South West Picnic - Great Chalfield Manor

South West Picnic - Great Chalfield Manor

Despite some rather gloomy weather forecasts a happy band of Alvis cars turned out for the South West Sections annual Summer Picnic at the beautiful National Trust’s Great Chalfield Manor near Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. As it turned out the forecasters got it quite wrong and it was a lovely warm afternoon allowing members to set up their chairs and tables behind their cars and enjoy their picnics. Significant food sharing and comparing amongst attendees soon became the order of the day. A highlight was an enormous passion fruit gateau kindly provided by SW member Debbie Johnson which was shared by all with a sweet tooth.

The SW Section has for some years chosen to invite other car marques to their events so were naturally very keen to promote the latest ‘AOC Collaboration Initiative’. A special invitation was issued in early August to Armstrong Siddeley owners in the area and were delighted when Peter & Sarah Mcluskie duly arrived in their charming 1950 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley. Needless to say this car generated considerable interest with AOC members, fortunately Peter was more than happy to open up all areas of his car including the bonnet and answer numerous questions about his cars history and general performance. The Events Director of Armstrong Siddeley, Ann Blanchard, also arrived albeit in a modern car. It quickly became evident that new friendships were being made and future options for working together were being seriously considered.

It was only at the end of the afternoon, when most folk had departed, that the weather forecasters predictions came to pass and storm clouds gathered, fortunately only those involved in the tidying up process were subjected to a substantial rain storm plus thunder and lightning.

Don Gray.