(Photo: RAF)
A chance conversation over a rather special dinner at the Guildhall in London in June 2023, resulted in an amazing day out for 50 AstonOwners.com subscribers.
Anthony King had kindly invited Gillian and I along to a gala dinner to celebrate his election to the Worshipful Company of Coach Makers and Coach Harness Makers. The warm summer evening had a motor racing theme with several luminaries – and a few cars - of the Le Mans-24 Hours Race present (Derek Bell, Andy Wallace, Martin Brundle, et al). I found myself sat next to the Executive Officer of RAF Brize Norton, Jim Davies. His interest in Aston Martins and mine in military aircraft soon resulted in an idea to bring the two together.
Roll forward to late September and plans were in place for a rather special day out, all in support of Services Charities, including the RAF Benevolent Fund. More on that later.
The day consisted of mustering at The Classic Motor Hub in Bibury for a delicious breakfast and some well-deserved coffee, many of the attendees having driven well over 100 miles to get there. Fortunately, the sun shone, even if the roads were a little damp from overnight rain and in some cases decorated by farming activities, to put it politely.
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Our day started with breakfast at the Classic Motor Hub in Bibury
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There was time enough only for a quick look around there – with thoughts for many of going back another day – before 25 Astons set off for RAF Brize Norton, about 30 minutes’ drive away.
There was a little fun trying to find the gate, too much for satnavs it would seem. As Gillian said, “the RAF can plan flights of aircraft to pass over Buckingham Palace with to-the-second accuracy and we couldn’t arrive at their gate on time”. C’est la vie, as we say in Oxfordshire!
After the anti-explosives sniffer dogs had allowed us to pass, we convoyed to our first photo stop: in front of the huge A400M Atlas transport aircraft. What an impressive piece of kit that is! The RAF’s professional photographer took shots of each car and its occupants before we parked up at our designated reception centre where my contact and organiser of our day, Sqn. Ldr. Jamie Garrett, welcomed us and outlined the plan:
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- Tea, coffee, biscuits, souvenir shop and (unexpected) goody bags, plus my opportunity to sell raffle tickets to win items that nearly every driver had donated… there were almost more prizes than people!
- Split into groups to have a look inside the aircraft’s immense loading bay and upstairs to the unexpectedly spacious cockpit. It’s at this point that we discovered we could, after all, take photographs… great news, although on previous instructions, some cameras/phones were left in cars.
- Group photo of the cars with and without occupants at the rear of the aircraft.
- Escort off the air station to continue our adventures.
Our tour of the Atlas included chatting with a load master and witnessing the ramp operation. We then sat in the cockpit seats as the controls were explained to us (thankfully, in layman’s language). Our view from there included ‘real time’ through the windscreens, ‘virtual’ via the on-board screen and ‘head up’ through the pilot/co-pilot displays. All the while, the remaining cars were being photographed outside so that no time was wasted and our visit zinged along apace.
An unusual view from the cockpit of the A400(M) Atlas... Brian Small's Vanquish and Dean Taylor's DB4.
Herding people and cars into position was a job for the military!
Gillian and Andrew Fawkes's 1978 V8 is hardly camouflaged!
Jamie had put the word out so that his classic/sports car owning colleagues might come along. Consequently, our convoy to the aircraft was led by a gorgeous original Fiat 500 (not an official RAF car!) and our departure was led by Jamie’s fabulous Mini 850 DeLuxe that was owned by his grandfather… Jamie’s relationship with that car and his efforts to restore its magnificence is a story worthy of a classic car magazine. If anyone has a photo of those convoys, we’d love to see them.
The stunning 1960 Mini 850 DeLux owned by our host, Jamie Garrett, and previously his grandad
Further surprises included the Aston Martin Bristol team being invited to photograph the latest DB12 and DBX models at the loading ramp of the Atlas, no doubt a great shot for their PR, and both Jamie and I being interviewed for BFBS Radio… not something I’d prepared for!
The DBX of Aston Martin Bristol will fit easily in there... and cope with the otherwise Aston-unfriendly ramp lip! (Photo: Aston Martin Bristol)
Our waved cheerios as we departed RAF Brize Norton were followed by the short drive to Little Bampton where we were welcomed by Steve of Alpine Eagle Restorations, a business that focuses mainly on vintage Rolls Royce and Bentley cars. There was a lovely selection of completed cars and work-in-progress to wander around. Alpine Eagle is one of many small specialist businesses focussed on the classic car world at that location. All had agreed to us parking there (thankfully) and to show us around their facilities.
Our host, Steve, runs Alpine Eagle Restorations who focus mainly on vintage Rolls Royce and Bentley cars
The M.B. Shop restores classic Mercedes Benz cars. Owner, Krasimir Kremakov, waxed lyrical about the cars and the processes involved in their renovation and maintenance.
Krasimir Kremakov (in short sleeves) explains the processes he employs to turn rusting hulks into award winning classic Mercedes
We then wandered to JL Historics where hugely enthusiastic apprentice, Tom Mika, showed us both the cars being worked on (from Zagato Alfa to Healey and pre-war Singer) and the machinery and techniques he employs. We spent a good while discussing the ‘English’ wheel before leaving there for our base, the Minster Mill Hotel.
JL Historics' apprentice, Tom Mika, explains how he's going to turn this rough piece of aluminium bodywork into a beautiful fender
That evening we were joined for dinner by Jamie and the station’s senior chaplain, Rev (Grp. Capt.) Colin Weir who kindly offered to open proceeding by saying Grace. It was brilliantly penned and delivered, so much so that it received a round of applause rather than the usual Amen!
A few toasts during the minimal formalities included ‘absent friends’, both for its wider context and by name for Anthony and Jim who had inspired the event but couldn’t be there on the day. Another celebration was Su’s ‘special’ birthday that she made sure we all knew she was enjoying… brilliant!
Birthday girl, Su Williams, smiles (not just) for the camera
Clockwise from left: Liz Jaehme, Beverley and Mike Jones, Sara Parry, Dave and Sarah Bryers, Gillian and Andrew Fawkes
(photo: Su Williams)
Clockwise from left: Gary Ungless, Rex Thornborough, Kevin Hawney, Rev. Colin Weir RAF, Jamie Garrett RAF, Brian Small, Kevin Hall, Liz Ungless, Gill Print (photo: Su Williams)
Clockwise from left: Racheal and Lloyd Parker, Janet and John Rees, Laura and Rod Baker, Rob Parry, Angela and Richard Newberry (photo: Su Williams)
Clockwise from left: LLoyd Berger, Kaz and Adrian Stanway, Sally and Steve Richards, David Such, Tanya Pritchard, Neil Woodward (photo: Su Williams)
Jamie Garrett, centre, is about to receive a gift from the group from organiser, Andrew Fawkes (R) as Rev. Colin Weir looks on.
Clearly, the respective organisers got the message about dress code!
Departures for home on the following day included a visit for 10 of us to the relatively small but comprehensive Atwell Wilson Motor Museum in Calne, Wiltshire. Again, we were welcomed warmly, this time with home-made cakes, before our informal tour and onwards home.
Atwell Wilson Motor Museum Director, Paul Ellis, explains the history of the museum and the route around the displays
Totting up the various donations and raffle ticket sales revealed that our collective efforts had raised the huge sum of £2,600 for Services charities. Truly a high note to end on.
Thank you all for being there, for contributing and for making the event so memorable.
The happy troop before departing RAF Brize Norton.
Far left is Rex's 'stealth Aston', a last minute replacement for his sulking Vanquish!
(photo: RAF)
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Footnote: Each car received a lovely surprise goody bag gift from our RAF hosts:
Duck Chinuck (or is that Dook Chinook?) bath toy enjoys a different type of bathing.
That's all folks!
