CPUK National Rally, Elton Hall, Elton, nr Peterborough PE8 6SH
Elton Hall lies at the heart of a 3,800 acre estate made up of a mixture of property including farms, houses and cottages, commercial property and woodland. The Estate straddles the Cambridgeshire/Northamptonshire borders and is well located for access from the East and West along the A14 and A47 and is 86 miles north of London, just off the A1. The Hall is an extraordinary, romantic, part Gothic house which has been in the Proby family since 1660. Standing in the midst of unspoilt landscaped parkland, it is a fascinating mix of styles surrounded by stunning gardens. There is also the Walled Garden, Garden Centre and Loch Fyne restaurant to visit. The house will be opened up especially for our visit and as a special ‘thank you’ to our members, the Committee have decided to make this a free event for CPUK members, partners and children under 16. Other guests will need to pay £13 per person. Please note that the Elton Hall Terms and Conditions stipulate no access to the CPUK parking area before 11am. Please help us to comply with this condition by not arriving before 11. Please register in advance – it makes a big difference to the organization of rally packs and car display layout. Contact: Alison Budd events@clubpeugeotuk.org The National Rally weekend, this year held on the border of Cambridgeshire, centred on the historic village of Stilton (yes, famous for the cheese!) and Elton Hall just 5 miles away. Meeting on Saturday evening for a pre-dinner drink, the Club had exclusive use of The Bell’s bistro which accommodated us all perfectly and made for a convivial evening, giving plenty of opportunity to catch up with friends and make new ones too. It was great to see some newer members coming along and I hope that they were encouraged to come to more of the Club’s events in the future. I suspect that the evening ended more quietly for some than others, depending on the exact location of each hotel room, but all managed to convene at Elton Hall the next morning. Elton Hall on the Sunday provided a perfect backdrop for numerous photo opportunities. We were lucky with the weather and delighted to see so many excellent examples of varying models ranging from pre-war to current production models. Members were able to take advantage of the Club’s offer of free entry the Hall and entrance to the enchanting gardens. Many members took up these offers and enjoyed informative guided tours, learning a lot about the Hall’s long history while having the opportunity to see some amazing works of art up close. It was a privilege to have Elton open exclusively for the Club’s enjoyment and I think everyone who went into the property will join me in thanking the staff there for their warm welcome. We were also lucky enough to be joined by a specialist parts supplier who seemed to do a brisk trade all day from the back of his large van. A lot of members bought a lot of essential spares which should keep their older cars road worthy for the years ahead. Time flew as it always does and soon it was presentation time. Congratulations to all the raffle and trophy winners! Hopefully, even more members will be able to get to the 2017 National!
