Hi Folk’s,

It hasn’t been the best summer to date I admit, but it doesn’t seem

to have dampened too many spirits either, you are a hardy lot

when the chips are stacked against you.

Take the Totnes rally………….please, no seriously, that was the

worst weather on a holiday rally I have been on apart from another, not a million miles away at Dartmouth some 20 years ago, and  I swore then that I would not holiday in sunny Devon ever again!!

Nothing changes does it, my commiserations go to the rally officers Ron, Eileen, Mick and Pam who under the most appalling conditions still remained upbeat about it all, but we still had some fun, however, a little damper than usual!!

From Totnes we went up to Frome showground for the Wessex rally which at the time, if I am being honest, I was looking forward to it like another hole in my head!

Boy, was I in for a surprise, gone have all the over competitive nastiness and inter centre politics and squabbling, banished forever I hope, and hello, what I remember from 30 years ago, a healthy competitive spirit with everybody regardless of centre all having a great time and just enjoying themselves, irrespective of whether they won or lost, it was the taking part and being proud to represent your own centre that mattered.

Viv and I really enjoyed ourselves, taking part as well getting involved and meeting fellow members, officers and chairman, of the other centres.

One very important issue became apparent over all other things, and that was, that all other centres share the same ups and downs of the current situation as we do, and we are no different from the other centre in their low turnouts.

Again, we have had to cancel the odd rally due to shortage of support by members and sometimes of rally officers, which is regretful but sadly necessary.

Steve and Polly Brierley put on very entertaining rally at Keyhaven focussed on the younger ones, and from all accounts was a resounding success, not to mention a the fantastic weather that held for the entire weekend, well done.

Olivers Battery was also a bit of fun, culminating in a chaotic auction on Saturday evening of members equipment by Keith Taylor and team, all monies collected amounted to around £260 which went into the Air ambulance fund, so very well done to them.

The rally held at the Mountbatten estate near Romsey was another cracker, weather wise, and I think, was enjoyed by all, it was so nice to see so many people generating smoke that weekend with so many BBQs in action!!!

A short walk into Romsey town was enjoyed by most of the members during the weekend as I and Viv took, it seemed all morning, getting there as we met so many members either going or coming back and all stopped to catch up with the gossip after being stuck in the vans for so much of the so called summer.

Dummer rally was not quite so blessed with the same weather conditions, but it didn’t dampen the ardour of most for getting out and about, Pete and his team put on a superb evening in the hospitality area on Saturday evening with skittles and a quiz, which everyone enjoyed, however it was muted that the Chairman cheated at bowls to win it……well!!!! Well done Pete and the team.

And finally, our annual AGM weekend, this was always going to be a busy one, Wilf and Elaine had enough on their hands running the rally let alone helping to set hall and all the paraphernalia that goes with it.

Thanks to all that participated in the setting up of the hall and stage for the meeting, the meeting exceeded expectations with around 140 people present.

Congratulations to the new committee members that have joined us, now maybe, it will give an insight into what actually goes on behind the scenes, which doesn’t stop when the rallies finish.

Good to see some voting taking place and hopefully some new ideas to take us into another year of successful and enjoyable rallying.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again to thank my last committee for all of their dedication, help and support, to ensure that our centre functions as efficiently as possible, as you know we have had a particularly difficult year, but taking things as a whole, I think we have pretty much achieved what we set out to do.

My thanks to Viv, my wife for all of her support and advice in my first year as your Chairman.

One of the most difficult things I have had to do was regretfully, due to little interest, was to cancel our annual dinner dance which is the one thing that I hoped was not going to happen on my watch, but sadly it was not to be.

Just one issue that is becoming a little annoying to rally officers, that is the non arrival, and in some cases not even the courtesy of a telephone call to the rally officer that you will not be attending the rally that you have booked, it really doesn’t cost all that much to at least pick up the phone and tell him or her that you are unable for one reason or another, rather than just leave it!

It also beggars belief that some of our members have had the downright cheek to book with our own rally and also another centres rally both on the same weekend, I really do not think that that is being fair to all concerned.

However, hopefully this was an isolated incident, and will not be repeated.

Bob Corke

Chairman