After a long, hot, dry summer with barely a drop of rain for three months, we contrived to hold our annual charity barbecue on the wettest day of the year – and boy was it wet!  Luckily, we had a cunning plan.  We organised two large gazebos and a few smaller ones, which should be sufficient to cover the 50-odd people expected to attend.  As we sorted all the parts ready to erect the second large tent, disaster struck; someone had left all the joints at home, about 2 hours away – oops…..  

Up went the cry “Don’t panic Mr Mainwaring!!” and a quick call to a local vigneron, who was also providing a wine-tasting for us, procured a large “Tivoli” and all was well – Phew!  We were also able to get the barbecues under cover and all-in-all succeeded in keeping everyone dry, with only a few damp patches.

Our hosts, Trev and Carine, did a fantastic job and our grateful thanks go to them and local friends and members who gave much help and lent us equipment.  Some 50 members and friends of the Club had a wonderful day that will stand out in our memories for many years due to the appalling weather and the very British manner in which we overcame it.  Their generosity enabled us to donate over 1800€ divided between the Allison Campbell Trust in the UK, providing end-of-life care, which was set up by a close friend of Trev’s in memory of his wife, and the Association française des hemophiles which supports children suffering from haemophilia.  They helped Carine’s son when he was young and so is close to home for her.  Next up is the rally and classic racing at Angoulême 19th-21st September.