Events : MG Car Club celebrates 25 years at Abingdon

MG Car Club will open its doors in Abingdon on May 23rd
MG Car Club will open its doors in Abingdon on 23rd May

2015 marks the 25 th Anniversary of the MG Car Club’s return to Abingdon, the spiritual home of MG, and the Club is holding an open day on Saturday, 23 May 2015 to celebrate.

The MG Car Club is the oldest MG club in the world and was formed by the MG Car Company some 85 years ago in 1930.

From 1930 until 1969 the Club was based in the Administration Block of the famous plant until the Club became independent at the end of the 1960s. During the 1970s and 1980s the Club enjoyed something of a nomadic existence, ending up as far north as Boston in Lincolnshire at one point.

However, in 1988 the property at number 12 Cemetery Road, Abingdon, which at that time was derelict, became available and was earmarked for demolition, with planning permission granted for flats. With its proximity to the former factory Administration Block, it was deemed as the ideal location for the Club’s headquarters.

Thanks to a massive fund raising drive by club members the building was purchased, along with number 11, in 1989. Almost a year of hard work, most by volunteers and club members, followed and in the summer of 1990, Kimber House was opened. Initially, the Club occupied only number 12, knocking through to number 11 towards the turn of millennium.

In 2010 the Club added the John Thornley Suite, named in honour of MG’s former Managing Director, adding some valuable space to Kimber House’s floor space.

Kimber House remains a popular destination for MG fans, with visitors from across the globe making the pilgrimage to the birthplace of so many classic MGs.

MGs from all over will make a pilgrimage to Kimber House to mark 25th anniversary
MGs from all over will make a pilgrimage to Kimber House to mark 25th Anniversary

The open day will welcome both MGCC members and non-members, giving visitors the opportunity to tour the club’s collection of MG memorabilia, talk to former factory workers and learn more about the Car Club and the benefits it offers to members.

Kimber House will be open from 10:00am-4:00pm, offering an opportunity to see some of the unique items that form perhaps the largest archive of MG memorabilia in the world.

There will also be refreshments available and the Club’s shop will be open, allowing visitors the chance to get that all-important souvenir. Alongside the celebrations at Kimber House, the White Horse Public House, a short walk from Kimber House, is holding an MG day with live music, food and classic cars on display.

Those looking to make a weekend of it could also sign up for the Old Speckled Hen Run. Now in its twenty-third year, the run sets out from Radley College in Abingdon, and heads out on a route around the town.

With the Car Club celebrating both its 85th Anniversary and 25 years at Kimber House, there will be plenty to celebrate on Saturday, 23 May 2015.

 

Keith Adams

2 Comments

  1. Well worth a visit. I was pretty surprised how relatively small the area was that the factory occupied, and the office block is still there

    • No it isn’t.

      The Abingdon site was actually quite a large place. But most of it was given over to car storage (overflow from Cowley mostly). Certainly, by the era of the B and the Midget, the place was little more than a trim and final line. They certainly didn’t build complete cars there!

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