Here is a picture of Chris Woolmer's 1934 Wolseley Hornet special in front of our 1932 Wolseley
Hornet special at the Beachampton AGM meeting .
(69K)
This page describes in brief some of the events that I have attended in 1998 of the Wolseley Hornet Special Club.
Text and pictures from December 1998, but re-arranged Oct 2003
Here is a picture of Chris Woolmer's 1934 Wolseley Hornet special in front of our 1932 Wolseley
Hornet special at the Beachampton AGM meeting .
(69K)
Departure in the Friday evening sunshine for Portsmouth. Jenny in the back and the luggage on the back (bumper brackets remade to take the load)
(72K)
After a comfortable overnight crossing on the P&O "Pride of Bilbao" we made our way to Picauville. A short detour via Picauville Church, which is where the map marks Picauville, brought us to Pont L'Abbe and to the Hotel des Voyageurs. This was easily recognisable by the friendly waves from other Horneteers.
Saturday afternoon was enjoyably passed with a visit to a local "Air Fair" which, apart from the hot air balloon, the helicopter rides, a small historic museum, all at the site of the most enormous Zeppelin shed, was our first introduction to "mergez"sausage sandwiches.
Zeppelin Shed (30K)
Saturday evening Dinner was hosted at the Hotel des Voyagers and went on with seemingly endless courses of food, librally interspersed with refreshment and tales of merriment into the small hours.
On Sunday we assembled in the town square in front of the Fire Station for a session of driving tests ably arranged and marshalled by Geoff
Rick about to be flagged off by Ernie (69K)
After wine and Kir (spelling? the french dictionary has gone back to college) at the Fire station we made our way to La Cour, the residence of Hubert and Agnes for a spot of lunch. Lunch started at about 2.00pm and continued until past midnight with a few diversions for photosessions, a cricket match, visit to a neighbouring chateau etc.
The Chateau at La Cour (56K)
Treasure Hunt, more moules and frites for lunch, barbecue at Tony and Margarets place, drinks with Eric and view the Salmson, fireworks to finish the day.
Graham breaks a stub axle, followed by canoeing on the Douve, picnic lunch by the river, Graham replaces stub axle with spare thoughtfully provided by Chris Smith, dinner at Hotel des Voyageurs
Barbeque in the evening at the gites of Graham, Chris, Roland, Anne-Marie, Guenther and Mat
Our one wet day. So a visit to the Bayeux tapestry and evening feast with Chris, Kate and family and friends at gite
Drop Jenny off for a train to Paris, chance meeting with Geoff, Ann and Caroline and lunch off galette in Carteret. Swim in the sea, and another very good final dinner at Ste Marie du Mont with those who had stayed the course!
A rainy day for a bit of sightseeing and home on the catamaran without a hitch
The South East section of the Wolseley Hornet Special Club met at Brooklands for a Christmas dinner on Sunday 6th Dec. Roger Banks had arranged for us to join up with the Model T owners club for an excellent meal in the clubhouse.
A large number of the people that we had met in Normandy were there and there was much talk about venturing to Normandy again in 1999 in time to see the eclipse.
It was a clear frosty morning and I was keen to take Tessa. After a half
hour on the battery charger the reliable six cylinder engine burst into life had
we had an exhilarating trip through the lanes to Byfleet. About an hours drive. The turnout of
Hornets was limited, perhaps due to the salt which the local authorities had
thoughtfully spread on the roads to rust the bodywork. Roger had brought his
Hornet Special, Geoff had come in the Dart, and Jim and family had come in the
Aston.
Brooklands clubhouse on a winters morning ( 63K)
Geoff with a flying machine!! (61K)
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That's all for now.
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