5 - 2021 | Chalmers News PR

Gearing up for exhibitions and shows at Gaydon’s British Motor Museum

Posted on May 24, 2021May 24, 2021 by admin

IT’S so good to see our local museums reopen their doors to visitors again.

To kickstart our tour, we called into the British Motor Museum in Gaydon ahead of our Young Driver Classic Car Experience, on Saturday.

British Motor Museum, Gaydon — The British Motor Museum and Collections Centre

A favourite with our family, there’s always plenty to explore at both the Museum and Collection Centre on site, with more than 300 British cars from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and Jaguar Heritage Trust collections.

And there’s a great café for refuelling too!

New for 2021, the E-type Evolution Exhibition from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT) commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the Jaguar E-type. The Exhibition tells the story of the car from the racing C and D-types of the 1950s, the E2A Prototype, its launch at Geneva on 15 March 1961 and finishes with two very successful Racing V12 E-types from the 1970s. The exhibition runs to the end of June and is included in the standard Museum admission.

For the May half-term week, from 29th May–6th June, the Museum is hosting a full programme of family-friendly activities to celebrate the Jaguar E-type’s 60th Birthday. Visitors will have the chance to meet Dotty or Dougie, the car designers from the swinging 60s and explore this amazing car and its design. Younger visitors will also have the chance to take home their very own cardboard cut-out Jaguar E-type! There are also online celebratory activities for those not able to visit the Museum.

The Museum is also gearing up to run a full schedule of motoring shows and events this summer, all in line with Government advice. Over 14 shows and rallies are being planned to include the return of several popular events such as the Land Rover Show, Retro Truck Show as well as some brand-new events including ‘Autolicious.’

First event of the 2021 show season is the ‘National Metro & Mini Show. The popular family show, which returns in line with government guidelines on Sunday 6th June, is the main event of the year for Metros, classic Minis and modern Minis to celebrate a great day out.

Hundreds of models will be on display including ‘621 AOK’, the first Mini produced in 1959 and ‘X411 JOP,’ the last ever classic Mini to be produced at Longbridge in 2000, along with ’33 EJB’, ‘AJB 44B’ and ‘LBL 6D’ the Monte Carlo Rally winning Mini’s of 1964, 1965 and 1967.

Tickets for the show also include entry to the Museum and Collections Centre, giving visitors the chance to see over 350 cars including some of the historically important milestone vehicles such as the last Rover 100 produced, signed by almost 1,200 people involved in Metro production.

The Gaydon Land Rover Show is back on 31 July–1st August bringing the finest vehicles, owners and historians together for a weekend dedicated to this iconic marque. The EV Electric Vehicle Festival takes place on the 7th August and the Classic and Vintage Commercial Show, which this year includes the Transit Van Club Rally and Classic Van and Pick Up Show, returns on 14-15th August.

Continuing through the summer, new to Gaydon is ‘Autolicious’ on 29th August. This event presented by Audi-licious is a rare opportunity to see an array of stunning cars on display including Audi, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes, Lamborghini and VW.

The Gaydon Jaguar Show, which began in 2020, returns on 4th September and is billed as a friendly, informal gathering for all Jaguar fans, owners and enthusiasts. The Retro Truck Show returns on 11^th-12th September and to round the show season off the last two events are indoor; the Large Model Aircraft Show on 24th October and the Great British Model Railway Show on 30^th-31st October.

The Museum is open seven days a week from 10am – 5pm with limited numbers per day and pre-booking is essential for all visitors including those returning with an annual pass. There are 10am, 11am, 12noon and 1pm arrival slots available and visitors can stay as long as they wish until closing.

2021 admission prices remain the same as in 2020 and are: Adults £14.50, Concessions £12.50, Children £9 (5-16 years), under 5’s free, and a Family ticket £40 (2 adults & up to 3 children). If you Gift Aid or donate your entrance fee you receive an annual pass at no extra cost. All visitors must pre-book tickets so the Museum can fulfil its NHS Test and Trace commitment.

For more information on keeping visitors safe visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/news/welcome-back

For more information about this and to book tickets visit https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/

BMM hosts new Young Driver Classic Car Experiences. Read about our visit here.

Young Drivers given green light to enjoy the ‘classics!’

Posted on May 24, 2021May 24, 2021 by admin

AS a driver of 35 years – and a mother of two – I appreciate the value of the much-lauded Young Driver scheme, first established in 2009 to help reduce the high accident rate for newly qualified drivers.

It’s a great opportunity for 10-17-year-olds to get behind the wheel in preparation for driving lessons, learning to brake, steer, reverse, park and negotiate the gears – all for the first time.

Young Drivers, classic car experience, Quentin Willson, British Motor Museum, Gaydon — The Chalmers ‘boys’ flank motoring journalist Quentin Willson at the launch of the Young Driver Classic Car Experience at The British Motor Museum.

Now the team behind the UK’s largest pre-17 driving school – whose cars are finally back on the road post-pandemic – are expanding their offering by giving lucky young motor enthusiasts access to classic cars too!

In the Classic Car Experience, youngsters can take a spin in three of Britain’s most iconic cars – a Vauxhall VX490, Morris Minor or Austin 7 – with a fully qualified driving instructor. And the envious parents don’t have to miss out either.

Having spent the last few months fine-tuning the engines, the classic cars are now available to drive (for anyone from 10 upwards) at the British Motor Museum on selected dates. The experiences last 15 minutes and those booking a lesson also get discounted entry into the museum. (See BMM review from the same day here)

To mark the occasion on Saturday was motoring journalist and former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson, who has also been patron to Young Drivers.

The car’s touch points are sanitised between drivers who are joined for the trip by an instructor. But be warned – the Austin 7 is not designed for teenagers over 6ft tall and unfortunately only one of my sons was able to successfully peel himself in and out of the vehicle. Something to consider before you go.

He was able to enjoy his session in the Morris Minor however and it was a delight to witness the beaming smiles (amid the looks of concentration) from a wide range of ages as they got to grips with, what was for many, their first ever experience behind the wheel.

As Quentin himself put it to me – “Classic cars can be a refreshingly authentic way to start your driving ‘journey,’ with the absence of electronic intervention allowing the driver to feel more connected to their vehicle.”

This is a big part of what also makes it such a unique experience for the more mature modern-day driver – although you’ll also be made to appreciate the comforts and driveability of today’s cars!

Young Driver was established in 2009 with the aim of revolutionising the learning to drive journey, helping to reduce the high accident rate for newly qualified drivers by extending the learning period. For more information and to book a lesson please visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on

Future Classic Young Driver events at The British Motor Museum are on 19th June, 25th September and 20th November. Visit https://www.youngdriver.eu/ to book.

The cars. . .

Austin 7: This was introduced to the British public in 1922 – just four years after the start of World War One – and by the start of World War Two, in 1939, some 290,000 of them were in use around the world.

Morris Minor: This car made its debut in 1948, designed by motoring legend Alec Issigonis, who went on to design the Mini, and was the first to sell over a million units.

Vauxhall VX490: This was produced between 1963-67 during which time 31,000 saloons were made of the HB spec, of which only 10 are on the UK roads today.

For more about The British Motor Museum visit my latest article here.

Warwick solicitors supports Warwick charity with Will proceeds

Posted on May 21, 2021May 21, 2021 by admin

A solicitors firm which opened its Warwick offices during the pandemic, has donated £500 to a local charity which supports children with terminal and life-limiting illnesses.

Wadsworths, which also has offices in Solihull, Henley and Tamworth, presented Molly Olly’s Wishes with the donation representing a percentage of every Will they administered throughout the month of November last year.

Richard Dundee, Head of Wills and Probate at Wadsworths Solicitors, said: “We decided to support Molly’s Olly’s Wishes as they are a much valued and loved charity in the local Warwick area. We pride ourselves on taking an active part in our local community and are proud to be supporting such a fantastic local charity after what has been a difficult year for everyone.”

Molly Olly's Wishes, Wadsworths, Rachel Ollerenshaw — Richard Dundee presents the cheque to Rachel Ollerenshaw.

The Warwick-based charity, which has its offices in Swan Street, was established in 2011 following the death of Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw’s eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.

It works to support children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families and help with their emotional wellbeing as well as grant wishes and donate therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK.

Mascot of the charity is a therapeutic toy lion called Olly The Brave who has his own Hickman line and a detachable mane which helps to explain and normalise the effects of chemotherapy. These form part of an Olly The Brave pack that has now been handed out to more than 40 hospitals, along with a book from the charity’s exclusive Olly The Brave series.

Part of more than £2.5m raised to date, has also been used to fund the first Molly Olly consultant in paediatric medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Rachel Ollerenshaw said: “Thank you to all the team at Wadsworths for their support from their Make a Will Week. The funds are very gratefully received and will be used to help children facing very challenging circumstances.

“We have a lot of wishes at the moment for all sorts from a walker to aid mobility, to shopping vouchers, outdoor climbing frame and iPads. For children stuck in hospital or restricted to their homes these wishes can help keep them occupied or provide support at a time when maybe mum or dad has had to stop work to be at home to care.”

Further information about Molly Olly’s Wishes or how to donate can be found at: www.mollyolly.co.uk

Midlands Air Festival to host RAF Red Arrows at Alcester

Posted on May 19, 2021 by admin

The RAF Red Arrows will make their UK debut performance for 2021 at the Midlands Air Festival.

The festival, which takes place at Ragley Hall on Friday 4th to Sunday 6th June, will host the RAF Red Arrows, RAF Typhoon Display Team, Battle of Britain Spitfire pair and RAF Falcons.

Midlands Air Festival, Red Arrows, Ragley Hall, Alcester — The Red Arrows in action.

Not only will this be the public’s first opportunity to see the new displays for the 2021 season, but this will also be the first Red Arrows full display in the UK since the pandemic, due to the inevitable cancellation of events up and down the country in 2020.

The RAF Red Arrows are one of the finest and most respected jet aerobatic teams in the world and the nation’s favourite wherever they display in the UK. Arriving in the sky over the historic Ragley Estate, they will showcase their new arrival formation for 2021 called ‘The Wall’. The team will then display a series of different formations with their wingtips just a few feet apart, before breaking into two sections for the dynamic part of their show, featuring nail-biting high-speed opposition passes and spectacular breaks.

The RAF will also bring three front line fighters to the show, the first being the incredible Typhoon FGR4 jet, capable of a maximum speed of 1,300mph. The Typhoon is the RAF’s current front-line fighter, protecting UK airspace 24/7 and on deployment around the globe. The others are the front-line fighters of the 1940’s, the Supermarine Spitfire.

Used in all theatres of WW2, the Spitfire played a pivotal role in winning the Battle of Britain. These aircraft are part of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and are two of a number of WW2 aircraft that the RAF preserve in flying condition as a living memorial to the pilots, crews and builders of these iconic aircraft and to inspire future generations. Both aircraft will fly some unforgettable displays, featuring the unique capabilities that have made them so famous in their respective eras.

The final addition to this fantastic line up is the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team. The Falcons are the UK’s premier military parachute display team. Celebrating their 60th anniversary the team will fly their new commemorative display at the Midlands Air Festival. The world’s most accomplished military skydivers will leap from their aircraft, trailing smoke to make them easier to spot. Once they deploy their canopies, they will carry out a series of manoeuvres and set pieces, including their famous non-contact canopy stacking and relative work.

The military additions complete the spectacular air display programme for the 2021 Midlands Air Festival which include formation aerobatics from Team Raven, Rich Goodwin in his high energy Muscle Biplane, the mighty Boeing B-17 4 engine bomber Sally B, acclaimed aerobatics pilot Chris Jesson in his classic Stampe Biplane, the nine tiger moths of the Tiger 9 Display Team, the Westland Wasp helicopter and many more.

There will also be a unique opportunity to see two powered airships and mass ascents of over 120 hot air balloons including Europe’s largest collection of special shape character balloons. In addition to this, breath taking giant kites will take to the skies and some of the UK’s largest historic radio-controlled models will conduct a stunning airfield attack.

The director of aviation for the event, Trevor Graham said, “We are delighted and honoured to have so many of the nation’s top military and civilian aviators to support us and fly for the people of the Midlands. What better way to blow away the lockdown blues than a stunning day out in the wide-open spaces of the historic Ragley Hall with the best of the best!”

Tickets to the Midlands Air Festival must be purchased in advance and are limited to allow for capacity restrictions and government regulations pertaining at the time of the event. Organisers are advising those wishing to attend to book their tickets early to avoid disappointment. Children under 14 can attend for free, when accompanied by an adult ticket holder.

MOD participation is subject to operational confirmations and PDAs.

To keep up to date with the latest news and information visit the Midlands Air Festival website www.midlandsairfestival.com or follow the event on Twitter @midlandsairfest, Instagram @midlandsairfestival and Facebook @midlandsairfestival.

Young fundraisers gear up for 50-mile cycling challenge

Posted on May 17, 2021 by admin

TWO young friends are gearing up for an epic fundraising challenge when they cycle 50 miles for charity this summer.

Carrick Hayre and Nicole Baker, from Knowle, hope to raise £1,000 when they cycle along a route between their homes and Molly Olly’s Wishes charity HQ in Warwick town centre, on July 3^rd.

The charity was established in 2011 following the death of Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw’s eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.

Part of more than £2.5m raised to date, has also been used to fund the first Molly Olly consultant in paediatric medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Fourteen-year-old Carrick, who attends Arden School in Solihull, said: “I decided I wanted to do something for the charity when I started doing my Duke of Edinburgh Award last year. I like the charity because it helps children emotionally rather than physically, which I’m not sure that many other charities do so much.”

Nicole, 13, a pupil at Solihull School, added: “I wanted a new challenge and decided to help the charity, especially after their struggle over the past year. I also love the fact that they help grant children’s wishes.”

The pair are already well on the way to exceeding their £1,000 fundraising target.

Carrick said: “We’re absolutely blown away by the response. People have been so generous.”

Rachel Ollerenshaw said: “Both Carrick, Nicole and their families have been great supporters of Molly Olly’s for many years. They have both taken time to really understand how the charity helps and the difference that we can make to children with life-threatening illnesses with the money raised. They have set themselves a challenge that is new to them and has required a lot of time training to build up the miles and we wish them lots of luck. Thank you to both of them and all those who have donated to their fundraising page.”

Further information about Molly Olly’s Wishes or how to donate can be found at: www.mollyolly.co.uk

To support Carrick and Nicole’s fundraising efforts, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gurmukh-hayre1