2019 Crossley Register UK National Rally

Photo - Kath Brown

Photo - Nick Turley

Photo - Kath Brown

Photos - Malcolm Asquith unless otherwise stated

The 2019 rally was to have been organised by the much missed Peter Clark but alas this was not to be.  Pete had already found the hotel and started route planning and we were lucky that John and Jeni Beasley volunteered to complete the planning and oversee the event. Our base was the Hoar Cross Hall Hotel between Burton on Trent and Lichfield in North Staffordshire, a large turn of the 20th century country house set in extensive parkland.

The Crossley faithful started gathering in glorious weather from around 3pm on Friday 5th July in our own reserved area of the hotel car park.

Saturday

The good weather did not of course last and Saturday morning proved to be wet. Knowing how hard it is to get everyone moving in the morning our organisers had sensibly set a 10.00am  time for departure and most people made it.

We proceeded through the country lanes of Staffordshire for around 23 miles to our coffee stop at Barton Marina on the Trent and Mersey canal and everyone seemed to make it safely without getting too lost. Setting off again there seemed to be a major meeting at a filling station on a roundabout somewhere. We even managed to meet up with Dan Cole in his Torquay. Dan had managed to get at least two punctures on his way up from Bristol and had spent the first couple of hours getting them fixed with the aid of a friendly taxi driver before setting off to meet us at our lunch spot. Lunch was a in the village of Marston Montgomery at the Crown Inn where the entire car park had been reserved for us. After lunch the rain stopped and it was a short run to the National Trust property of Sudbury Hall where a visit to the hall and/or toy museum was possible. The tea garden also proved popular as there was, after all, still a lot of catching up to do. From Sudbury it was a short drive back to the hotel where many availed themselves of the facilities of the pool and spa attached to the hotel. Others went to the bar.

Our annual dinner and prize giving was at the hotel  but I once again failed to make a note of who won what except that once again there were no 15.7 or two litre cars present so the cup went un-awarded. The good news was also that Martin and Penny Sims have volunteered to organise the 2020 event.

Sunday

Sunday was a relaxed day and favoured us with sunshine for the short drive to the National Memorial Arboretum where coffee, a tour on a mini train and lunch awaited. The arboretum covers some 150 acres and among the trees are many memorials to people of many nationalities who have died in the service of the country and we were able to wander round in the afternoon until at around 4.00pm it was time to leave. Some of the more local members departed for home while the remainder returned to the hotel for more swimming/car chatting/avoiding the large wedding/or sitting in the garden before an informal meal in the hotel library.

Monday

On Monday morning the car park echoed again to the sound of Crossley exhausts as we all set off for home.