Spring Run 2025

Spring Run June 9th – 11th 2025

This year’s Y Type Spring Run was held on the weekend of 10th – 11th May in Shropshire, based at the Clive Arms in Bromfield, just outside Ludlow. Shropshire is a county I don’t know at all although my mum was born there and she had many happy memories of it, so I was looking forward to it. We booked in the hotel from Friday night; to save all the rushing about we usually do on Spring Run Saturdays. We had an enjoyable run on minor roads using a…map! We enjoy doing without the satnav when travelling in the Y and we managed to do so without any occurrences of what our children used to call ‘Mum and Dad’s Direction Discussions.’  Amazingly, we arrived first; an unheard-of occurrence for us. Mick Breare and Jo Birkbeck turned up moments after us, in Mick’s MGC GT. This was a common theme for the run; Y types that didn’t make it. Neil and Janet Cairns turned up next in their always smart YB, followed by Roy Clapham in his YA Tourer. Since we last saw it, Roy has altered it from a four to a two-seater; a convertible conversion if you like. Mike and Sue Silk arrived in their 1993 RV8, Chris and Annette Callaghan in their 2001 MGF. Fran and Jan Smith with their guest Linda Wakefield were in a VW car. Alan Chick was another no-show Y. he came in a huge camper van where he spent the night, accompanying Ashley Bateman as navigator on the run.

Thirteen of us sat down to dinner on Friday night and, to ward off the bad luck of this number at table, we were joined by an MG bear by the name of XPaggington.

On Saturday, a fine day dawned and more Y types arrived, but another one didn’t make it. ‘Little Gem’, now resident in France with Maggie and Paul Grafham, had decided to blow a head gasket at the end of an otherwise successful test drive. Their son John did arrive with his children George and Daisy in George’s Y.  We spent and enjoyable lunchtime in the hotel garden greeting arrivals in the sun.

Suzie Arnell, well known to all of us from the many events she attended with her late husband Peter in their lovely sun bronze Y, came to visit us on Saturday afternoon from her home just down the road. It was a joy to see her, as it always is to see old friends.  Unfortunately, Ted Gardener who was to have brought her was unable to attend at the last moment.

The 33rd AGM of the Register was well attended. The longest discussion concerned the financial report, details of which will be on the minutes of the meeting to be published elsewhere on this website. Chris Callaghan stood down as chair and Maggie Grafham was elected to take over, with Peter Sharp to act as Vice-Chair at meetings in the UK as Maggie is resident in France. Keith Powell was elected to take over from Mike Longman and Jo Birkbeck took over the secretary role from Peter Sharp. Other committee member roles remained the same.

Thirty-four of us sat down to a very enjoyable dinner on Saturday night. All had been meticulously planned by Jo Birkbeck and Mick Breare who had remembered the most crucial part of any dinner; putting our meal choices on the back of our place cards

We gathered in the car park on the sunny Sunday morning for traditional fiddling and fettling and chose the cars we would most like to take home. Before we set off on the run, we had our annual awards presentation. The car in the car park everyone really wanted to take home was an immaculate 1962 Bentley Continental, but unfortunately this wasn’t on our list. We had an easy choice for best YT; Peter Vielvoye’s was the only one that made it!

We had told Chris Callaghan that there were no achievement awards to present at the dinner, as is usually the chairman’s privilege to do so; because no one had been nominated for any. We made them instead at Sunday morning’s presentation. Maggie Grafham began by presenting the award for ‘Contributions to the Register’ to him and Annette n, in recognition for all they have done on our behalf over the years. Apart from being Chairman for the last 14 years, Chris has tirelessly represented us at MGCC council meetings, committees and other various bunfights over the years. Annette acted as secretary for a period. They organised many Spring Runs and Chris will continue his work as Register Registrar, hunted down and recording Y Types all over the world.

The ‘Car of the Year’ went to Roy Clapham for his attendance at so many events all over the country over the year, helping to keep the Y flag flying.

The ‘Well-worn and Well Used’ award for the car which driven regularly and used as basic transport went to Derek Moore and his YB. Derek also brought an example of the plastic Y Type model he has developed, which will be available in limited numbers on this website.

The Piston Broke Award (constructed from an actual piston blown by Denis Doubtfire on the first Spring Run) was not awarded because it would have to had to have been shared by too many people. Better luck next year.

Award for best YA went to Geoff and Ann May; fittingly, as last year it got the best YB award by mistake. The best YB award this year went to Gillie and Peter Sharp, an honour somewhat dampened when the bottom fell off the trophy. All the awards were ably presented by George and Daisy Grafham.

We were set off through our triumphal arch by Jo Birkbeck, waving the flag that we remember Jerry wielding to start so many runs in past years. The route took us through stunning Shropshire countryside, starting properly over a traditional railway level crossing. We drove along narrow lanes with high hedges which would suddenly open out to reveal views of Wenlock Edge and the Wrekin in the distance. A thoroughly enjoyable route that made us want to come back and explore further. Jo and Mick had found just the right number of sudden steep climbs and tracks with grass down the middle. Somehow whenever we encountered a oncoming vehicles, there was always a passing place, maybe it’s just our luck. We all stopped in Clun beside the Clun River bridge and refreshed ourselves at the delightful Postcard Café, based in what was once the town’s Temperance Hall. The café’s owner came out especially to take pictures of our cars for their website.

More gentle motoring through wonderful Shropshire scenery in lovely late spring weather brought us to Stokesay Castle; a fortified manor house built in the 1290s. We were surprised to see an ‘unknown’ Y Type in the car park. This green YB belonged to Bob and Norma James who drove over from Newport when they heard about the run. Their car was in excellent condition and had been recently acquired to replace Bob’s other passion, classic motorcycles;

‘A bit more comfortable at our age,’ he said, and we have to agree.

Norma had owned a Y in the 1960s and used it as regular transport for her job as district midwife. She remembered it as being thoroughly reliable. At one time in fact, they had one each, a two-Y family.

As everyone else arrived, we all alternated between visiting the house and having refreshments at benches outside the café. One by one, we drifted off home. Everyone got back safely.

A good run in good weather through territory new to us, following a great dinner in excellent company.

A memorable weekend thanks to the hard work of Jo and Mick; thank you and we look forward to the next event.