International Gathering - 6th  July, 2008 at Hartlebury Castle, Worcestershire

Once again the weather appeared not kind to us as Members of the Club arrived early at Hartlebury Castle to set up for this years International Gathering but in true British tradition within half an hour of arrival the rain stopped and it was all hands to grindstone to set up for the day. Dave, Matt, Rob and Glynn plus a team started putting up the marquee and preparing the hundred or so other things that need to be done before everyone else arrived for the days activities.

By the time Members started to arrive at 11.30 the sun was out and a steady stream of Volvos arrived on the site covering a wide range of models and from one of the very last a PV444’s to ‘Modern’ models and their was even a Volvo Hearse escorted by a black Volvo 740 Limousine.
Our International Gathering will this year also celebrated the 50th Birthday of the Volvo in Great Britain, the first Official import of Volvo’s being by Charles Singer of Lex Brooklands (later to become Volvo Concessionaires) in 1958.

This was as Members may be aware, a return visit to this popular venue, which on our last visit was undergoing major building work. This had now been completed and the Museum and Castle was fully open. Hartlebury Castle is the historic home of the Bishop of Worcester, however recently it had been announced that the building would be put up for sale. This would not effect the museum but may mean that visitors may not be able to look around the Bishops Palace and State Rooms in the future, hence our return visit. The Site not only houses a varied Museum, with an example of a car called the ‘Castle 3’, built in nearby Kidderminster and is believed to be the only survivor, but also Nature Trails etc  Hartlebury Castle is a really a very good site for the International Gathering, with lots to do for all the family or friends who may not be interested in the cars or the club.  Members once again, as is the custom, received FREE entrance to the Museum plus also Refreshments in the Museums Tea Room.

Judging of the cars was as usual undertaken by attending Members. Once again the standard of cars attending seams to improve year by year but it is always good to see the rolling restoration project. A great strength of our club is how everyone is made to feel welcome no matter what the condition of their car or the model, long may this continue.

At 1 o’clock Members met for our customary get-together for a drink and nibbles and also this year our celebration the 50th Birthday of Volvo in Great Britain.                 
Dave, Matt and Kevin plus other helpers were kept busy all day with the sale of Club Regalia, technical enquires, valuations etc.
And so as the day came to its end, it was time for the Raffle and the Awards presented by Kevin our Founder which unfortunately had to be undertaken with Members huddled together in the Marquee due to a poorly timed thunder storm. Which absolutely drenched everyone. No sooner had the storm arrived it was over and Members were allowed to travel home in good weather.

Finally our thanks to all those Members who came along to support the Club at its main event despite the poor weather, congratulations to all the winners and our sincere thanks to Terry and Mark of Cumbers Garage, Brixham, Devon for their continued sponsorship of our trophies presented on the day. Also to members who donated prizes for the raffle and to ALL those Members who helped in anyway to make our 2008 International Gathering and 50th Birthday of Volvo in Great Britain Celebration so successful
In all, despite the poor weather it was a most successful International Gathering.  See you all next year.
 
A date for the Diary: Volvo Enthusiasts Club International Gathering 5th  July, 2009 – Venue to be confirmed.

The Winners – BEST VOLVO COMPETITION 2008 : International Gathering at Hartlebury Castle, Worcestershire. (Voted by Attending Members)

“Simply the Best 2008” – The Margaret Price Memorial Trophy (Open only to vehicles, which have previously won ‘Best Car’)
Colin Tatlow                 Volvo PV444-08                           1957                      Reg. No.  348 BAF ‘Runner Up Simply the Best 2008’ – The Fred Price Memorial Trophy
Glynn Jones                   Volvo 480GT                               1994                       Reg. No.  M788 ACR

 “Volvo Enthusiasts Club – Best Car 2008 – The Christina Stadden Memorial Trophy”
Geof  Naylor                  Volvo 1800S                                1966                       Reg. No.  JER 888F ‘Runner Up Best Car 2008 – The Chairman’s Trophy’
Tony Millhouse             Volvo 740GLE                             1985                       Reg. No.  C472 MFE

Volvo Concessionaires Trophy – “Most Original Car 2008”
Tony & Gillian Whitton                 Volvo 142                    1967                      Reg. No.  ULA 476L

Founder Trophy – “Best Restoration by a Member 2007/2008” - No Entries

The Mike Lawrence Memorial Trophy – “Oldest Volvo Driven to the Gathering”
Colin Tatlow                Volvo PV444 08                              1957                     Reg. No.  349 BAF

BEST CARS ON DISPLAY:
PV’s                   1st      Colin Tatlow                PV444 08         1957                     Reg. No. 349 BAF
120 Series         1st      Peter Titley                 132                  1970                     Reg. No. BYM 60H
                          2nd     John Kemp                 131                  1967                     Reg.  No. TVT 146G
1800P/S/E         1st      Geoff & Gill Naylor  1800S              1966                     Reg. No.   JER 888F
                          2nd     Terry Mason               1800S              1964                     Reg. No.  5600PE
1800ES              1st     Rob Greenwood         1800ES            1973                     Reg. No. VKX 476L         
                           2nd    Paul Cassell                1800ES            1973                     Reg. No.  65 ACA
140  Series         1st     Ray Wright                 144                   1967                     Reg. No. KFX 233F
                           2nd    Tony & Gillian Whitton   142             1967                     Reg. No. ULA 349F
164                     1st     Michael Byrne            164                   1972                     Reg. No. NTF 58K  
200 Series          1st     Phil Edwards               244DL             1978                     Reg. No.  AAB 995W
                          2nd     Andrew Hughes                 245GLT          1988                     Reg. No.  F81 TLY
66/300 Series    No Entries
400 Series         1st     Glynn Jones               480GT               1994                     Reg. No.  M788 ALR
                          2nd    Peter Jones                480Turbo           1994                     Reg. No.   L62 KJO
700/900 Series  1st     Tony Millhouse         740GLE Saloon 1985                    Reg. No.   C472 MFE
                          2nd    David  Lance        760 Turbo Diesel Est  1990                 Reg. No.  G651 OVE
850 Series         1st     Matt Stadden              850T5 Estate      1995                    Reg. No.  N733 FNM
                          2nd    Kevin Price                850T5R Estate    1995                    Reg. No.  N323 WAN                         
Best Modern Saloon    
                           1st     Geoff Goodwin    Volvo 480 Celebration   1995           Reg. No.  N730 NAW
                           2n      Peter Jones           Volvo 480 Turbo            1994          Reg. No.  L62 KJO
Best Modern Estate            
                           1st      Matt Stadden           Volvo 850T5        1996                  Reg. No. N733 FNM
                           2nd    Dave Hayes             Volvo 940GLE     1998                  Reg. No. R487 KAD

TROPHY AWARDS:

“The PV Co-ordinators Trophy – presented by Colin & May Tatlow  – Best PV”
Colin Tatlow                     Volvo PV444 08                            1957                     Reg. No.  349 BAF“

Phyllis Patchton Memorial Trophy – Best Amazon”
Peter Titley                        Volvo  132                                    1970                     Reg. No. BYM 60H

“Ted Wills Trophy – Best 1800 Coupe”
Geoff & Gill Naylor          Volvo 1800S                                 1966                     Reg. No.   JER 888F“

Enthusiasts Spares Trophy – Best 1800ES”
Rob Geenwood                   Volvo 1800ES                              1973                    Reg. No.   VKX 476L

“The Membership Secretary Trophy’ presented by Christina Stadden – Best 140 Series”
Ray Wright                          Volvo 144                                   1967                     Reg. No. KFX 233F

“The Vic Barnes Shield – Best 164”
Michael Byrne                     Volvo 164                                   1972                     Reg. No. NTF 58K  

“The Matthew Stadden Trophy – Best 300 Series” - No Entries

“Cumbers Garage Salver – Best Car Owned & Driven by a Member Under 25 years old” - No Entries 

“Stan Graham Trophy – Most Original 1800”
Rob Greenwood                  Volvo 1800ES                             1973                    Reg. No.  VKX 476L

 “Barrie Sutcliffe Trophy – Best Jensen Built P1800”  
 Kevin Price                          Volvo P1800                               1962                    Reg. No.  179 HAB
 
 “Pretty Garages Trophy – Best Engine Bay”
  Colin Atkinson              Volvo 1800E                                     1970                     Reg. No.   DYL 524J

“Cumbers Garage Trophy – Best 120 Interior”
 John Kemp                        Volvo 131                                      1968                     Reg. No.  TVT 146G

“The Bodyline Trophy- presented by Bob Nash - Best Commercial Volvo”
Colin Hughes                    Volvo 700 Hearse                         1996                     Reg. No.  WCZ   9378

“Volvo Monster Miler” – The Rob Greenwood “Just for the Record” Trophy :- “Furthest Distance travelled in a Classic Volvo during past year.”
Kevin Price                       Volvo 480GT                                1994                    Reg. No. L 322 TTU

“Bob Clarke Trophy – Best Competition/Modified Volvo”
Peter Titley                        Volvo  132                                    1970                     Reg. No. BYM 60

“Liskeard Trophies Award – Most Eccentric Volvo”
Colin Hughes                    Volvo 700 Hearse                         1996                     Reg. No.  WCZ   937

“Best New Volvo in Car Park Pre 15 years old”
Best ‘Modern’ Saloon          Geoff Goodwin    Volvo 480 Celebration   1995  Reg. No.  N730 NAW
Best ‘Modern’ Estate            Matt Stadden                  Volvo 850T5       1996  Reg. No.  N733 FNM

“Furthest Distance Travelled to the Event in a Classic Volvo”
Great Britain                     Colin Atkinson  Volvo 1800E         1970                   Reg. No.   DYL 524J
Overseas – Cornwall          Colin Tatlow     Volvo PV444 08    1958                   Reg. No. 349 BAF

  “Best (Junior)Volvo Model Collection” – Open to Members ‘Children’  
Robert Hughes

Please Note: All the above winners were voted for by attending members, except for the Volvo Concessionaires Trophy – “Most Original Car” etc which were judged by a team chosen from the Clubs Technical Co-Ordinators etc on their behalf.

TROPHIES WANTED: If you would like to donate a trophy to be awarded at next years International Gathering, please contact Kevin Price Tel: 01299 400039 or Email: info@volvoenthusiastsclub.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHS OF OUR INTERNATIONAL GATHERING – Photographs on this Web Site taken by various Members.

A DATE FOR THE DIARY – 2009 INTERNATIONAL GATHERING -  5th  JULY, 2008 – Venue to be confirmed.