:: [ SVVS Lunchtime Meeting - The Six Bells, Horley - October 2002 ] ::

The Six Bells is a very picturesque pub hidden away in the suburbs of Horley by Gatwick and this was the first visit here by the Society. The following text is the SVVS Magazine report by Bozi Mohacek who also took all the photos. Please click on any thumbnail picture below to see the full size picture. To return to the thumbnails please click the Explorer "Back" arrow (top left of screen). Pictures have been prepared for speed of loading, and the page is sized to be viewed at 800 x 600. 



The Six Bells is part of the same chain of 'themed pubs' as is the Blue Anchor at Blindley Heath where we have also met in the past. The 'theme' is that of a country pub with scrubbed pine tables and mismatched furniture and comfy chairs, which generally works. The main problem the Six Bells has is that everybody knows of it but nobody seems to be able to find it. I had three phonecalls on the theme of directions to it!  One of those was Bracey who despite explanation never turned up !

 

Possibly because of its location or possibly because there was yet another 'clockwork grand prix' on the telly, and as it was cold and gloomy, not a lot of SVVS people came. In fact, the main massive car park was empty apart from us. With that much space it was therefore a bit of a shame that the early arrivals started parking in the dark right under the trees which has resulted in some very murky photos. It should also be noted that for the first time this year it actually rained at an SVVS Meeting. Says something for the continuing good  luck SVVS has had  with good weather. 

 

So who came? Well, in pictorial order, I did, in the waterproof 1984 Jaguar XJS HE which reminded me on three separate occasions that pushing down on the loud pedal on a heafty 5.2 litre V12 on a 'wet-after-lots-of-dry' road normally results in sideways motion rater than onward. That was how it got bent the last time! Anyway, already there was the MBG GT of new member Mr. Weller and the MG SA of intended new member Mr. Peter Roper-Hillman. Peter keeps on forgetting to get the 'form'. No excuse, a copy can easily be got from our website! Interesting to note that Peter will be on the telly as the Technical Advisor to the SCRAPHEAP CHALLENGE on the 17 November;    - and NO Mr. Erroll, it is not all about the rebuild of my XJS ! Adjacent to the MG was the 1935 Morris mobile puppy run Eight belonging to Messrs Picnic Organisers but who turned up sans chien. 

 

Two blue-ies came next; the lovely sedate dark blue 1931 Standard Big Nine Saloon belonged to Graham Martin and apologies for not recognising it, if you will have so many variants ! The  light blue one was the 1947 Morgan Sports belonging to ex-now-new Member Ken Berry and Yvonne Kino. Welcome back after a few years absence. An old member came next, Hon Editor Julian Alderton and Mrs. who braved the elements in the perennial 1947 MG Y Saloon leaving his camera visible in the unlocked car. Was quite impressed with his speed when he twigged! Yet another new Member was next, this being Mr. Norman Conrad in a 1969 Austin Healey Sprite painted sunshine yellow, which stood out on a gloomy day. Norman turns out to be living just down the lane from me so the SVVS Lingfield contingent is gaining ground! Lots more meetings down our end, eh what? 

 

Then came the little 1934 Morris Minor Tourer belonging to teacher Malcolm Bailey who lectured Mr. Picnic Organiser in the rudiments of operating a computer. Adjacent was part of the Lingfield contingent, Mr. David Smart in the very modern for him 1924 Austin 12/4 saloon. The lack of pickies and Web report on the Three Horseshoes meeting is down to Tony Russell being too mean to buy a film for his camera and for Mr. Smart not busting a gut to screen grab the pickies from his video! Final to arrive was esteemed Chairperson Sir Mike Erroll in the 1985 XJS off which someone had cut the proper metal roof and replaced with removable bits. I was pleased to note that Mr. Erroll was also complaining about the sideways tendencies of this particular type of machine in the wet. Glad I'm not the only one. He also commented that this photo is the first where the two cars are parked together. Mr. Erroll departed smartish to go watch "automaton clockwork grand prix".

 

Away from the SVVS line-up was a tidy Volkswagen 1600 saloon of the mid 1960s recently ex-Germany because it still carried the D plate on  the back. Its location suggested it was not part of our bunch but was photoed and mentioned just in case!  While on the theme of unusual, the MG SA was a new model to me so I looked it up on return. Seems it was made between 1936 and 1939, and is one of 2,738 made. The book says it was MG's return to fast comfortable touring, but not a sports car. The engine was based on the Wolseley 18/80 six of 2288/2322cc with apparently not a lot of acceleration. The chassis was new to this model and was fitted with some nice coachwork by amongst others, Salmons and Charlesworth. Love the numberplate, it was registered in Middlesex.

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