Cars In The Park - Lichfield

One of the nice things about `Cars in the Park` event is that members who have been before know what to expect and it`s format. This year the event had some competition from other events held on the same weekend, however we still had a good collection and variety of Peugeots on display. We even had two 505`s (both Estates too!) Although the weather forecast was quite good, Saturday morning started a bit chilly. Local member Liz Thomas who recently inherited the Peugeot 505 from her father Rev Thomas (who was one of our Club Peugeots members and sadly passed away last year). Liz arrived at the Beacon Park very early (before she walked to her tutoring Saturday morning job) and was probably one of the first to arrive for this event. Next to arrive was Pam and Mike Tyers. They know the format well as they come along every year and they set about setting out the tables and chairs and putting things into place- always a great help and much appreciated. Jayne Penn-Davis came along with her 2008 and then Stacey Clark from Nuneaton arrived with her 1997 106 GTI `Pinkie` which somewhat brightened up the field. Stacey explained that `Pinkie` had recently had `a prang` on her rear and she had been had a `quick- spray` …however this winter is due to have a complete strip down and a respray to its original colour again…a sort of Cerise `pearly` pink…look out for it. I suppose you couldn`t really miss Pinkie in a crowd! Then Bryan and Margaret Goodwin (and their dog) travelled down from Bollington, Macclesfield arrived in their 205 Diesel. Expecting a hot day they had sunhats placed on the rear shelf…well the weatherman did say it was going to be warm and sunny! -but not this morning in Beacon Park …it was chilly! After donning extra coats it soon warmed up which continued for the rest of the day. Karl and Marie arrived from Oxfordshire. We missed them last year. Marie set about polishing the Karl`s 1990 205 CJ. She polished and polished until the 205 gleamed. It looked amazing, not sure whether it was Karl`s demon polish…or Marie`s `elbow grease`! John brought along the vintage 172R. (the Edwardian Lion is still snoring in the corner of our garage!) I must especially thank all the Saturday supporters of Cars in the Park. It is probably because we attend both days that we always have a lovely prime location next to the arena. (In the arena this year was a display of JCBs, `Fire and Rescue` demo and Police working dogs. The Rotary Club of Lichfield St. Chad (the organizers of the event) always give us a great spot! This event is free to attend, but they do have donation boxes for their designated charity which was Air Ambulance. Air Ambulance helicopters circled above the event on several occasions in appreciation, but on one occasion the helicopter flew straight across…this time it was on a live mission! Saturday evening was a convivial occasion. This year the meal was at a smallish pub. We enjoyed jugs of Pimms in the bar before a pleasant meal. Whilst at the meal Caroline Barker drew our attention to a Peugeot print on the wall just above our table. What a coincidence! It was not put there for us! The Pub didn`t know we were Peugeotists! Sunday is always the busy day at these events. Roger Turner and his Mum Monica travelled here from their holidays at Porthmadoc, Wales. (Roger said that the journey was much harder than his normal journey to the event from Devon) .His 508 RXH hybrid is always immaculate and although manufactured in 2013 it looks as though it has just rolled off the assembly line. Doug Whiffen came along in his sporty 304S Cabriolet and membership Secretary Rob Excell drove in with his recently acquired 206 CC. Richard and Gill Smith travelled down from Bolton in their 1984 205 GT and Tom Richmond and his friend Stuart Morris in the 205GTI followed by wife Beth and their sons Mikey and Max. The children have been coming along since they were babies! Future Peugeot owners I think! It was good to see Peter Crossland again at this event. Peter and his friends come down from Matlock in his 1977 `Queens Silver Jubilee special edition` 504 saloon which he has had from new. Neil James travelled from Stourbridge in his 1995 Peugeot 205 Inca Diesel which was a “breakers yard” find and Richard and Carolyn from Kent arrived their comfortable 308. Also three generations of `the Carter family` from Staffordshire with a 308 GTI and 206 GTI 180, Thanks to everyone for coming along and supporting `Cars in the Park` and making it another happy occasion! A very special thanks must go to Ian Kirkwood, our Club Chairman for his support. He really works so hard and because he is so incredibly knowledgeable on Peugeots he is always in demand at these events. He must have got back to Liverpool exhausted! Janette Horton.