Summer Day Out - Sunday 26th July 2009

We are very fortunate to have so many superb country houses and equally splendid gardens locally in the Centre to form the basis of our annual summer day out. Claydon House in Buckinghamshire is one such example. I once commuted close by for many years but never quite found the opportunity to visit, although I have visited the Rothschild’s Waddesdon Manor more than once, so when Mike Lamb suggested Claydon House this year I was very keen to attend.

As is our wont, the day started in Abingdon market square which was once again crammed with MGs of all shapes and sizes, but it does after all offer a magical starting point, with the museum as a back drop, and a practical one too now we have two coffee franchises offering al fresco seating, just in case the weather’s fine. A sort of 'European café culture', to borrow a once used expression.

Given that July has not lived up to the 'barbeque summer' promised it was especially enjoyable that on our day hoods could be happily stowed and pates exposed to a few rays of the fiery sky ball.

For those who have not yet started from the market square it is worth mentioning that it is surrounded by bollards and vehicle access is via a gate which needs to be locked by whoever signs for the key from the council office and who is also therefore the last one to leave. In the event there was a slight delay while we gate lockers went to the aid of a choked B-V8 who after a bit of tinkering was sent on his way to leave two Bs and a rather fancy A to bring up the rear.

Mike's route was very enjoyable, albeit a little devious by luring us west of the A34, up via the Rollrights then niftily across at Middleton Stoney around, but without a hint of Bicester, towards our Buckinghamshire goal. He even routed us down a greenish lane and through a ford which, given the rather fancy A in the party, was fortunately barely capable of splashing the spokes (chromed ones at that).

Parking, and picnicking at Claydon was a delight, probably one of the nicest locations I can recall on these events. To have the opportunity of parking literally outside the front door and then be free to have lunch on the lawn was a winner. To be fair, Mike had arranged a grouping of MGs through the ages on the gravel carriage concourse as a point of interest for 'civilian' visitors to Claydon on the day. The cars here ranged from the 1935 PA owned for over 50 years by Peter Down (who celebrated his own birthday at the event) to Richard and Gill Martin’s 1957/2009 MGA Oselli re-incarnation and just out of the box.

A visit to the garden was included in the package and I always enjoy seeing a classic English walled garden, protected from the wind and offering all sorts of design features that most of us would be hard pressed to include in the one back home. The floral display was nice but my personal favourite was the vegetable garden with some prize exhibits – obviously a garden that is cared for.

Many wisely took advantage of the visit to look around the house which was home of the Verney family for 400 years and to visit the craft studio and tea rooms in the nearby stable block.

All in all an excellent Summer Day Out and thanks go to Mike and Glenda lamb for organising the event.

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Text: Simon Pedrazzini
Photos: Mike Lamb, Richard Martin & Martin Woods