Dear All,
Poor MAG Paul spent a lonely weekend shivering in his tent at the Slippit Inn rally. Billed as the 'Ride of the Tigers', this event should have seen most of Wirral's Tiger men riding down to Gloucester together, no doubt with a bit of off-roading thrown in to test their steed's capabilities over the rough stuff. A bad weather forecast soon resulted in most of them finding they were otherwise engaged that weekend.

John Spall did turn up to meet the others but, not having directions, went back home when no-one else turned up. The intrepid explorer and Elefantman wannabe has usurped Chunky as deputy assistant runs captain and is currently leading the trophy points table. Anxious to prove his cold weather credentials, John led a small band of acolytes the long way round on the latest of our increasingly rare visits to Oswestry. Could it be that Peter has finally tired of the place? He was out of the country for this one. Ken wasn't impressed with the Barley Mow, a brew pub who don't seem to brew very much; no mild or brown ale on offer.

The following week was our annual pilgrimage to see if the Blue Bell in Tushingham is open. Chris and I made our own way there on yet another freezing April night. The main mob, again led by Jumbo John with a satnav stuck to his tacho, went via Oswestry on a scenic route which took an hour and a half to cover the twenty mile ride from Chester. At least the place was open this time - two years ago the pub had closed down altogether and last year we found it closed on Mondays, which is why Peter had rescheduled this to a Tuesday. Sadly here also mild and brown ale had been abolished so another pub to cross off the list, Peter. I noted from the ensemble gathered here that there was a completely different set of people at our branch meeting at the Thatch the night before; it seems most folk are only allowed out once a week.

We will have to book for the Thunderbird rally soon, let me or Ken know if you are going; also has anybody organised our camping weekend yet? This is another of those events Ken gets lumbered with by default; a volunteer to sort out booking the site would be welcome.

Dave Pearson

It is good to have Dave back as club scribe with his usual monthly jibes at one or more of our stalwart crew.