East Anglian Weekend – May 2019
WISE MEN (AND WOMEN) CAME TO THE EAST
Several members of the PNTMC came to Norfolk for Roy Potton’s famous East Anglian Weekend, held on May 3rd to 5th.
In keeping with tradition, we kicked off the weekend with a superb Friday eyening meal, cooked by Roy and served in his dining room.
On Saturday, five pre-40 Triumphs set off for Huntingfield Church in deepest Suffolk, accompanied by three members in cars of varying modernity. Why?
Because that Church has the most incredible painted ceiling (see photo!). In the mid-1800’s, the then Rector’s wife dedicated 15 years of her life to carrying out this amazing work of art, apparently having no previous experience or training! In the latter years of her work, crippled with arthritis, she was raised and lowered in a sort of bosun’s chair to finish the project. Now how hard do your think your Triumph’s restoration was?! Humbling.
After a very interesting talk, we journeyed on to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast. A major port and city in the 11th century, it disappeared into the sea during severe storms some centuries ago.
Ye Olde Climate Change, obviously……
It being a bit (very) chilly for a swim, people had lunch in the large beach cafe and visited the Dunwich Museum before returning to their accommodation for a rest.
Grateful thanks to Jackie and Richard Mack for the excellent tulip-style route diagram!
On Saturday evening, 19 people sat down to an excellent meal in The Chequers Inn, Thompson, a few miles from Roy’s home.
Sunday dawned dry, if still chilly and, as every year, we assembled opposite Roy’s house for the traditional photo shoot. Don and Christa Impson overslept, hence his beautiful Dolomite was missing from the line up (well, they were sleeping in their trailer tent on a very cold night!).
Mike Botting finally received his water temp/fuel gauge and sender from “Speedy” Cables Ltd and re-installed them two days before the weekend and also fixed a leaking core plug. Mike and Valerie’s Gloria was thus able to join the happy throng that set off for Oxburgh Hall (a beautiful moated National Trust property) and Gooderstone Water Gardens, close to each other in Norfolk. Barry and Sue Ambrose attended, though unfortunately Barry’s Southern Cross refused to come out of her garage, pleading brake problems.
Sunday evening once again saw Roy don his apron and feed another excellent meal to 16 people in his home.
This was the 14th East Anglian event, originally started by Roy and Jenny Potton in memory of Ian Harper, a very active member of the Club who was sadly taken by cancer far too young. Unfortunately, after the tragic accident at 2016’s event, it also became held in memory of Jenny, an enthusiastic and much-loved supporter of our Club over many years.
Roy decided that this event would be his last, so there will not be an East Anglian event in future. However, we all have very happy memories of those 14 editions.
There are rumours of a new event to be held elsewhere in the east of England. Watch this space….
Mike Botting
