Obituary – Chris Arnold [6441] (1953–2024)
“The Motoring Years”
Remembered by Paul Scotten [6568] and Clive Button

It is with much sadness that we have to report the death of our colleague Chris Arnold on 24 December 2024. At the time of writing, his wife Terry was planning for his two Wolseleys  to stand outside the church for his funeral on 28 January.

As the saying goes, you never forget your first love or your first car. Chris’ first car was a two-tone green Wolseley 6/99 (813 AGK). He worked on cars with friend and colleague John Pryer (friends since the age of 14) – calling the ‘business’ WHT Motors, occasionally recruiting friends (even their girlfriends!) and family members in cleaning car parts before putting the engines back together.

He decided not to attend university, instead working in the motor trade. First for a motor spares retail outlet Long Life, and then as a representative for Lucas Electrical Ltd – initially in Surrey and later in the Rugby area. He then went to live on a narrow boat, where he worked on diesel engines for a canal boat hire firm in Northamptonshire.

Chris also had a part-time job as a barman which prompted him to become a licensee. He spent the next 20 years in the pub trade with Terry. They managed Ye Three Fishes in Turvey, Bedfordshire (1979-82), tenanted The Fox and Hounds in Tugby, Leicestershire (1982-87), and finally the freehold of The Lion Inn at Waters Upton, Shropshire (1987-98). During this period, Chris owned and worked on at least two Wolseley 6/110s. In 2005, Chris and Terry moved to Wisbech to be nearer to their daughter in Norwich.

In 2009, Chris noticed a 25hp DHC on eBay. He purchased the car, named it ‘Wills’, and joined the Wolseley Register. At every rally, Chris would study ‘DON’, Clive Button’s 25hp at that time, to try and improve his own car. This involved sourcing the correct engine, getting it reupholstered, resprayed and fabricating a new hood to replace the non-standard hard top. He completed this work over a decade, transforming the car into a prize-winning, head-turning example. He later bought a 15/60 in which Terry would be more comfortable driving, and so join him at Wolseley meetings and rallies. Chris was very committed to displaying the 15/60 on the Register’s stand at the NEC Classic Car Show in 2018.

Chris loved all forms of transport, especially steam trains, London Routemaster buses and of course, Wolseley cars – about which he could talk non-stop. One Wolseley owner once said to Terry, “He does talk a lot, but what he says is always interesting and informative!”

Chris was one of life’s enthusiasts, and that enthusiasm was infectious. He and Clive came across some lovely period publicity images of the DHC, and Chris was determined to visit these locations with his car. With a good deal of detective work, Terry managed to track down the locations, and a visit was planned to Herefordshire and Shropshire. But he was not content with simply visiting the locations – Chris wanted to recreate the photos. So he, Terry and his sister Margaret donned 1930s costumes, and recruited professional photographer Richard Gunn. On a memorable day in 2013, the calendar was wound back some 75 years to create some astonishing pictures.

That same year, Chris became East Anglia regional representative when members started meeting locally. New members have often remarked about how welcome Chris made them feel. For the 2013 National Rally, he liaised with the National Trust to arrange the event to be held at Ickworth House, and also planned the ‘World Tour of East Anglia’ which took place in the week leading up to the National Rally. In 2015, Chris took on the newly-created role of Group Liaison Officer, actively helping to set up small groups in different regions.

Away from Wolseley duties, Chris was chairman and telephone liaison for the local Community Car Scheme where volunteers take people for hospital and doctor’s appointments.

Chris threw himself into all aspects of the Register, diligently arranging local and national events. His contributions to Management Committee meetings were full of energy, wisdom and good humour – doing much to help successive Chairmen move the Register forward. His Wolseley Times updates have kept local members informed and entertained, and his commitment and enthusiasm for the club and the Wolseley marque will be greatly missed.

In his own words, these extracts are from the Register’s Profile book of the 25hp DHC, first published in 2018:

“As a teenager in South London, my first chance to escape the parental home and ‘get out on the highway’ was in a Wolseley 15/60 that my friend had inherited from an aged aunt. Even before I passed my test I was looking to upstage this and, as large saloons were the cheapest to buy, I acquired a 6/99 with no brakes for just £20. Somehow, a friend drove it home through London traffic using just the handbrake, the three-speed column change and probably steering with his teeth! A new set of rubbers in the master cylinder and my first real car was on the road. I was a MOTORIST.

“Despite decades passing, the Wolseley bug was still there… So when I decided that I wanted to own a classic car, there was only one name I was looking for. Sitting in the seat of the Wolseley I’d seen on eBay, looking down the long bonnet to the ‘Flying W’ at the end, the bug came back to life and well and truly bit me.

“My lucky purchase in 2009 has allowed me entry into a very exclusive club. I’ve met other owners who couldn’t have done more to help, met fellow Wolseley owners who really are the salt of the earth, and I’ve met many members of the public at various car shows who are really interested in the car and its history. The only downside is the pain one develops in the cheek muscles from grinning broadly while turning heads and looking down that long bonnet at the ‘Flying W’.”

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FBHVC clarifies the introduction of E10 petrol for historic vehicle owners:

After an extensive consultation process, the Department for Transport has announced that they will legislate to introduce E10 petrol as the standard 95-octane petrol grade by 1 September 2021. They will also require the higher-octane 97+ ‘Super’ grades to remain E5 to provide protection for owners of older vehicles. This product will be designated as the ‘Protection’ grade.

The introduction of the 95-octane E10 grade and the maintenance of the Super E5 protection grade will be reviewed by the Government after 5 years to ensure they remain appropriate to the needs of the market. In relation to the E5 protection grade, such a review will examine market developments over the period. HM Government have sought to reassure FBHVC members and historic vehicle owners that, without a suitable alternative becoming available, it is highly likely the Super E5 protection grade would continue to be available.

Filling stations that stock 2 grades of petrol and supply at least one million litres of fuel in total each year, will need to ensure one product is the Super E5 protection grade. While not all filling stations meet these criteria, almost all towns across the UK will have a filling station that supplies the ‘Super’ grade and currently one major retailer, a national supermarket group, has committed to offer the product. The main exception to this is in certain parts of the Highlands, north and west coast of Scotland, which will be covered by an exemption process and allowed to continue to market the 95-octane E5 grade.

The Federation therefore recommends that all vehicles produced before 2000 and some vehicles from the early 2000s that are considered non-compatible with E10 – should use the Super E5 Protection grade where the Ethanol content is limited to a maximum of 5%. To check compatibility of vehicles produced since 2000, we recommend using the new online E10 compatibility checker: https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol

It should be noted that some Super E5 Protection grade products do not contain Ethanol as the E5 designation is for fuels containing up to 5% Ethanol. Product availability varies by manufacturer and geographical location and enthusiasts should check the situation in their location.

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Obituary – Stuart Nell [0743]
Geoff Craggs, President [0476], and Clive Button [6257]

All those who knew Stuart were saddened by his death in early June, at the age of just 65.

Stuart had been a member of the Wolseley Register for more than 40 years, joining when he took charge of his grandmother’s Wolseley 18/85 – a car which has remained part of his collection.  Stuart was the instigator of the East Midlands area and organised the successful National Rally in Lincolnshire in 2017.  He served as the Register’s Secretary around a decade ago.

He was also the chief architect and organiser of one of the Register’s most ambitious and memorable events, the Jubilee Tour. This took place in 2012, to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and to raise money for the National Trust which had just taken over Nuffield Place.  The Tour involved a 2,000-mile journey round England, Scotland and Wales, over a two-week period, with visits to at least one National Trust property each day.  Six cars and their crews took part in the full tour, others joined for just a few days, and we were met by local members at our scheduled stops.  The Tour raised over £4,000 for the National Trust.  Eight years on, those who took part still talk about it and have some very happy memories.

A great motoring enthusiast, Stuart believed in using his cars and saw little fun in static events.  He kept his cars in excellent order and drove them hard.  In addition to the family 18/85, Stuart owned two other Wolseleys: a 6/110 and a 25 HP DHC.  This latter car has been undergoing professional restoration to the highest standard for some years and it was a great sadness to Stuart that he was not to live to see the work completed.  Stuart had several other cars in his collection, including the MGB he bought new aged eighteen, an MG RV8, a Daimler Double Six and a brace of Alvis – a Speed 20 and a TE.

His enthusiasm for his cars and for speed led many of us to see Stuart, affectionately, as a latter-day ‘Mr Toad’.  For Stuart, one of the highlights of the Jubilee Tour, mentioned above, was a high-speed ride in Ken Prichard Jones 1907 Wolsit racer.  Few will forget the image of Stuart, wearing goggles and with a wide grin: Mr Toad incarnate.  His friends in another club referred to him as ‘Stirling Nell’.

To mere acquaintances, Stuart seemed delightfully ‘un-reconstructed’ and perhaps he would have been more at home in an earlier age.  However, those who knew Stuart better saw a rather shy and sensitive man and a kind, loyal and generous friend.  We shall miss you a great deal, Stuart.

Stuart never married but we send our condolences to his brothers and wider family.

Memories of “our local leader”
Margaret and David Reid [5481]

Stuart was an inspiration to us all in the Lincoln group and despite his reluctance and protestations to the contrary became our leader. As one member of our group suggested, he was “like a breath of fresh air” and he took up the chalice and never looked back.

He was the one who organised all our functions including all our renowned lunches with his spread sheets of everyone’s individual order attached. Thanks to Stuart we can now find a welcome from a selection of pubs and restaurants in Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

However, Stuart will also be in our hearts as to the devotion and lavish attention he gave to his numerous cars, including his grandmother’s own Wolseley which he kindly lent to at least one member in the past.

He also introduced the idea of ’Noggin and Natter’ to our group, even change of venue from The Woodcocks at Burton Waters to The Lord Nelson at Winthorpe was no mean feat. The contributions and photographs to the Wolseley World magazine was carried out with the same enthusiasm.

Stuart will be remembered by us all for his generosity and kindness and the welcome we received when visiting him at his stately home and all its numerous garages. He was also a private man, and we respected him for this. We shall miss him greatly.

His legacy for the membership of the Lincoln group will be to ensure capacity for continuity of the Wolseley Register in the East Midlands.

It is with regret that due to Covid-19 restrictions, none of Stuart’s friends and fellow Wolseley enthusiasts were able to attend his funeral at the end of June. Perhaps a memorial service may be arranged for the future.

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Police Clarify Their Stance on Historic Vehicle MOT Exemptions

Following a recent incident where the driver of an historic vehicle was erroneously given notice of intended prosecution by a police officer, The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (The Federation) has made efforts to avoid similar incidents by contacting the parties responsible seeking clarifications.

We have already made available to our members through the website (www.fbhvc.co.uk) a letter from the Department for Transport clarifying the position on exemptions, but it was still the case that enforcing officers had no access to a database of declarations by owners of VHIs as this data when supplied by owners is not recorded.

We therefore have sought and have just received assurances from Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, Lead on Roads Policing of the National Police Chiefs’ Council that they are in agreement with the Department for Transport’s letter of 11 January, which we shared with you earlier and now repeat.

Chief Constable Bangham has confirmed that police recognise that there is a presumption that where a vehicle meets the criteria as laid out by the Department of Transport (DfT) it does not require an MOT Certificate and any person using such a vehicle cannot commit an offence. Officers will not rely on declarations made at relicensing times to police this matter.

We are pleased now on the eve of Drive it Day, probably the largest national assemblage of historic vehicles of the year, to provide this confirmation to all members. Our advice for anyone who remains concerned is simply to print a copy of the Department for Transport letter of 11 January and carry it with your other documents.

Copy DfT letter:
”
The following is a statement of the effect of recent legal changes to requirements for MOT testing of vehicles at least 40 years old.

On 20 May 2018 the Motor Vehicle (Tests) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 came into force. Regulation 7 sets out that any car, van (under 3.5t) or motorcycle which is being used on a public road is to be considered a vehicle of historic interest and therefore no longer required to hold a valid MOT certificate if it:

1. was manufactured or registered for the first time at least 40 years previously
2. is of a type no longer in production, and
3. has been historically preserved or maintained in its original state and has not undergone substantial changes in the technical characteristic of its main components.

This amended the previous exemption from MOT testing for cars, light vans or motorcycles manufactured in 1960 or before. The arrangements for the testing of old larger vehicles are different.

Please find enclosed a copy of this Statutory Instrument and a copy of the Explanatory Memorandum should you wish to refer to these.

There is no requirement, either intended or implied, that at the point a vehicle becomes 40 years old and providing the vehicle has not been substantially changed, for the owner to make a declaration to any statutory body, declaring that the vehicle is a vehicle of historic interest and is therefore no longer required to have a valid MOT certificate.

The Department and DVLA have set up an administrative process (via DVLA form V112 and the equivalent process on-line) which requires at the time of the annual re-licensing of vehicles a declaration that the vehicle is a vehicle of historic interest – in that it has not been substantial modified. This process is in place to help owners of old vehicles that have been substantially modified do not by mistake run them without a valid MOT. The Department has published information about what constitutes a substantial modification in this context and encourages owners who do not know to seek advice.
”

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David E. Allen – an appreciation of his life,
by Geoff Craggs, Vice President, Wolseley Register)

All of us in the Wolseley Register, whether we are members of long standing who knew him well, or are more recently joined, must mourn the passing of a very quiet and modest man who devoted a huge amount of his time and energy to working for our club over a very long period.

David joined the Wolseley Register in 1970 as member 195, when the Register was run as the ‘brainchild’ of the late Robert Sterndale Burrows. David acted as unofficial secretary to Mr Burrows and to the fledging new committee when the club became a more democratically-run entity, using his great diplomatic skills to smooth the waters of this changeover, only being appointed officially as Secretary at the first AGM in 1979, a post he held until 1990. He was Events Secretary for one year in 1991, and continued to serve his own South East Group, which he established in 1975, organising their first regional rally in 1977.

He remained on the national committee for the rest of his life, despite his failing health. He was also appointed DVLA Officer and FBHVC Representative in 1991, retaining the former position until his death, albeit with a great deal of support from Peter Seaword in more recent years. David was deservedly honoured as Life Vice President of the Register in 1992, and as Life President in 2004 – posts which he filled with great wisdom and understanding, respected and revered by his fellow members.

I joined the Register in 1974 after buying our Nine – the first “old” Wolseley, although we owned a Series I 6/110 as our everyday car in the 1960s. My first encounter with David was at the National Rally at Stanford Hall in 1976 (I think), when he and John Brindley welcomed me and my eldest son ‘into the fold’. Somehow Betty and I found ourselves on the Mannekin Pis Tour for the first time in 1979, when we began to realise what a great club the Register is.

We also learned what a great sense of fun was concealed behind Dave’s facial foliage once you got to know him, and also his ability to recruit people into jobs without their realising what they were committing themselves to – in my case to being a member of the National Committee ‘without portfolio’ (i.e. general dogsbody) in the early 1980s, ending up as Chairman for the first time in 1990, somewhat to my surprise. During that very busy period in the club’s history and since, I always found David quietly supportive and ready to give sage advice when asked.

David was a very skilled engineer and had a great knack of being able to facilitate the remanufacturing of many and varied unobtainable parts over the years, ranging from engine and gearbox mountings, stainless steel hub caps, knave plates to rubber parts including windscreen surrounds for Series cars to petrol pipes.

His favourite Wolseleys were the New 10s, having a 1947 black saloon for very many years, which he kept in meticulous order and drove – shall we say ‘vigorously’ all over Britain and the continent. His second New 10 was a red 1939 Eustace Watkins tourer replica which he actually built himself from the wreckage of a saloon – a remarkable achievement and a real labour of love. This car made its debut at the 1994 National Rally, where it caused a real sensation. He also had a 1963 Wolseley 1500, purchased I believe when travelling in the 10 became too onerous for his wife Doreen; again, this was a reliable and well-used car, driven with great panache!

David and his wife Doreen spent their working lives in child care and social service. Sarah and Stephen, their children, often joke that they were institutionalised from an early age and shared their parents with the other children in the local authority home run by Doreen and David. Prior to his retirement David worked for the Barnardo’s charity, where he specialised in programme and apprenticeships to help teenagers transition from being in care to being independent young adults.

In 2013 David’s left leg was amputated because of severe circulation problems, but with his customary courage and cheerfulness he did not let this deter him from trying to lead as normal a life as possible. He bought a small automatic car and took to the road again as soon as he was allowed to. Along with many other committee members I spoke on the phone on a regular basis (minimum call time one hour plus!) and he was always very positive about life; his main concern was that he was not able to go upstairs to his study to work on the Wolseley archive materials which he had amassed over 50 years, and which is still, despite computerisation of our records, a very valuable asset to us as ‘back up’. His other concern was not being able to drive his beloved Tourer; indomitable as ever David had it converted to hand clutch operation, and was looking forward to mastering the art of driving with this rather unconventional clutch arrangement – I have no doubt whatsoever that he would have succeeded, and that he would have turned up triumphantly at local rallies during the 2019 season in his very unique and lovely Wolseley.

David’s sudden and unexpected passing marks the end of a chapter in the history of the Wolseley Register, and he will be sorely missed by all his many friends in our club, the Morris Register and many other clubs who knew and respected his honesty and integrity.

We offer our condolences to his children Sarah and Stephen and also to the grandchildren, and hope that the fact that David’s suffering is now over and that he is assuredly at peace with his beloved Doreen will give them comfort.

David Allen, Rest in Peace.

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Sir Charles Wolseley, Bt.
1944-2018

Sir Charles Wolseley was a descendent of General Sir Garnet Wolseley and also of Frederick Yorke Wolseley, the founder of the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Company, which produced the first Wolseley motor vehicle in the late 1890’s.

Sir Charles was Patron of the Wolseley Register, and the Register had the honour of being invited to attend the opening of the Wolseley Garden Park at Rugeley in Staffordshire, and subsequently held several wonderful annual rallies at the Park and at Park House, the home of Sir Charles and Lady Wolseley after the Garden Park was sold.

Sir Charles was a gracious, kind and friendly man and enjoyed attending Wolseley Register events, particularly annual rallies and always with his wife, to whom he was devoted. He was also a brilliant artist, as was proved by the wonderful watercolour painting he produced of the three Gerald Palmer designed Wolseleys (4/44, 15/50 and 6/90) commissioned by the Register to celebrate Palmer’s centenary.

The Australian and New Zealand Wolseley clubs, which have a strong and long relationship with the Wolseley Register, also had Sir Charles and in their case Lady Wolseley as Patrons, and vouch for the wonderful hospitality and warmth of welcome they received from their Patrons when visiting the UK.

Sadly, failing health prevented the Wolseleys from active involvement in Register activities for the past 10 or so years, but we kept in touch as much as possible, and now mourn the passing of this kindly, courteous gentleman.

Geoff Craggs,
Life Vice President,
Wolseley Register

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• Numbers grow by 40% in the last two years
• 1 in 4 women (26%) would now consider buying a classic car
• Birmingham top place in the country for female classic owners
• Women revealed to be more successful than men at spotting appreciating models

1. Birmingham
2. Tonbridge
3. Bristol
4. Sheffield
5. Brighton

Rising classic car values in past year:
Top 5 selected by Men          Top 5 selected by Women
Aston Martin DB4                  Aston Martin DB4
Jaguar E-Type                      Jaguar E-Type
Ferrari 275GTB                     Ferrari 275GTB
Porsche 911s                        Land Rover Defender
Lamborghini Miura                Lamborghini Miura

Actual Top 5 12 month value increase:
Fiat Dino                              113%
Lamborghini Miura               62%
Peugeot 205                        44%
Land Rover Defender          43%
VW Golf Mk1 GTI                 43%

Liam Lloyd from Footman James comments:-

“Nowadays the classic car market is no longer an old boys club, with female owners proving their savviness when it comes to picking the top performing models. The popularity of mainstream media has introduced a whole new array of people to the world of classics, reflected in the rising interest from female buyers across the country.

“However for any buyer, regardless of age or gender, it’s important to keep a few top tips in mind. Look to buy the best, seek expert advice, don’t be afraid to ask questions and monitor the market. Also while it’s natural to focus on potential increases in value – it’s just as important to make sure it’s a car you actually like. After all there’s a reason it’s often called a passion purchase.

“Once you are the proud owner it is important you ensure your vehicle is adequately covered, as rising values – while of course positive news – could also leave you underinsured.”

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John Brindley

The Wolseley Register is sorry to have to report the passing of one of our Vice Presidents, John Brindley, on 11 December 2015.

Addendum from Margaret Brindley
”
Thank you to members of the Wolseley Register for all their kindness and words of sympathy to me following John’s death; also my appreciation to the many members who attended John’s funeral, several of whom travelled a considerable distance to pay their respects. It was of great comfort to me.

I am also very pleased to say that donations made to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity amounted to £715, which they will be very happy to receive to help fund their good work.
”

John Hall Brindley

When I willingly offered to write an appreciation of the life of John, who had been my friend and colleague in the Wolseley Register for 40 years, it took some time for me to realise that anyone who joined the Register in the past 15 years would not have known the powerhouse of a man who was John Brindley; at best they may have seen him at National Rallies being pushed in his wheelchair by his great friend Henk Schuuring. I hope my inadequate words give some indication of the calibre of John to those who did not know him, and also serve as a reminder of past times and events in the company of John and Margaret to those of us who were fortunate enough to share those times with them.

John was a big man, not only physically but in the way he lived his life to the full and in the enthusiasm he brought to his love of the history of the British motor industry, especially Wolseleys. This enthusiasm led to his joining the Wolseley Register when it was established and run by the late Robert Burrows, and to his involvement along with others, notably the late Frank Mansell and our current Life President Dave Allen, in making the Register a more democratically run organisation with elected officers and an executive committee. Throughout the years John was involved in the running of the Register as Chairman of the Midlands Group, and on the National Committee, of which he was Chairman for some years in the 1980s until I was persuaded to take on the role in 1990. John brought great drive and energy into every aspect of Register life, not least in the tremendous hospitality provided by John and Margaret at Pages Lane for the Committee and in fact, for anyone they felt needed “bed and board”. This open hearted hospitality continued long after John stood down as Chairman, and even after John’s first stroke, more than 15 years ago. Thank you very much, Margaret and John .

In his “day job” John was a greatly respected consultant structural engineer, working on many projects mainly in Birmingham and the Midlands; during the course of his business travels he “ happened across” more than a few Wolseleys and other historic delights at a time when the old vehicle movement was far less commercialised than it is currently. Consequently John amassed an enviable and eclectic collection of old vehicles and memorabilia, which he housed at Pages Lane and in various lock ups in and around Birmingham. Even after his first stroke John was able to work with Norman Painting on the production of an authoritative book on Herbert Austin’s years with Wolseley (obtainable from Regalia) and he attended as many Committee meetings as he could as Life Vice President until the effort became too great both for John and for Margaret.

Remembering John in his physical prime it is hard to imagine that as a young man he actually raced BSA Bantam motor cycles for the BSA works, and very successfully too; without being disrespectful to our colleague it says much for the stamina and durability of those miniscule Bantams that not only did they not wilt under his not inconsiderable weight but under his guidance they actually won many short circuit races.

John’s golden days in the Wolseley Register? The Mannekin Pis Rallies in the late 1970s and the 1980s, when we joined in with the Morris Register on some hilarious and occasionally manic tours of Europe, John and Margaret in their faithful 21hp Super Six, along with the Allens, Dave Palmer and Peter, our grossly overloaded 9 (and later 14/60) and several other Register folk.

The 1990s, and our celebrations in 1994 of the Register’s 40th anniversary, with the “Round the World” trip of British “foreign places” such as Melbourne near York, when the “baton “ was passed from one Region to the next, culminating in its arrival at the National Rally at Wolseley Garden Park in August. Whilst John was at his busy best in helping this to happen, he really excelled himself next year when we celebrated the centenary of the first Wolseley car by working with Trevor Bland to persuade Birmingham City Council to allow the Register to hold a Rally on Centenary Square on the Saturday of our National Rally weekend. We were the first car club to be afforded the privilege, and more than 200 Wolseleys were on display. Prior to that we based ourselves at Avoncroft historic building museum for several days, darting off to civic receptions, a visit to the Morgan factory, Black Country museum and many other wondrous places – mostly thanks to John and Trevor’s local connections. A wonderful week, culminating in a Police-led parade from Centenary Square to Wolseley Garden Park for Sunday’s Annual Rally; Saturday night saw John engaged in one of his favourite occupations – running the barbecue. Many of us worked hard that week, but none harder than John.

Many of our overseas members, notably from the Antipodes, came over for the Centenary celebrations, and issued a pressing invitation to John and Trevor to pay a return visit, which they duly did. I was talking to Trevor about this recently, and apparently despite John’s having travelled all over Europe he had never been on an aircraft before the 11 hour flight to Singapore en route to Australia, and was delighted with the experience, this delight never waning throughout the 7 weeks the pair of them were away.

Happy times indeed for John, and we can only hope that during the past traumatic years since John’s first stroke, he has been able to recall the good times with fondness. Those of us who knew him will remember him as someone who did not give his friendship easily, but when he did so gave it unstintingly; if there were disagreements they were usually resolved and set aside.

Margaret, please accept our thanks and admiration for the care and love you have shown to John, particularly over the past years of his illness, and be assured that all of us are there for you to help in any way we can.

John, rest in peace.

Geoff Craggs

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Tyres and Insurance – Clarification – courtesy of Heritage Classic Car Insurance

In a recent newsletter we shared a feature on advice for keeping your car in a roadworthy state, and how this affects owners of pre-1960 vehicles. It has been brought to our attention that this article may have been perceived as misleading on the matter of tyres. The article suggested that tyres should be on a vehicle for ‘no more than 5 years’, however this is not correct.

The article should have stated; as per the advice given by Michelin*, that tyres should be inspected regularly, especially when a tyre has spent 5 years or more on the car, and replaced at the ten year mark regardless of condition:

“After five years or more in service, your tyres should be thoroughly inspected at least once per year. If the need arises, follow the recommendations of the vehicle manufacturer regarding replacing the original equipment tyres. As a precaution, if the tyres have not been replaced 10 years from their date of manufacture, Michelin recommends replacing them with new tyres. Even if they appear to be in usable condition and have not worn down to the tread wear indicator.”

*Michelin Guide ‘When should I change my tyres?’

The official tyre guidance as given by tyresafe.org states:

“The tyre industry has long recognised the consumer’s role in the regular care and maintenance of their tyres. The point at which a tyre is replaced is a decision for which the owner of the tyre is responsible. The service life of a tyre is a cumulative function of the storage, stowing, rotation and service conditions, which a tyre is subjected to throughout its life (load, speed, inflation pressure, road hazard injury, etc.). Since service conditions vary widely, accurately predicting the service life of any specific tyre in chronological time is not possible.

There is no known technical data that supports a specific tyre age for removal from service. However, in the interests of safety a number of vehicle and tyre manufacturers recommend that tyres (including spare tyres) that were manufactured more than a certain number of years previously be replaced with new tyres, even when they appear to be usable from their external appearance and the tread may not have reached the minimum wear out depth. It is recommended that any such instruction be followed.”

Tyres from an insurance broker point of view:

In conclusion, so long as the age of the tyre does not exceed the manufacturers recommended guidance, and so long as ‘due diligence’ is done on behalf of the owner to ensure that tyres remain in a roadworthy condition, then you will be doing all you can to ensure the condition of your vehicle’s tyres complies with the terms set out by your insurance underwriter.

It must be noted, however, that each different tyre manufacturer will have their own set of guidelines pertaining to the lifecycle of each given model of tyre, so if you are in any doubt at all about the condition of your tyres, then it’s always worth popping to your local tyre fitter.

For more information on Tyre Safety, take a look at http://tyresafe.org/ ‘

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DON’T END UP A DAMP SQUID WHEN DRIVING IN THE FLOODS

While some owners have their classics cars safe and snug, holed up in the garage for the winter, other classic users, who drive their cars on a daily basis, don’t have that luxury and are facing driving through the heavy rain and flood water hitting Britain.

Driving in wet conditions can be hazardous, and even those with knowledge of their local area can find themselves caught out during heavy downpours, with road surfaces susceptible to standing water. This increases the risk of drivers aquaplaning, when the tyres lose contact with the road and you lose control of the steering. If you do experience aquaplaning, hold the steering wheel lightly and lift off the throttle until the tyres regain grip.

When driving through standing water, remember to slow down and take it easy. If the steering does become unresponsive due to the rain, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually. If you do come across flood water, only attempt to drive through if you know it’s not too deep and maintain a steady, slow speed to avoid creating a bow wave. Allow oncoming traffic to pass first and test your brakes as soon as you can after leaving the water.

As you drive slowly through standing water, use a low gear so the engine revs are higher. Don’t try driving through fast-moving water, such as at a flooded bridge approach – you and your car could easily be swept away. Also remember that driving through standing water and large puddles at speeds above a slow crawl will splash pedestrians or cyclists, which can result in a hefty fine and points on your license if the police catch you driving without reasonable consideration for other road users.                     

Follow these handy tips and the only paddling you’ll be doing is at the seaside come the summer!  To find out more on this and other services from Heritage Classic Car Insurance, call 0121 248 9213 or visit www.heritage-quote.co.uk.

Floodwater facts – courtesy of the AA:

• The majority of drowning deaths in the UK occur within only 3m of a safe point
• Two thirds of those who die in flood-related accidents are considered to be good swimmers
• 32% of flood-related deaths are by drowning in a vehicle
• After 20 minutes in water at 12C the temperature of the deep muscle of your forearm would drop from 37 ºC to 27ºC,  leading to a 30% reduction in muscle strength.
• In water 1m deep (waist high), flows of 1m/s become challenging and by 1.8m/s (4mph) everyone will be washed off their feet.
• If the speed of the flood water doubles the force it exerts on you/your car is quadrupled
• Just six inches of fast flowing water can knock you off your feet and be enough for you to be unable to regain your footing.
• Two feet of standing water will float your car
• Just one foot of flowing water could be enough to move the average family car
• Just an egg cupful of water in the combustion chamber could be enough to wreck an engine
• Flood water can be contaminated and carry diseases
• Culverts are dangerous when flooded – the siphon effect of culverts can drag in pets, children and even fully grown adults

For further information and images, please contact:
Andrea Seed, PR Director, Poppyseed Media Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 7812 010 765, Email: andrea@poppyseedmedia.co.uk

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