Christmas Greetings!

  

I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I hope you have a wonderful festive season and enjoy yourselves!

 

2026 is a special year for the Isle of Wight Branch, as it marks the Club’s 40^th anniversary.  I wonder if the founding members thought it would still be going after all this time?  They were Mike Smith, Malcolm Jones and Lester Elliott. Through word of mouth, leaving leaflets under windscreens and ads in the local newspaper the club flourished - with 52 members joined up within the first 2 years.  Now we have around 70 members, some having been members since that first tentative meeting in 1986.

 

I’d like to remind you that our AGM is taking place on 15 January.  We aim to keep the official business quite short, but we do like to see and hear from members with any suggestions you have about the running of the Club.  Being our 40^th year anniversary, we’re hoping to make our Annual Rally a special event and we’d love your input.  This year our Rally is on Sunday 6^th September, so make sure you keep that weekend free!  There is a free buffet following the meeting so please come along and enjoy this with us, and catch up with other members.

 

I look forward to welcoming you to the Club throughout the year.

Best wishes

 

Sally Cochran

Chair

2025 Rally Report

 Our hugely successful Branch Rally was held at the end of August and I have to say, it was a pretty amazing weekend!

The fun began on Saturday afternoon, where 34 Minors assembled in the Steam Railway car park for the Drive Out to Arreton Barns.  We took a longer route to make things a bit more interesting, and we had Leo videoing us from the car park and also from the viewpoint on the Downs Road (see our Facebook page for the video and see if you can spot yourself!).  We parked up in the overflow car park at Arreton Barns and made our way over to the shops and pub.  Unfortunately it did start to rain a bit, and the pub was busy inside so a few hardy folk did sit outside on the patio for a beer or coffee.  However, the rain meant that was it a great opportunity to look round the various shops and see the artisans at work.

Saturday evening was the Rally BBQ.  The rain continued all afternoon and became worse as the day went on.  Would we go ahead?  Well, I’m pleased to say we did, and made good use of the big marquee on the event field so we stayed dry.  Thank you to the chaps who bravely stood under a canopy to monitor the BBQ and make sure everyone had something to eat.  Despite the awful weather we had a good laugh and ate well.  Next remind me to buy more tiramisu, it was very popular!

Rally Day on Sunday was just brilliant.  Everything went to plan and I was pleased to see 63 Morris Minors of all ages and types lined up on the Event Field.  I think it might be the most we’ve had.  There were also some other classic makes from the VHVC, IW Classic Ford Club and IW Mini Owners Club.  Judging the best cars on show was very difficult!  We also had a public vote this year, which helped get visitors involved.

As usual we had the Old Girl with us, the 86 year old open top bus provided by Southern Vectis, giving mystery tours in the morning and afternoon.  We also had the TrackADog Team with us, who brought along some of their trained tracking dogs to show how they work when searching for lost dogs.  They were our nominated charity this year and the raffle raised £215 which was donated to them.

At the end of the day we went for our end of Rally meal at Appley Manor, much needed after a long but really enjoyable day.  A chance to relax with a nice meal and a glass of wine.

Thank you to everyone who attended over the weekend, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

 

Sally Cochran – Chair

 

Date for your diaries:  next year’s Rally will be Sunday 6 September 2026.

 

Judging Results

 

Best in Show – Carole Gray from Uttlesford Branch, with Traveller 75 FYD

Best Island Car – Mike Attrill from Chale with Pick Up OBP 107D

Public Vote – Brian Wood from Dorset Branch, with Convertible 129 UXC

Chair’s Choice – Joan Harrison with Lowlight CSL 647

Best Visiting Car – Paul Saunders with Mini Clubman Estate PDL 720R

The Special Award for Services to the Club was given to Stuart Scovell, for managing the Club as Chair for the last four years and producing our monthly newsletter

Chair's Rally Reminder

Hello All

Not long now until our Annual Morris Minor Rally!  This is always a fantastic event for the Morris Minor community, both on the island and further afield.  We usually have lots of cars visit from the mainland and we love to see them all.  Other classic makes are also welcome, and best of all our Rally is free to attend!

 

Just a reminder that if you are planning to display your car, you must be parked on the Event Field by 9.30am, to comply with the Railway’s Healthy & Safety policy.  As you probably know it’s working railway with trains and pedestrians moving around throughout the day.  The show usually closes around 4pm.

 

There will be plenty to see and do on the day.  We’ll be selling Club merchandise, and as always there is our raffle.  This year our nominated charity is TrackADog; an island based charity who help look for missing dogs   tracker dogs.  The TrackADog team will be putting on displays at the Rally to show you how they work.  All proceeds from our Raffle will be donated to TrackADog.

This year you will have the chance to vote for your favourite Morris Minor on display!  We’ll be handing out voting slips with the programme, so do have a good look at the cars and decide which you like best, then pop your voting slip in the box at Rally Control.  The winning car will receive a trophy.

It has now been confirmed that Southern Vectis has kindly made the Old Girl 1939 open top Bristol K bus available for tours and all fares will be donated to the Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum.

 

If you’re not a member already, you can join the Club at the Rally.  Membership is just £8 a year (from January – December) but if you sign up at the Rally you’ll get an additional four months at no extra charge.

 

Entry to the Rally also gives your free access to the Railway, so do have a look round the displays and workshops.  If you fancy a ride on a steam train there is a charge for this, but you can get a discount if you buy one or our Rally plaques, which are just £2 each.

 

We also have our yearly drive out on Saturday 30 August, meeting at the Steam Railway at 1pm – maps will be provided!  And also the BBQ at 6pm also at the Steam Railway on the Saturday, please bring something to put on the grill.  Rolls, condiments an desserts will be provided.

 

For the last few years the weather has been glorious at our Rally, so let’s hope we can repeat that this year.  I look forward to seeing you there.

 

Sally

Summer Activities

  

Hello Members

I hope you’ve managed to bring your Minor out of hibernation and are enjoying the warmer spring/summer weather!

Over the summer months our monthly club meets vary from our usual venue at The Chequers Inn.  This gives us a chance to get out and about at different venues over the island and hopefully enjoy some decent weather!  The venues for this summer are:(These have been updated: Asda Car Park for drive to Wight Mouse Inn rather than Coppins Bridge as there could be congestion at Coppins Bridge due to IOW Music Festival. St Helens Picnic now August meeting and Fort Victoria now July meeting)>

 

Thursday 19th June – Drive out from Asda Car Park at 6.30pm to Wight Mouse pub in Chale (or meet there at 7pm)

Thursday 17th July – Drive out from Coppins Bridge at 6.30pm to Fort Victoria for BBQ (or meet there at 7pm).  Bring your own BBQ food.

Thursday 21st August –– St Helen’s Duver picnic (officially starts at 7pm but earlier if you can), bring your own food & drink, and something to sit on.  Swimming costumes optional! 

 

Please note that in the event of wet weather, the outdoor venues may be changed at short notice.  If this happens our Facebook page will have details and I will endeavour to update everyone by email.

From September we will be back at The Chequers Inn in Rookley for our regular monthly meets.

 

As usual there are lots of events going on over the summer, and as a Club we hope to attend as many as possible.  Please do check with the organisers if you need to be booked in beforehand; although at some events you can just turn up – see details below.  Do also check your monthly Newsletter and our Facebook page for updates.

 

I look forward to seeing you in your Minor at some point!

Best wishes,

Sally (Chair)

Other summer events are listed below and fuller details are in the Events Diary

 

Bembridge Street Fair	Mon 26 May	Space for 10 cars, speak to Sally to book
Cowes Classics	Sun 1 June	Prebooked cars only, contact RLYCClubsecretary@RLYC.org.uk
Browns Golf CC Show, Sandown	Sat 14 June	Just turn up on the day, come and go as you please
Wight Wheels Chale Showground	Sun 29 June	Just turn up on the day, come and go as you please
Vectis Historic Vehicle Club Show, County Showground	Sat 6 July	Contact VHVC to book
County Show, Royal County Showground	Sat/Sun 12/13 July	Booking details to follow
Garlic Festival	Sat/Sun 16/17 August	No booking required
IOWMMOC Annual Rally Havenstreet	Sat/Sun 30/31 August	No booking required unless camping overnight
IOW Classic Motor Show Newport/Ryde	Sat/Sun 6/7 September	Booking required classiccariw@gmail.com

 

New Year Message from Sally, our new Chair

 

I hope this post finds you enjoying the New Year, and that you’ve had an enjoyable festive season. As you may know, I have taken on the role of Chair, having been voted in at the AGM in December. I’d like to pass my thanks to Stuart Scovell for maintaining the role for the last four years – thank you for all your knowledge and expertise, I hope I can live up to your standards!

We have lots to look forward to in 2025, as well as our monthly meets at The Chequers Inn at Rookley, there will be various drives to island destinations, plenty of classic car events and of course our own IOWMMOC Rally which this year is being held on Sunday 31 August.

Our first meet of 2025 at The Chequers Inn is on Thursday 16 January and is a chance for a post-Christmas meal. The menu is here if you’d like to have a peek at what’s on offer: https://chequersinn-iow.co.uk/menus/ There’s no obligation to eat, if you’d prefer to just have a drink and a chat we’d still love to see you.

Happy Minor Motoring

Sally Cochran - Chair

2024 Annual General Meeting

 

IOWMMOC

MINUTES OF AGM

Held on 12^th December, 2024

At The Southern Vectis Sports and Social Club

1.The meeting was opened by the Chairman, Stuart Scovell, at 7.10pm..

2. Apologies were received from Kim and Chrisso Smallman, Paul Robinson, Jonathan Lewis and Susan Early.

3. The Minutes of the 2023 AGM were read by the Acting Secretary and agreed as correct.

4. The Chairman gave a brief review of the activities that have taken place in 2024

5. In the absence of Jonathan the Treasurer’s report was read by the Acting Secretary. The club’s finances are in a healthy position. He mentioned that our free rally was once again a success and extended his thanks to our sponsors and people who donated raffle prizes and their services free of charge. Mr. John Fisher was thanked for his kind donation of £100. The profit on the calendars was queried, but it was pointed out that most was included in the 2023 accounts because they were sold over 2 accounting periods. The accounts were accepted with corrections.

6. Andy read his membership report and told us that membership at the end of 2024 stands at 72. Renewals have started coming in for 2025.

7. Election of Chairman. Stuart stood down and as he preferred not to be Chairman for another year nominations for the post were requested by the Acting Secretary.

8. Sally Cochran was proposed by Stuart Scovell and seconded by Dave Gilliam. Sally was unanimously voted in as Chairman.

9. Sally stepped in to take the Chair.

10 Jonathan Lewis, Treasurer; Sally Woodcock as Acting Secretary; Alan Peeling, Web Blog; Andy Smith, Membership Secretary and Paul Cochran were voted back on to the committee unanimously.

Stuart Scovell was nominated by Sally Cochran and seconded by Andy Smith. Nigel Millwood was nominated by Stuart Scovell and seconded by Mary Jones. These two were both voted onto the committee unanimously.

11. Any Other Business:

Sally gave a brief overview of the results of the survey that had been sent out to members.

A discussion ensued about how to encourage members to help at our rally, as it is left to the same few people every year to do everything. It was suggested that a team of helpers could be started, who could be called upon for the rally and other events.

The meeting closed at 8pm and members enjoyed a festive buffet and raffle.

Seasons Greetings!

We have now held our AGM and this was our final event of 2024 so the Committee wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

At the 2024 AGM Stuart Scovell stood down as Chair after serving five years. We are pleased to confirm that Sally Cochran has agreed to take over from Stuart and she was formally confirmed at the AGM.