All Party Parliamentary Classic Car Run-2008
The All Party Parliamentary Classic Car Run is an annual event organised by the All Party Parliamentary Motor Group to raise funds for Charities.
I have been regularly invited to participate in this Run since 2001, because of my past and present fundraising activities. This year I was invited to participate in the Classic Car Run in my Triumph 1800 Roadster, (affectionally called Penny), on Tuesday 18 th March 2008. It was to commemorate the Diamond Wedding anniversary of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Actually, the anniversary was on Tuesday November 20th 2007 but the event was held in the Spring as more suitable to vehicle owners than late November.
The All Party Parliamentary Classic Car Run is an annual event organised by the All Party Parliamentary Motor Group to raise funds for Charities.
I have been regularly invited to participate in this Run since 2001, because of my past and present fundraising activities. This year I was invited to participate in the Classic Car Run in my Triumph 1800 Roadster, (affectionally called Penny), on Tuesday 18 th March 2008. It was to commemorate the Diamond Wedding anniversary of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Actually, the anniversary was on Tuesday November 20th 2007 but the event was held in the Spring as more suitable to vehicle owners than late November.
In previous years 75 cars of various vintages, from sixty Counties decended on The Houses of Parliament on a Saturday. Because our Representatives in both Houses were working on the Tuesday (or collecting their allowances), we assembled at Horse Guards Parade, which was closed, to the public. Drivers were thus free to photograph their favourite cars.
For this very special occasion the Run featured sixty British vehicles, which were in production in 1947, each one representing a year of Her Majesty’s married life. It included commercial, military and public service vehicles, cars and motorcycles – Hillman Minx, Riley, Austin Devon, Morris 10, Armstrong Siddeley, Bedford - all the ionic products of the British Motor industry. It was nostalgia. As a teenager in Cape Town, I learned to drive in an Austin of that era and as a medical student I owned a 1946 Hillman Minx. I was able to speak to their respective drivers. This really made my day extra s
pecial.Drivers were asked to raise funds for Leukaemia Research and the Stroke Association. We were asked, if we could, to wear period dress. It was quite fun, everyone joining in, in the spirit of the occasion.
The event was sponsored by PD Insuran
ce Ltd.We then drove in convoy to the Tower of London where we lined up on the Wharf in front of Traitor’s Gate overlooking Tower Bridge. Later we proceeded to the Armouries for light refreshments. HRH The Duke of Kent and Peter James were present to warmly welcome the Drivers and circulated amongst them. Here we handed in our donations to representatives of both charities.
It was announced that we raised £6,000. The charities say that there is a lot more to come and hopefully achieve five figures. We then returned to our cars to find masses of visitors taking photos of the vehicles. On behalf of Her Majesty, HRH The Duke of Kent inspected the vehicles and spoke to each driver. After inspecting Penny, he commented “ a ver
y elegant car.” Here was Royal approval for Penny and not for the first time!To conclude the event, a private viewing of the Crown Jewels was arranged for all participants. I had not seen them before, so I was especially pleased. Sadly, I could not bring any home. As consolation, for £30 I bought “Outrage” which shows one how to steal the Crown Jewels. What an investment !
As you can tell, it was a great occasion, a very successful day, a day to remember.
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