenious methods; well done.

Some of you may have heard that two of our Easter rallies had already purchased the chocolate eggs for their rallies.  Following the Rally Officers’ suggestions, your committee paid for the Easter Eggs and let the RO’s donate them to local charities.  The eggs have gone to a local food bank in Widnes and the Children’s Ward at Macclesfield General Hospital.   I appreciate it is only a small gesture but, as one famous store states “every little helps”.  Again well done all.

The Easter Newsletter has been completed and will be sent out via e-mail to you all on Monday, so keep an eye on your inbox, if you don’t see it please check your Junk or Spam box; thanks.

Enjoy your Easter celebrations, as much as you can, and I look forward to hearing or reading about your exploits under lock down.  

Stay safe.

Oh, one last thing if I may; As a former Royal Air Force aircraft engineer, when a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off.  You sit still and trust the engineer.  Stay on the train.

​The Cheshire Centre committee has now taken the very difficult decision to suspend all centre activities until Government advice changes.  This will obviously impact on our way of life but, for the good of society, I feel it is the right thing to do.

Your committee are working very hard to plan for the future, in particular the 50th Celebration Rally, but, as you can imagine with Government advice changing daily, that is very difficult.  Needless to say, as soon as we know anything we will inform you via the Weekly Updates, Web Site and Social Media. 

We will review our position on running rallies on a week by week basis and be guided by Government advice with primary concern being the safety of our members.  Whilst this is unsettling your patience and understanding is appreciated at this very difficult time.

On a personal note I would like ALL centre members to stay safe and to stay in touch, in particular those centre members living on their own.  Please feel free to pick up the phone for help or just a chat.

As you all, hopefully know by now, we are running a Craft Fair on the Saturday of the Celebration Rally between 2 and 4 pm in the main marquee.  It promises to be an interesting couple of hours looking at other ralliers skills, interests and passions.

We have received a number of people who are planning to show or sell their wares, but if you fancy showing the ralliers your talents be that your art work, photographs, collections etc or want to sell the little gadgets you have made then please contact Kev Patterson as soon as possible so we can allocate the correct amount of room in the marquee.

With less than 50 days to go to the rally, final planning is well underway, so please contact Kev now, don't put it off until later, if you want to display at the Craft Fair.  Help us make it a BRILLIANT weekend.

Thanks.

As with all of our centre's previous celebration rallies I intent to stick with protocol, particularly during the Opening and Closing ceremonies.  Jan Moore, the CAMC Vice Chairmen, will be our main guest and will formally open and close the rally for us.

Also on the stage will be as many Past Centre Chairmen as I have been able to contact, along with various Visiting Centre Chairmen, our main sponsors and your committee. 

I really think this is important, particularly inviting our Past Centre Chairmen to be on the stage, because if it wasn't for all of their hard work and dedication, along with their partners, we wouldn't be enjoying rallying as we do today.  Please show your respect when they are called onto stage by applauding them; thank you. 

As I am sure you all know, whenever you are organising a big party or a large rally there are always lots of 'little' jobs that always need completing.  At this point we have received lots of volunteers for siting the vans and that's great, but we'd like a few more who can help with a host of other activities.  So if you feel you can offer us a few hours to help out, please speak with any member of the committee or complete the form below.

Many hands make light work, thanks in anticipation of hordes of volunteers contacting us. ​

You may know that over the last 7 years I have been on a mission collecting information about the history of the centre and turning it into a film.  I completed version 1 of the film and showed it at the 2015 Celebration Rally; the feedback I received was very positive.  Each time I have received more memorabilia I have created a new version of the film, I am now working on film number 7 and the film has gone from 27 minutes to 63 minutes.

The film is split into different sections one of which is past chairmen.  The early rally brochures didn't have photos of the committee so early chairmen started off as shadows in the film, but over time, many e-mails and phone calls I have tracked down photos of all but the very first chairman, Cyril Burnman.   

However, a couple of days ago, out of the blue, Ian Morrey, a rallier from 1968 contacted me and sent me the missing photo.  So a huge thank you to Ian.  So now another piece of our great centre's history will be remembered in the film.

If anyone has any centre memorabilia, especially from the very early days, please contact me as soon as possible so I can add it to the latest version; thanks.  

​The film will be available to view on the Saturday afternoon at the Celebration rally, even if I say so myself, it is a great film.

We are well into planning phases now and we have a meeting scheduled with the landowner to discuss the more granular requirements of the rally, but more importantly, how much space we predict we will need.  Presently we are approaching 250 bookings with significant commitment from other centres. 

It would help us and the land owner hugely, if you could get your booking to us so we can plan ahead, even if you are a 'regular rallier'.  Don't delay, book today, you can even do it on line, click here to go direct to the booking page, where you can download a booking form or book on line.

Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you ALL there on what will be the biggest and best centre rally in the UK this year, bar none :-) 

Well, good news, the Cheshire Centre 50th Celebration Rally makes it into the Club Magazine.  So I am expecting a flurry of bookings from other centres and non centre members in the next week or so.  So while we haven't put a limit of the rally, Cheshire Centre members who haven't booked yet, it might be worth doing so in the next few days to ensure you get a place.

You can even book and pay on line for this rally, just click here to be taken right to the booking page.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

As with all large rallies, the sub committee are looking for some support from ralliers.  As you can imagine, with the diversity of events planned we are looking for all kinds of help, be that from siting vans to connecting taps to helping our many visitors find things. 

So if you think you could help because you have a unique skill or just want to put something back into this great centre contact one of the committee members; or complete the form below, thanks.
​

On Sunday afternoon there will be a tea dance, which if the last Celebration Rally was anything to go by, will prove very popular.  This year we will have Ralph Bowie as our music man and Lin will be there to remind the dancers of the steps should anyone have forgotten them.

And, with the addition of afternoon tea and cakes provided by Trish Little and Wendy Orr, who have an awesome reputation for lovely cakes, all served on real china cups plates, will make for a lovely couple of hours.

It will be a great event to attend, so put a reminder in your diary now so you don't forget.

Now, where are my dancing shoes, I had better pack them.

​We are very happy to announce that Guy Salmon Land Rover, Knutsford will be joining us at the Celebration Rally with their exciting new vehicles.  They plan to bring 3 cars including the new Defender and have generously sponsored our event.  Land Rover will be working out of the main arena and will have lots of green oval flags flying so they should be easy to spot.

Now then, where is my cheque book.

P.S. don't tell Andrea I am looking at the new Defender!

During Saturday afternoon we will be holding a Craft Fair in the main marquee.  The idea behind this is to allow our many talented ralliers to show case their hobbies, be that photography, knitting, wine making, ceramics or any other craft.  Small businesses who don't want to have a trade stand for the whole weekend will also be able to display their wares and sell them.

So pop along and have a look at our talented ralliers and maybe pick up that special individual gift.  It should be very interesting couple of hours. 

One of our ralliers has kindly volunteered to organise a bike ride around the local beautiful Cheshire country side on the Sunday morning of the rally. 

Sunday 9 am – Road Ride
Ride length – approx. 20 miles 
Duration - 1 hour 15 mins.
Average speed - 15 to 18 mph
Bike – Road / touring racing bike
Surfaces – tarmac country lanes
Suitable clothing including helmet, gloves etc.

So if you are a regular rider or fancy getting some exercise before breakfast then please register with Gary Farrington, on the form below, so he can plan and organise the ride.

I am sure it will be fun.  Now then, where is my old bike?
​ 

Currently we have nearly 200 bookings for our Celebration Rally, which is fantastic news.  But what I am really excited about is the fact we have 12 visiting centres and numerous non centre ralliers booked on as well.  I have also received promises of more friends booking the rally.  So along with all of the different attractions and entertainment we have for you, it will also be a great chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones. 

​If you haven't booked yet, surely that is a good enough reason to.  I look forward to seeing you and your friends on the 50th Celebration rally.