| Austin
7 - L’Amble d’Automne 2006 |
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750 Motor Club and Tacot Club Calaisien
L’Amble d’Automne 2006.
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The 20th Autumn
Amble this year found us staying in the delightful
small town of St Omer. Our hotel, the Ibis was
conveniently located, had a good secure car park,
clean spacious rooms, with modern bathroom and
bath, excellent breakfast, in all, very good.
 Yvonne King's little Box in the Square in St Omer
We met up with the Tacot Club on Saturday at the
appointed rendezvous. There was a grand ensemble
of 22 cars from the Tacot Club, including the two
Austin Sevens of Yves Roussel and Brigitte Kruger,
and seventeen from the UK including a 1915 Model
T Ford driven by Michael and Jean Hoyle, who spent
the whole of the weekend driving with the hood
down despite the unsettled weather.
The UK cars included ten Austin’s, John Naulls and Grant Johnson 1929
Chummy, The Stephen’s 32 Box, Nik Salmon and Robin Weston 36 Ruby, Martin
and Paula Baker 36 Speedy, A very brave Yvonne King on her own in 33 Box, Richard
and Susan Perkins 32 RN, Paul and Judith Noakes 34 Seven, Ian Mason-Smith with
a regularly used and somewhat modernised 26 Seven, Jim and Carol Woodland in
the much travelled 37 A7 Tourer CYD, Liz Heyer and Martin Hunter’s 34
A7, one 1929 Riley 9HP owner by Robert and Fenella Leigh, Len and Judy Norman’s
1953 MG TD, the Rover of Chris Hayward and Judy Biggerstaff, our 1985 Bentley
8, and the Hotchkiss (which did not make it away from the fish market as the
head gasket blew, blowing water out through the exhaust and carburettor).
 Len & Judy
Norman's MG TD in St Omer
Janet Edroff in the Vectra chauffeured our intrepid “Route
66” travellers, Ken and Eileen Cooke, together
with Don Wooldridge.
61 occupants in these assorted cars, drove en
convoy to the old fish market in Calais, where
the Tacot Club provided us with ample refreshment
of delicious pates, cold meats, cheese and bread,
all washed down with excellent French wine! It
was great to see old faces, as well as new, French
and English.
After
our refreshment, and when Janet Edroff had managed
to locate the one latecomer
Ian Mason-Smith,
58 of us set off for a visit to a deer farm, somewhere
in the countryside. (Your writer thinks it was
the village of Alquines) Here we donned our “sensible” walking
shoes, and wellies, and with our guide, the farmer,
a pair of antlers in hand, walked up the hill to
see his herd of deer. It was quite a trek up the
hill, and fortunately, apart from one squall, it
did not rain again. As we walked, the farmer gave
us a running and detailed commentary on the way
the landscape of the area he farmed was formed,
even producing an ammonite from his pack that is
found in the chalk deposit that covers this area
of France. We finally reached a spot next to the
high wire fence (deer can jump) where he called,
and dozens of “Bambie’s suddenly appeared
over the crest of the hill, coming for the food
(various grains, wheat etc) that he put down. The
farmer explained (interpreted by Chris Hayward)
that he had previously farmed cattle and he started
the red deer herd in 1998, a couple of years after
the outbreak of BSE. His stock was of Scottish
ancestry. However, with only about 20 animals per
year going to market, it was obvious that he still
has a long way to go to make any real money out
of the venture. After admiring the stag, and his
harem, we set off back down the hill to the farmhouse,
where we were able to sample various venison pates
and purchase if so desired.
 Chris interpreted, as our Farmer talked about
the area
Our next port of call was another farm a couple of
miles along the road, where we saw ducks, chickens,
guinea fowl and pigs, again being able to sample
pates and terrine, made from the various livestock
on the farm. After this, we made our way back to
the Hotel Ibis to prepare for yet another gastronomique
feast in the evening at the resteraunt La Cygne.
La
Cygne was a short walk from the Hotel. It was
a beautiful mild evening, slightly damp, but
really quite pleasant for the time of year. The
resteraunt
had a most elegant upper salon, which unfortunately
we could not use, as there were not enough of
us (53!) en masse to fill it, so most of us ate
in
the cellar dining area, and the overflow to a
smaller side room upstairs. The meal itself was
superb.
We started with a tasty little starter, with
our “kir” followed
by the starter proper, smoked duck and gizzard
(I was informed by Yves) followed by lamb shank.
The dessert was out of this world, something like
an ice cream with a crème brulee topping,
rounded off with coffee and homemade petite fours
of chocolate delights! After a long leisurely
meal, totally stuffed we staggered back to the
Ibis,
some retiring to bed, others felt the night was
yet young and carried on socializing in the hotel
bar, where Janet and Jeremy Stephens acted as
drinks distributors to the assembled band of
willing consumers.
 When
the Farmer called, "Bambie's" suddenly
appear.
Those
of us without a hangover appeared next morning
bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for the journey
to the hill village of Cassell. The two Clubs
assembled in the town square, all seventy five
Amblers, in
36 cars, then set off through the French countryside,
a few wrong turns here and there, but everyone
arriving safely in Cassell, where we had a guided
tour of this interesting town with it’s
views (after a bit of hill climbing) of the Flanders
Fields. Some of us had relatives that fought
in
the first World War in this area, and it was
a poignant thought, as we viewed that now peaceful
scene, that so many young men had lost there
lives
in those fields we overlooked.
After
saying au revoir to our guide, we made our way
to rendezvous at a resteraunt in Volkerinchove
for lunch. Here, Janet Edroff, with a degree
of emotion, thanked the Tacot Club for their hospitality,
as well as their Friendship over the last twenty
years, but not being French speaking, I am not
aware of all she said. The Tacot Club received
the 750 Friendship Trophy from Janet, to do with
as they please. The suggestion was made that
to
be in tune with the ethos of the Austin, it should
be for either the longest journey in an old car,
or the car that does most miles in a year. After
this we all said our “au revoirs “ and
made our separate ways, either to the ferry,
tunnel, or for those staying on, Hotel.
It
was again, another delightful weekend, not with
out
the obligatory hiccup however. Les and
Ray Bayliss, after an 18 year absence did complete
the weekend, despite their Hotchkiss being parked
in a hotel car park (to be rescued later) The
Tacot club came to the rescue and they had a “chauffeur” for
the duration. Luc Gilles apparently towed their
Hotchkiss onto the boat on Sunday. An incompetent
BMW driver managed to bump Ian Mason –Smith
whilst he was parked in the Hotel Car Park. We
arrived in France with the passenger window of
the Bentley wound down, and it stayed down for
the whole of Friday, till Saturday morning……………and
that’s another story! But thank you to
all those Austin boys who chipped in with tools
to
help repair the window motor, its still OK.
Janet
and Jeremy Stephens, whilst winning the drinking
competition, every night, (they stayed
standing longest) also won the “I’ve
run out of petrol” cup again! They can
now keep it for life, as they run out most years
and
no doubt will continue to do so.
I am sure I can speak for everyone on the Amble.
It was a lovely weekend, great company, good fun,
and we look forward to doing it all again next
year!
I cannot end this report without mentioning how
much we all missed Gill and Mike Davies. They have
been regulars on the Amble for many years, great
participants and always full of fun, but unfortunately
Mike was unwell just prior to departure and had
to go into hospital.
Since writing this report, I have today, 12th
November, been advised of the sad news that our
friend has lost his long, and courageously fought,
battle with cancer and so I must regretfully add
a further PS to this.
On behalf of all fellow Amblers, Club members across
the country and all of his many friends, we will
miss you Mike, our deep felt sympathy goes out
to Gill his wife.
Julia Griffiths
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