End of Season Run a Great success.

Organised by Greenwood Exhibitions The Cotswold Music Weekend, 6/7th September 2008, was a resounding success.The event combined all the elements of why we enjoy Nostalgia motoring. A run through beautiful countryside, a variety of interesting places to visit to suit every taste, good accommodation, friendly company, good food, fantastic music and a great car to drive.

35 classic, kit and replica cars met at the starting point, Buscot Park, near Faringdon in Oxforshire, The weather forecast wasn't good and we were greeted with a rain shower as soon as we arrived. Even in the rain the Manor Gardens were interesting. Like all National Trust properties, well kept, interestingly landscaped, with unusual combinations of fruit trees and flowers growing in the same beds. Outside the collection of cars was growing from exotic Bentlys to the humble Fiat Topolino. The "Black Cat" was not out of place in this Cavalcade of Classic Cars.

Participants gather for the start at Buscot Park (right)

Checked in and checking out the route book (left)

Prompt at 9:30 a.m. the run started. The rain shower having stopped we braved the elements and put the hood down. As always, these runs are a bit of an adventure keeping away from main roads, using B and the occasional single track road to give you the best views of the villages and surrounding countryside as you travel. Despite detailed route books it is still possible to go wrong as we found out more than once, but this is all part of the fun. We always keep a map in the car to guide us back on to the official route if all else fails.

So far so good, the hood was still down and it was time for a welcome cup of coffee at the Swan Hotel, Bibury. Bibury is known as the prettiest village in the Cotswolds, a recommended spot to stop and have a look around. The threatening rain was not all bad news it was keeping the traffic and tourists down and making it possible to park. After a short stop and another shower of rain we set off heading for Bourton on the Water famous for its model village and motor museum. We chose to press on towards Winchcombe

The river Coln at Bibury (right)
The train now arriving at platform ........ (left)
Timing it just right to arrive at Winchcombe station is a bonus. Arriving before 12:42 p.m. you can catch a steam train to Toddington, change trains and be back at Winchcombe in 20 minutes. Get it wrong and you have to wait 1 hour at Toddington for the return train. Winchcombe station is a time portal. You've arrived in a classic car. The station is spotlessly clean, bedecked with flower beds and hanging baskets. The staff, in uniform, are courteous and helpful just as it would have been in the golden age of steam .
Leaving behind the encapsulated world of the station master we headed for another world. Snows Hill Manor is home to an amazing collection of artifacts from all over the world. Inveterate collector, Charles Paget Wade assembled 22,000 items in to 22 rooms. Furniture, musical instruments, Egyptian artifacts, toys, tools, bicycles are crammed in to every corner including the attic. In fact every item you could possibly imagine is there. Wade married, for the only time, at aged 62 and died aged 72. "It is said that the last thing he collected in his life was a wife" Not your traditional National Trust property but none the less interesting and amazing
Snows Hill Manor Gardens (right)

 

  

Back on the open road, the rain was now persistent and the hood was up permanently. We had a cursory look at Broadway Tower as we headed for the finish at Heythrop Park, 36 miles away. The run was wet, but the views across the countryside, were still beautiful in a stormy sort of way. The route uneventful apart from a close encounter with a herd of cows heading home for milking. It was raining as the cows came out of the field. The farmers dog having done it's job getting the cows out of the field, jumped in to the tractor and the farmer proceeded to herd the cows down the lane with the tractor.(we guessed it was part of the T&C's of the dog's contract). For 15 minutes we watched this rural scene process in front of us like a modern day Constable painting. Lastly they turned in to the farm yard. With a cheery wave and a nod of thanks from the Farmer we were free, at last, to be on our way and duly arrived at Heythrop Park.

The finish at Heythrop Park. Nostalgias do do mud (left)

 

 

Heythrop Park Conference and Leisure Centre (right)

.Heythrop park a former home of the Earl of Shaftsbury, and staff College for the Nat West Bank, is now a Conference and Leisure Centre. Here we had first class over night accommodation and use of all the facilities. We arrived in time to leisurely settle in, before the pre-dinner drinks reception and dinner. Seating was according to a table plan which mixed up participants and worked very well. Our table was a very friendly bunch of people that got on well together and made the evening very enjoyable. During dinner we were entertained by a jazz quartet which set the evening up well. The food and wine were excellent with plenty of both to keep everyone satisfied. The main entertainment after dinner a a 60's Retro band. Excellent musicians and entertainers playing a wide selection of music from that and later era's that had people dancing until midnight.
Sunday morning, after breakfast, we still had use of the leisure facilities. We took a stroll around the grounds and talked to other participants about the run and the previous evenings dinner and dance. General opinion was the run was good,despite the weather, and the evening excellent. Gradually we took our leave of our new found friends, promising to return for next years run on 5/6th September 2009.
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