As one of New Forest Centre R.W.W. (reasonable weather weekday) days for 2024, it was decided to meet at Bolderwood, within the New Forest, for an August picnic and a bit of a natter. The ‘early birds’ chose a good forestry spot and set up some chairs and tables which expanded throughout the morning to make a pretty sizeable circle of 28 of us. The adjacent car park area, although very convenient for us, is a very busy location during the summer months. However, the Healeys gradually took over, spreading into any vacated space, and soon it was full of Sprites, 100/4’s and big Healeys.
The classic cars attracted quite a lot of attention from passing visitors. In fact, someone suggested we should start charging for having photographs taken with the vehicles and thereby make some money for charity! The New Forest ponies also took considerable interest in the invasion of their home territory. They were sniffing at Healey car boots for food and giving a few owners increased blood pressure, as the four-legged Forest inhabitants had little regard for the care of body paintwork!
We spent a very pleasant four hours mainly in sunshine. Some of us walked down to the nearby deer sanctuary, where a dozen or so of the camouflaged fallow deer could just about be seen amongst the tall grass with their wonderful antlers on show. A few of our members took this as a chance to benefit from the use of a ‘proper’ camera, rather than the mobile phone!
With a good picnic having been consumed, we took advantage of the coffee and ice cream mobile van that often parks up in the area. David Tofts provoked some banter as he seemed to have a cornet in each hand! Others were deep in conversation concerning all things Healey and some took a closer look at Les Rose’s modifications that he has made over a long period of time. He told us that he bought his 1959 Sprite 45 years ago for £700. It went with him on honeymoon and to this day is still used as his primary means of transport. Quite an admirable record!
Our thanks go to Jim and Jan Finch for initiating this event, and our thoughts were with them on the day as they were unable to join us. A good picnic was had by all, and whoever ordered the weather got it exactly right for an enjoyable run there and back. We look forward to meeting up again and feel lucky to belong to such a friendly, sociable section of the Austin Healey Club.
