The Start of Prestatyn car show - and car rides for MND

On the 30th May 2011 Prestatyn will be hosting it`s annual car show- now in its 12 th year the show was originally organized by my sister as part of the business association initiative to hold and organize a special event in the town to celebrate the Millennium . The flower show committee had a brainstorming session and it was then the idea of holding a car show was born - Ann ran the idea past the local vicar, Clive Southerton -never one to miss an opportunity to fund raise he asked her for the catering as a trade off for her having the use of the vicarage, she agreed ! she had the vicarage he had the church hall a deal was struck !
For those of you who don`t know Prestatyn, the Edwardian vicarage is set in a picturesque woodland garden in the centre of town , I think the vision Ann had at that time was of a country house setting rather like a Agatha Christie / Miss Marple type film with all the pre- 1939 cars parked up under the trees and driveway ! She obtained a grant from the Prestatyn Town council and contacted the local car club- Clwyd Pratical classics , setting up a meeting over afternoon tea they agreed they would like to help and support the event and still do today ! The first show was a modest affair with just 50 cars compared to the 300 who took part last year ! The grant was used to hire a marquee and all the car owners were treated to a light lunch with all of Ann`s team of helpers dressed in navy blazers for a corporate look-retired manageress of Manweb- Ann Jones, Debbie Rawlins carpet shop owner , Elizabeth Quinlan from the china shop and Norma and Ken Radcliffe from the sweet shop , Joyce [a high street customer ] and Frank Cook a retired police officer was the official photographer.Chatting with Ann and Tim it was lovely to hear the memories they had of that day !
Picture the scene a lovely sunny day, a jazz band playing , face painters and childrens entertainer, craft and produce stalls- when it was decided on a parade of classic cars around the town at midday , the Mayor to travel in a Daimler Jag once owned by the Marques of Angelsey and the chair of the Business Association in an open top Lanchester with numerous dignitories assigned to eye catching classic`s.
The chair of the business Association was the lovely Lyn Bedway the glamorous manageress of Ethel Austin- Lyn arrived immaculately dressed the morning of the show sporting the most beautiful picture hat and stunning smile that lasted all day ! Ann says when she thinks back she thinks warmly of all the wonderful team of volunteers , who are still with her today and of all the good humour and laughter , local people pulling together at a community event and enjoying themselves [ a lot of whom have helped us with our fundraising for MND today ] but her lasting memory has to be Lyn and her smile sitting in the back of the Lanchester bombing passed the entrance of the marquee as Ann looked up from serving lunch-holding on to her wonderful hat for dear life- Fabulous !


After that first year was deemed such a success- Brother in law Tim took over organizing of this event, and it has grown from strength to strength each year and now has a committee of around 12 who all help Tim organize it- All types of cars from lovely old vintage 1920 style cars to present day - to super cars and vintage motor bikes [ hubby plans to take one of his along this year !] all turn out to support this show, a free lunch is still given to the first 100 cars who enter- that is 200 lunches ! There are lots of stalls , childrens rides , face painting and refreshments available in the vicarage- music is supplied by the local hospital radio, there is no entry charge for this event but people are encouraged to support St Kentigerns who are out in force with their buckets !


This lovely old 1937 Leyland Tiger bus is usually on hand to give the public rides down to Prestatyn beach and back- which has given us an idea this year to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease ! Especially as one of our classic car owners took advantage of a similar scheme at this years classic car show in Birmingham-where she took a ride in a Morgan for a £20 donation and thoroughly enjoyed it ! so Tim decided to email some of the car owners who have already entered for this years show and asked them if they would a sell ride in their car for a donation to raise funds for MND- so far we have four owners who have said they would be delighted to !
The cars that are so far participating in this are- a 1933 Austin box saloon [something similar shown above ]
A 1937 Lanchester- L14

A 1988 Opel Manta rally car [example shown above ]
and a 1982 Porche 911 ! something to suit everyones taste ! for more information you can visit Tims web site on this link hope you are all enjoying the lovely weather-have a lovely Easter !