Sunday 18th May 2025
We thought it would be a good idea to build on the past New Members Days so we laid the foundations for a trip to the Bursledon Brickworks Museum at Swanwick, Southampton.
The Museum had booked the start of The Distinguished Gentleman’s Charity Bike ride-out on the same day. This was not a problem for us as they would be starting their run at about 10.00am. We had the pleasure of seeing about 100 motorbikes of various ages from classic to modern! That took me and some other Healey owners back to their misspent youths as rockers or ton-up rockers. In the late 50s, my favourite haunt was the Ace Cafe on the North Circular Road A406 on my Gold Star DB32 in Clubman Trim. My Navigator (Jo) wisely will not go anywhere near a pillion seat, so reliving that part of my life is definitely out!! As the Distinguished Gentlemen set off on their charity run, our Healeys started to arrive, passing the collection of stored vintage and classic buses parked at the side of the entry road. We had to put on our Parking Warden Caps with Gold Braid to ensure that all were lined up on the service entry road and not in the tin-top parking area.
When the bikes had departed, we organised the parking (still wearing our Parking Warden Caps with Gold Braid) in the area in front of the brick kilns and my part-time receptionist checked everyone in and issued them with their Luncheon Vouchers, value 15d (that is proper money, not the decimal rubbish).
We made a splendid display of Frogeyes, 100 BN1, 100/6 to MkIIIs. The tour was fascinating, taking us through the years from 7000BC, the very earliest manufacture of bricks there, to the last days of the Brickworks with stories of previous work practices that would not be tolerated now. But then they had a new world to build and so got on with it! When the M27 was being constructed, the M27 contractors had to build a special bridge under the buckets’ ropeway that carried the clay to the Brickworks just as the brickyard was preparing to close that operation down!! A bit like Bat Tunnels for the HS2! And we wonder where the money goes! I have been told to get off my soapbox! The museum has working steam engines which they run on special days – not alas when we were there!
After the tour we had a very generous hot buffet in the Works Canteen followed by tea in the cafe courtyard. We were allowed to roam the Brickworks to our hearts’ content and the penny arcade was a real hit for those who could remember them from their sunny childhood days!
Finally, goodbyes were said, wishing everyone a safe journey home and we all looked forward to meeting up again.
We returned to visit the Brickworks Museum later to collect our table and chair which we had left behind. No comments about me losing my marbles please!!!
