Colchester Garrison Open Weekend
Our home show, so it just HAD to be a good one...
I got to Abbey Field at 5.20 pm on Friday, riding Grisselda straight from work. Eddie and Peter had already set-up stakes ready for the vehicles. Last year we had a bit of a problem with people crawling all over the vehicles, so the idea this year was to tape-off the machines in rows. We helped (or hindered) Eddie pitch his 9 x 9 in the shadiest spot available (behind an Antar) and then Peter gave me a lift home. Next up was our own mini-convoy: Unimog and Heidi driving through the streets of Colchester up to the garrison - and there we were: all three vehicles at the same show. The Army did us a great meal - curry and rice, poppadum, hunk of chocolate cake and a brew - all for three quid. Rob Short was up to his usual tricks: telling Lorraine the lasagne was vegetarian. Quite a few people turned up and it looked like we were in for a good show.
Saturday morning, up bright and early to help with more arrivals. This was our first chance to have a good look at Roger's latest find: the big Pegaso. It certainly looked the business. Phil was there with his SUMB, and Tony was there as a member of the paying public - wondering why he ever sold the SUMB to Phil! Peter was busy polishing his 432, Dennis had the Bedford and Clive brought along the Abbot and Pig. Not a bad little collection, eh? Jack had injured his leg and was getting around with the aid of crutches, but he still managed to drive the Scorpion down (dedication, huh?). Lofty's ambulance was looking as pristine as ever, and two Antars and a Diamond T made up the impressive back row. Up at the front were Land Rovers, including Rob Poulter's 90, Terry brought along his Champ and David & Lyndsey came with the Ferret and Jeep. Also with Jeeps were Airborne Ian and our chairman Brian (who was representing the Rastafarian Army on this occasion). So that's us, who else was there?
Well, the Army were there of course, with a Challenger, Oshkosh transporter and tanker, Apache and Lynx. ABRO brought along a ceremonial Pinzgauer in gloss green with chrome bumpers (not sure about those white leather seats though) and a not-so-pristine looking Bedford that had had a bit of a shunt. The RAF were giving out keyrings, the Police were showing off their door breaking equipment, and those fearless chaps from Bold Dog were doing impossible things on motorbikes. Lots of re-enactors from all sorts of periods: from the ancient Greeks up to the 20th century.
The weather was shorching, so most of us spent our time trying to find some shade - although one person seemed to spend the entire weekend having cups of tea made for him! And before we knew it, that was that! All done for another year. Quite a few people went straight off to another show, somewhere in Kent if I recall...
