Our 2021 Wolseley Register National Rally was held over the Bank Holiday weekend of 26 to 31 August, with visits to various attractions over the weekend including Medieval King’s Lynn, Sandringham Estate, Bressingham Steam & Gardens and the Engine Farm. The Register’s National AGM was also held, combining a little business with much pleasure!
The majority of rally entrants stayed at the Knights Hill Hotel and Spa in King’s Lynn which was the base for the weekend’s activities. Hotel guests were well catered for by the attentive staff and briefings were held on Friday and Saturday mornings ahead of the daytime activities. A Road Route book was issued to each entrant with directions avoiding local traffic bottlenecks and taking in more scenic roads around the region. Points of interest along the routes were illustrated.
Some entrants made other accommodation plans, including some self-catering options, while many local members joined in various activities from home each day.
Rally entrants gathered in Norfolk from Wednesday 25 August and the first organised activity was a Walking Tour of King’s Lynn on the Thursday afternoon. This was well-attended and extremely interesting, though it was rather breezy along the river bank where our Guide explained about the history of the town and buildings which had been saved by local philanthropists.
On Friday, two groups very much enjoyed their guided tours of Engine Farm across the border into Cambridgeshire. The owner talked about his amazing collection which included traction engines, Gypsy caravans, classic cars, village shop re-creations, model car collections, dolls and doll houses, domestic kitchenalia and much, much more. Refreshments were provided and all proceeds raised were to be donated to charity by the owner.
The day concluded with the Register’s Annual General Meeting back at Knights Hill Hotel.
Saturday was our scheduled day to visit Sandringham, only a short drive from the hotel. Many rally entrants enjoyed tours of the house and/or gardens with some driving on to other attractions along the North Norfolk coast.
Rally goers were free to do as much or as little of the suggested itinerary as they pleased and some set off on their own travels or simply walked along the lane from the hotel for Afternoon Tea at the charming village of Castle Rising.
Following a group photo outside the Knights Barn, 56 diners celebrated 125 years of Wolseley motoring with an excellent three-course meal in the splendid Barn, followed by celebration cake.
The main event of the weekend was the static rally at Bressingham Steam Museum and Gardens in Diss. This provided a perfect setting for the wide range of Wolseleys which had been entered for the rally. Cars from 1913 to 1973 attracted interest from other visitors to the venue. Awards and trophies were presented and a raffle was held.
The static rally had originally been planned to be held at Holkham Hall but a late change of venue had been necessitated. However, some entrants visited Holkham on Monday 30 August where a Feast in the Park Day offered a range of international cuisines to purchase for a picnic in the grounds.
All in all, a busy but very enjoyable weekend was had by all who attended the 2021 Wolseley Register National Rally.
