The Fairmile has a history with the MG Car Club. It has been the long-stadning venue for The Fairmile Natter and before that met at The Talbot in Ripley. The Fairmile was a country house prior to WW2 and after became a hotel. During the war it was the design offices for Airspeed Ltd. Immediately opposite was Fairmile Cottage (actually a nine bedroom mansion), the home of car maker Noel Macklin who built Napier and Railton cars here. He also designed the Fairmile Motor Gun Boat here which was played a huge part in coastal defenses in WW2.
So the Fairmile has a starred history and we added another bit to it at the weekend with a gathering of MGs on The Fairmile lawns. Around 60 cars from the Centenary Five Road Runs descended on the lawns in the afternoon and joined by other, more local, MGs made for a fantastic display. A large, scalloped, marquee was ready to house the Jake Fryer duo of guitar and saxophone to play smooth welcoming jazz as the MGs arrived – their music drifting across the lawns.
Magic Marco amazed the arrivals with his close-up magic, which had a special MG centenary theme to some of them. The MGCC President, John Day, presented a potted history of the early days of MG and his own personal recollections and experiences of life with an MG and the MG Car Club.
The Fairmile provided a splendid buffet for the sold out 150 people who had ordered – in fact they probably made enough for 300!! Plenty to go round.
Cecil had arrived and sat in the marquee enjoying the afternoon as did many MG owners. The atmosphere was of a relaxed Summer garden party with drinks flowing from the pub and food on the tables all backed by a couple of hundred MGs on the lawns. Country style at its best.
You must be logged in to post a comment.