Looking ahead, our December meeting will be held on Thursday 11 December at The Crown Inn, Penn from 6:30pm.  As per our recent visits, they are reserving the Crown Room for our sole use and will take our food and drink orders there.  I have said that on this occasion there is no need to reserve the lower car park for our sole use – I don’t envisage many of us kicking tyres there that evening!  Based on comments last year, I suggest approaching via the B474, and avoiding Pauls Hill which emerges opposite the pub as it is rather dark and narrow at night.

We will hold our January meeting at The Bird in Hand, Knowl Hill on Thursday 8 January.  They will be reserving the “Garden Room” restaurant for our use from 6:30pm.

We are now taking menu choices and payments for our Area 10 New Year Dinner at the Gerrards Cross Golf Club on Saturday 10 January 2026 and we are already over halfway to maximum capacity.  AMOC HQ are again kindly supporting the event financially and so we have kept the price at £65pp, the same as last year. 

The Walter Hayes Memorial Lecture takes place at the RAC Club in London on Tuesday 20 January – see Walter Hayes Memorial Lecture 2026 | AMHT for details.

I announced last month that I had arranged a visit in April to the Vulcan XM655 Maintenance and Preservation Society at Wellesbourne Mountford Aerodrome.  Well, it was so heavily over-subscribed that I have arranged two further sessions which are now fully subscribed and so I will not be taking any more applications.  I will contact all of the attendees shortly with final details.

Area 10 Member Steve Johnson has organised for us to visit Denham Bowls Club, Bucks on Wednesday 6 May for an introduction to lawn bowls.  The event will comprise:

• 10.00 to 10.30am: Guest Arrival – tea, coffee and biscuits served in the clubhouse.
• 11.00am: Guests to be split into groups of probably six people and make their way to the green. Introduction to a coach/mentor on the etiquette and how to lawn green bowl.
• 12.30 to 1.00pm: Break for Lunch served in the clubhouse. Buffet, salad and sandwiches will be served. Tea, coffee and water will be available, and a fully stocked pay bar will be open.
• 1.30 to 2.00pm: Return to the green for more bowling instruction and a friendly team competition.
• 3.00 to 3.30pm: Return to clubhouse for tea, cake or drink. Announcement of Bowling results, thank yous and farewells.
• 4.00pm: Guests depart.
• All bowls and equipment will be provided by the club.

The cost is £25 per person with a maximum number of 24 people.  In the first instance please register your interest with Steve Johnson (steve.jelumy@btinternet.com), copy me and you will be given payment details.

Our visit to the Fawley Hill Railway and Museum on Sunday 10 May is now fully subscribed with one party on the reserve list.

The AMOC Spring Weekend with Concours and Dinner is being held at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland on the weekend of 6/7 June – details to follow

SupercarFest The Runway takes place at Sywell Aerodrome, Northants on the weekend of 16/17 May.  For details visit: Supercar Fest the Runway 2026

Advance notice that Simply Aston Martin at Beaulieu is being held next year on Sunday 23 August.

Other News              

After last month’s email, I did not have enough interest in a visit to Bremont Watches in Henley to justify a private tour.  So, I will ask again just in case you missed it.  They no longer charge for the tours but we usually make a donation to charity.  For simplicity in arranging a date, I will probably forward your email address to Bremont so just let me know if you are interested.

We have some Members who are new to Area 10 over the past month – I would like to welcome Gislene WolfArt, Graham Curren, Simon Boreham, Joe Bhat, Yvonne Couch, Gordon Wyles and Alexander Walker

I would welcome suggestions for activities such as drive outs and visits for Area 10 Members – please get in touch with any thoughts you might have.