November 2023 Update

Our brunch and talk on 30 September at the West London Aeroclub (WLAC) at White Waltham was a great success. The WLAC snug accommodated 30 Members firstly for brunch and then for the talk by Keith Barker.  Keith was a BA first officer on Tristar when he and his crew were taken as human shields in Kuwait in 1990.  Keith and his colleagues made the most of being confined within a luxurious palace albeit located next to an Iraqi command and control centre.  Their guards seemed willing to make their stay bearable – when they asked for an alternative meat to the usual chicken they were presented with a dog and most of a camel. Keith related several experiences during their 4-month ordeal including improvising cigarettes, brewing alcohol, fashioning cricket bats from solid wooden doors and deciding what to do with rifles and 329 rounds of ammunition which they found discarded by the rapidly departing Kuwaitis.

The members attending the talk kindly donated over £200 to Keith’s chosen charity, Dreamflight.

As the nights closed in, only seven Astons and 26 Members braved the weather to attend our monthly social meeting at The Spade Oak on Thursday 12 October.  Once again we had their snug to ourselves and the food was up to their usual high standard.  We discussed a few ideas for events for 2024 – see later.

I was unable to attend Astons at The Ace Café, but I understand that it was not very well-attended this year, probably due to the weather.

As I write we are looking forward to our lunch and talk by Les Goble at the Gerrards Cross Golf Club on Sunday 29 October – I will report on it next month.

At Graham Maidlow’s suggestion I have arranged for Jenner’s Café to host us for Brunch at their café by the River Thames in Maidenhead (postcode SL6 8NP).  As they have done in the past, they will reserve part of the car park for us as in the photo of a previous visit – there is no charge for us to park.  We cannot guarantee the weather but it is a social occasion so do still come in another make if your Aston doesn’t fancy it. They are expecting us any time from 9:30am and will have their usual selection of breakfasts including “Full Breakfast” for £6.00 and “Full Monty” for £8.20.  I am really pleased to say that Graham & Sylvia plan to be there and will show off his new wheels!  To help us plan the parking it would be helpful if you let me know if you plan to attend.

Our monthly social meeting for November will be held on Thursday 9^th at The Crown Inn, Penn, HP10 8NY from 6:30pm onwards.  We will be in the room to right-hand side as you enter the building.

You will have received details of our Area 10 New Year Dinner to be held at Gerrards Cross Golf Club on Saturday 13 January 2024 - the flyer went out on 18 October.

Looking further into 2024 the weekend of 18/19 May looks as if it will be very busy – I understand that the AMOC Spring Concours is being organised for that weekend and so you might wish to bear that in mind before committing to SupercarFest-The Runway at Sywell or the Stonor Park Spring Meeting on the Sunday.

I would like to welcome Robert & Mary Lane, Mike Casey-Smith and Ben Ward & Katlin Siil as new members of AMOC and of Area 10 this month.