Chairman’s Report Summer/Autumn 2024
Dear Members
As the rally season marches on I can’t believe where the time goes, hence I am naming this newsletter “Late Summer/Autumn”. I have attended a few very pleasant rallies this season along with a busy work life. I have had great times around the house with some enjoyable BBQs with our children, their respective partners and of course 3 lovely grandchildren with one more on the way to entertain.
Enough about me – later in the newsletter you will see the reports I have produced from SEAMS exhibiting at Parham and our club gathering at Foxleigh Barn, both of which have been on our website. You will also find a report from Cranleigh Car Show, reports from Michael and Jackie Brown, Luke Huckle, Richard Amos and John Peters which I am very grateful for. Luke has also been to the Rural life museum with his 4½ scale Burrell tractor, so your reports do not necessarily have to be stationary engine related (looks a great time Luke).
One thing for your diary is Hassocks Garden Centre Breakfast gas up on Sunday 27th October, please confirm to John Peters or myself if you will be attending. Circling back to Foxleigh Barn, we appreciate that the 2024 gas up clashed with a few events which understandably led to low numbers. Our proposal for 2025 is that it is held on 2nd and 3rd of August, we will hold lunchtime BBQ on both the Saturday and Sunday of which there will be a small charge of £4.50 per person/per day to help cover the food / gas etc costs. THIS IS QUITE EARLY BUT WOULD LIKE TO ESTABLISH IN THE 2025 CALENDAR (FORMS TO BE RETURNED TO PETER VANDENDYCK / STEVE ROWLAND /JOHN PETERS.
SEAMS would like to resurrect the Bring & Buy and raffle, so if you have any items you would like to move on, plus bring a raffle prize, this is the time. Within the newsletter there is a form that can be completed and returned or you can contact any committee member. Now I appreciate this is a little way off so communication may come closer to the time, but a response is imperative to be able to work out food numbers.
This brings me onto the club winter evening meetings. It was put to the members at the Nov 2023 AGM about continuing the evening meetings. We had a great response with the main request to the committee that could we ensure we have a guest speaker to ensure there was an attraction and that it would be interesting. For every evening that SEAMS provided a “speaker” the numbers were embarrassingly low (illness being the exception) but the speakers still need to be paid.
It has therefore been decided that the usual SEAMS AGM will be held at Faygate Village Hall on the third Friday of November being the 15th. We will gather from 7.30pm for a 8pm start, to include a raffle. The New Years gas up and BBQ will go ahead but no other winter meeting will take place. I am sure this will be a topic of discussion again at the AGM but that is what they are there for.
I would like to wish everyone enjoyable rallies for any remaining in your calendars. Every membership is appreciated, continue to stay safe.
Steve Rowland
SEAMS Chairman / Treasurer