The Centre’s end of year celebration took a different format this year. Over the years it has moved from an evening gala black tie dinner to a lunch and last year, when there were two sets of awards , even a vineyard wine tasting! For 2024 we are on track now to present the Centre’s awards in the same year that they are won and the format has changed again.
Award winners and guests were invited to attend the prizegiving in the morning at Hartsfield Manor Hotel in Betchworth. The day started with coffee and cake in one of the hotel’s function rooms in the main house looking out over the Surrey Hills. Then the secretary and Chairman welcomed all the guests before settling into the awards themselves. In another change to tradition, the raffle draw was held immediately afterwards to enable those leaving before lunch to claim their prizes.
Bidding the morning guests farewell those staying for lunch moved to the Brockham Suite where they enjoyed a two or three course meal in the sunlit dining room. The room was decorated with original paintings from our guest and after-dinner speaker the artist Richard Wheatland.
Following lunch the Chairman introduced Richard, recalling how he first met him through Brooklands Museum and “pinching” one of his paintings for the first plastic membership cards. Richard then talked about a selection of his paintings in both the aviation and motoring fields as well as describing some of his techniques and how he originally came to paint.
The day ended with the secretary, Austin, giving thanks to Richard and revealing the results of the Secretary’s Challenge, which this year involved mileages on your MGs and how much you had driven them in the year.
The Awards
Throughout the year the Centre holds various competitions and keepsake trophies are awarded for those who have won them. The results of those have already been listed in the various event reports throughout the year. This section details the main club awards for 2024:-
| MGCCSE Significant Contribution Trophy | Awarded to an individual, couple, organisation or sponsor who has contributed to the Centre in a Significant Way during the year | The MG100SE Organising Team |  |
| Club Member(s) of the Year | The most meritous members of the year | Ron & Joan Kemp |  |
| The Carrisma Cup | Awarded to the person(s) best representing the spirit of the MG Car Club | Gareth Evans |  |
| Andy Turner Trophy | Awarded to the best article in the Centre’s Newsletter as chosen by the editors | Tim Morris |  |
| Derek Edwards ICHBABDA | Awarded to the person who could have had a better day with their MG | Dave Naylor | |
| Lew Wooster Trophy | Awarded to the person who marshalled and helped at most events during the year | Philip Roussell-Smith |  |
| Enthusiasts Trophy | For enthusiastically the most Centre events | Philip Roussell-Smith | |
| South East Centre Championship | For the most points awarded at Centre events | Ian Russell |  |
| Pentathlon Award | For the best results in entering Centre Events | Jon Glover |  |
| Social Championship Trophy | For the best attendance at South East Events | Tim Morris | |
| Ladies Award | Best results from entering Centre events for a lady | Lis Wooley |  |
| Magic Midge | Best MG results from Centre Driving Tests | David Smith |  |
| Alternative PoO Overall Winner Trophy | The overall winner of all three rounds of the Alternative PoO competition | Jon Glover | |
| Banana Trophy | Best SE Center driver at Brands Hatch race meet | Vic and Andy Young |  |
| Summer Gathering Spirit of the Show | Person(s) who showed the greatest spirit at this event | Martin Franklin | |
| Summer Gathering car of the show | The Car of the Show at the Summer Gathering | Paul Thomson |
