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SIXTY OF THE BEST


A history of the Club’s first six decades by Lt Col Eric Barrass, Malcolm Tucker, Philip Hall, Jackie Robotham and Colin Hughes


ON 11 AUGUST 1957, 11 people assembled at Paternoster Farm, Yarnton, near Oxford, the home of Edward Harris. The gathering was the result of an advertisement that Edward had placed in The Oxford Mail proposing the formation of a club for the owners of pre-war Rolls-Royce cars. Geoffrey Frank addressed the meeting and


explained its objectives. It was unanimously decided that a club should be formed and that it should be called the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club (RREC). At this inaugural meeting, the Club’s first officers were elected: Chairman, G Frank; Hon Secretary, RAH Woolley; and Hon Treasurer, F Bonham. The Club was born.


THE EARLY YEARS The first Club event took place on 15 September 1957, incorporating a rally at the Royal Sun Inn, Begbroke, followed by a series of driving tests at Kidlington airfield near Oxford. The 14 cars entered included a 1921 Silver Ghost, three 20hps, three 20/25s and three early Phantoms. In November of that year, around 80 Club


members and friends gathered in the Royal British Legion Hall, Yarnton to see a one-act play by the local dramatic society. The occasion was used to present the first Club prizes and trophies to members. However, things quietened down over the following months and on 1 June 1958 an Extraordinary General Meeting was called at the Old Rectory, Woodeaton, Oxford, where the future viability of the Club was discussed. The EGM elected a new committee, whose officers were: Chairman, Surgeon Captain R Symmons; Hon


Secretary, F Bonham; and Hon Treasurer, Gladys M Harris (sister of Edward Harris). The new committee organised five Club events in 1958, including the first Concours d’Elegance, held at Weston Manor Hotel, Weston-on-the-Green, near Oxford. During the late 1950s, the subscription


was just 10 shillings (50 pence) per annum for full membership and five shillings (25 pence) for associates. In July 1959, the first Blenheim Concours was held, and by the following month, the Club’s membership had reached 100.


THE 1960s In early 1960, The Bulletin was established. It was in duplicated foolscap and provided good technical articles and offered items for sale. A note in the early editions read: “Enquiries for spare parts, service sheets, and general information should be addressed to the Assistant Secretary, Nigel H Hughes.” At that time, a 1932 Phantom II was offered for £150 and a 1925 Phantom I by Hooper was offered for £130. The Blenheim Concours in 1960 attracted 40


cars across five classes. The Chairman’s Challenge Bowl was won by the best visitor’s car, a 1933 Phantom II James Young tourer owned by CG Duce. More and more technical articles appeared


in The Bulletin, many written by Nigel Hughes and Ron Haynes. Nigel was an undergraduate at Oxford when the Club was started and, through the Oxford University Motor Drivers’ Club, developed an interest in Rolls-Royce cars. Ron Haynes worked for Rolls-Royce at Hythe Road, North London. He was employed as a technical adviser and had


THE ENTHUSIAST 3


Opposite: Burghley House, the current venue for the Club’s Annual Rally


Below: An RREC prize-giving during the Club’s inaugural year, 1957


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