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been entered. These included a very presentable Silver Cloud III selling for £3,600 and a complete Phantom II chassis reaching £100. Spares on the 28 stalls were incredibly cheap: for example, a brand new pair of P100 headlamps cost only £50. We were very modest with our charges. Auctioned vehicles were 5 per cent for the first £1,000 and 2.5 per cent thereafter, maximum commission £100; spares were 5 per cent of sale price. We still made a decent profit. Always looking for new ideas, in 1976 the


section organised a Vintage Rolls-Royce Exhibition in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, spanning the Bank Holiday weekend and masterminded by the late Matt Wright. It was absolutely untried and possibly the most ambitious event of its kind the Club had ever undertaken, and we fervently hoped it would succeed – particularly for those members who had generously put up financial sureties. Granada TV ran a piece about the exhibition during its evening news and the Blackpool Gazette gave the show editorial coverage. Holidaymakers loved it, with some 8,000 visitors queuing up to pay the 25p entrance fee. After all expenses, we made a jolly good profit.


A THRIVING ENTERPRISE During the late 1970s, we went into republishing the 20hp Parts Catalogues. I can recall personally slaving over an old Xerox copier to produce 10,000 copy pages to be collated and bound for sale. That was another decent money earner; equally so the 20hp Instruction Book in 1980. Over the years, under a succession of


excellent chairmen, willing committee members


and a splendid lot of members, spouses and families, the section continued to thrive. With no set boundaries, initially, our area comprised virtually everywhere “North of The Wash”. Indeed, a member in Edinburgh once took me to task for not organising events near to him. Currently with some 600 members, we


still have a larger membership than any other section. What is more, we offer a huge range of Club activities. Over the past 12 months there have been some 110 events arranged for member participation. You could have tried your hand at most things, from clay-pigeon shooting to crown green bowling; from a Valentine’s Day lunch to repairing a Rolls- Royce; or a simple Noggin & Natter evening (five venues each month) to watching the Gold Cup Race at Oulton Park. These are in addition to all the usual dinners, section weekends away and the like. Maybe more unusual than most events is


something that has been brilliantly organised for the past three years by our indefatigable Events Officer, Elizabeth Earp and husband Andy. This is where we are entirely devoid of our cars, during week-long holidays in Madeira. Based at the Royal Savoy Hotel, where the


manager just happens to be an Honorary Member of the Northern Section, these holidays are well above the ordinary. We are also fortunate to have a close relationship with the island’s splendid Clube de Automóveis Clássicos da Madeira and are inevitably invited to at least one of its classic car events during each stay. Another such holiday is planned for 2017.


THE GOLDEN SECTION In April 2016, with me now “promoted” to President Emeritus, we celebrated our 50th anniversary in style, although not at the old technical college in Bolton where it all began, which sadly has been demolished. We were privileged to use what may now be regarded as our new spiritual home, the University of Bolton, which effectively “grew” out of the old college. On a lovely sunny day it provided a superb setting for our 50th Celebration Rally and the 59 cars, bringing almost 250 members and guests. Luncheon was provided in the magnificent Assembly Hall at the nearby Bolton School, a prestigious independent grammar school that can trace its origins back to 1516. Additional celebrations were arranged by way of four garden parties in different parts of the region. Admittedly I am biased, but it’s fair to say that the Northern Section has done well for more than half a century and “used its talents wisely”. Even so, we are conscious that there can be no resting on our laurels and constantly strive to do even better. Interestingly, although the section can justly claim a lot of firsts, we are as certain as anyone ever can be of at least one more when, in 2026, we will be the first section to reach its Diamond Jubilee. Undoubtedly, there are many other people


and significant events that have contributed mightily to our success and have not been mentioned. However, please allow me to plead lack of space compounded by an imperfect and ever-fading memory; nonetheless, everyone who has helped along the way is appreciated. After all, “The cars may be the catalyst, but it is the people that matter.”


THE ENTHUSIAST 69


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