Abingdon Works Centre Awards Dinner - Saturday 31st March 2007

Almost 50 people came together at the Steventon House Hotel, just outside Abingdon and a former home of record breaker George Eyston, to start the year's Silver Anniversary celebrations of the Abingdon Works Centre. The Centre has its roots in the old factory, but was officially created by the Car Club in 1982 which was then under the Chairmanship of Bill Wallis who, along with June, was present to join in the night's celebrations. Bill has always been a keen supporter of the Centre's events and we're very appreciative of the time which he devotes to us.

We were delighted to also welcome many of the Centre's previous officials, Chairmen, Treasurers, Secretaries and former committee members, a lot of whom no longer live within the Centre's boundaries, but are still members of the Club and have maintained their membership of the Centre. We hope that by the time the evening ended, they were leaving with the feeling that the Centre was fit, well and thriving.

After a splendid meal we had the cutting of a celebratory cake suitably decorated by the Chairman's mother followed by a few words from Bill. The assembled group were then treated to a slide show depicting some of the Centre's activities over the past 25 years. The show was put together by Brian Moylan and John Watson with Brian giving a commentary on what was appearing on the screen. Brian was an original committee member and still is - I make that around 300 meetings, what stamina! As well as Brian's commentary, there were also comments from the audience as the figures, often with more hair, usually of a different colour, appearing on the screen were recognised!

The final formal part of the evening was the presentation of the annual awards which were presented by Club President, Bill Wallis and for 2007 these were distributed as follows:

John Thornley Trophy

Awarded to the highest placed AWC member at a Silverstone Autotest who, for the second year running, was Barry Graham




Ron Gibson Trophy

Awarded to the highest placed AWC member in the Triple M Handicap race at Silverstone who, this year, was Andrew Taylor. Andrew, unfortunately, couldn't be present, but his father-in-law and last year's winner, Peter Green accepted the trophy on Andrew's behalf.


Charlton Award for Centre Member of the Year

Nominations for this award are from Centre members and this year's winner was Mike Serjeant, from the Aylesbury Natter who, ably assisted by his lovely wife Vera, regularly arranges fun runs, gatherings, and visits to places of interest.



An enjoyable evening and an excellent start to the celebrations of the Silver Anniversary of the Centre.

Click here for full-size photos


Text: Richard Martin
Photos: John Watson