CLUB HISTORY
CLUB HISTORY
It
occurred to me that it might be a nice idea to put together a brief history of
the East Northants Land Rover Owners Club from when it started to the present
day
E.N.L.R.O.C.
was formed in 1889 ....... Sorry I mean 1989 (some people just don't age as well
as others you know!) by our Club President and my trialling partner,
Ken Sharman and his friend Stuart Abbott. They
both had a serious interest in Land Rovers and decided to form a club.
They held their first meeting at the Star and Garter pub in Chelveston,
which is situated between Rushden and Kimbolton on the East Side of
Northamptonshire, hence, the name of the Club.
After
the first meeting an Article appeared in the local evening paper in an attempt
to publicise the Club and to drum up more members.
Having read the article and being the proud owner of a one-ten Land Rover
myself, I decided to go along to the next meeting.
At that meeting there were about a dozen people sitting around drinking
and talking about, yes you've guessed it, Land-Rovers, not much change there in
the last eleven or so years! Ken
introduced himself and Stuart to those people who were not at the first meeting
and explained what he had in mind. He
also asked for volunteers and ideas to help the Club get off the ground, by this
time he had persuaded Dave Vaughan to become Club Secretary and things were
beginning to take shape.
Although
the Star and Garter was a friendly and welcoming pub, unfortunately it was too
small if more than twenty people wanted to gather in one room. A new venue had
to be found, which resulted in the next few meetings being held a few miles
farther east at the "Manchester Arms" in Tilbrooke, but after a while
this also proved to be unsuitable. E.N.L.R.O.C. was on the move once again, this
time to the "Nags Head" in Wolaston.
While
all this was going on we were also searching for sites to hold trials on,
something we have been doing ever since. Our
first "Off Road Day" was held on a motorbike trial site at Brake Hill
Farm, between Brigstock and Grafton Underwood. A pretty tame site to what we are
used to now, but it gave us the chance to get to know each other, and also, for
a lot of us, who had not done much off-road driving to get to know our vehicles
and their capabilities.
Things
were progressing very well, with more events organised; a Committee was formed
to run the ever-growing Club's affairs. If
we wanted to trial our vehicles it was decided that it would be an advantage to
join the Association of Rover Club's (A.R.C.), and also the Royal Automobile
Club Motor Sports Association (now known simply as the M.S.A.) whose role is to
regulate all types of Motor Sport in the U.K.
We applied to join both organisations and after submitting the necessary
paperwork were duly accepted; E.N.L.R.O.C. was entering the big time.
The
Club by now had it's first newsletter called "The Car and Starter"
derived from the "Star and Garter" Although it was typed and
photocopied in A4 format, nothing like the magazine we know today, it was still
used much as the present day magazine is to inform and entertain Club members.
The magazine as we now know it, with it's colour covers and centrefold was
started and developed by Ian Cox, continued and improved by Martin Duddy and
today, a couple of editors later, we have a magazine to be proud of.
As
time progressed membership steadily increased, more "Off Road" events
took place, including weekend trialling at neighbouring Clubs and E.N.L.R.O.C.
developed into the Club we have today. A
Club which, although not by any means one of the largest in the A.R.C., has
still made its voice heard whenever
necessary and when it had a view to express.
Yet
another change of venue was forced upon us when the "Nags Head" was
closed for refurbishment. This resulted in us moving to our present
"home" The Red Lion, Brafield on the Green. Without doubt our best
venue to date with its improved facilities such as the "Off Road
Course" at the rear and the
extra conference room. We hope it will continue to be so.
The
next major milestone in the Club's history was the decision to become a Limited
Company. The subject had been discussed at various times in the past but no
final decision was made. However,
considering the apparent ease at which people and organisations will sue each
other at the slightest provocation and as the result of an E.N.L.R.O.C. member's
vote, the Club set about the task of incorporation.
After many weeks hard work in preparation, on the 25th of
September 2000, E.N.L.R.O.C. became Limited.
We are now better protected as a Club and as individual members from any
claims, which may be lodged against us in the future.
In real terms as members, things will be very much as they have always
been, except you may all sleep a little better knowing you have the protection
that the Limited status now offers.
Although
all the Committee and several members of the Club have been involved in getting
it all "Sorted", to coin a well used phrase, I think a lot of the
thanks must go to our present Club Secretary, Gary Culpan who seems to have it
all under control, because without him or someone equally enthusiastic about it
we would not have got it done.
So
what of the future? If I could predict this I could be very wealthy but like
most others can only guess. It does
seem to me that our present Government is not altogether in favour of
recreational vehicles in the countryside with the introduction of its
Countryside and Rights of way Bill. We'll just have to keep a keen eye on all
developments and be prepared to make our voice heard whenever and wherever
necessary.
I
hope the Club gives members what they expect and will continue to do so for many
years to come. I have no doubt that
things will change in the future, hopefully always for the better, but if you
feel that you would like to get more involved in
shaping these changes come forward and speak to any Committee member.
I
would like to think this brief history of the Club will prove interesting to at
least a few of you, especially some of our newer members who may not realise
what a fine upstanding body of people E.N.L.R.O.C. is made of! Some of the
bodies may not be quite so fine and upstanding at the end of the night when the
covers go on the beer pumps.
Finally
I would like to extend a warm welcome to all new
members. It is worth
remembering that as a group of enthusiasts our main aim should be to foster a
good-natured, friendly, atmosphere in which we can all enjoy the one thing that
unites us, our Land Rovers.
Go
to Home Page