We returned to Hartsfield Manor in Betchworth, Surrey for our 2025 Annual Lunch & Awards. This is our thrid visit to this country house hotel and this time we had to move rooms due to a larger number of members attending.
The MGs parked along the front of the hotel and on the grass opposite ranging from a beautiful MG VA through to the latest MG Cyberster. There were several MG Motor cars present and a good number of MGF/TFs to go with the MGBs, Cs and T-Types.
The awards were held in the conference room and before proceedings began the Chairman held a minutes silence in memory of those departed. The floor was then handed over to MG Car Club Vice-Chair Michael Murkin who made a formal presentation of the Nuffield Gold Cup to the MGCCSE Committee.
The awards were duly handed out, around 40 of them, to those who had won competitions during the year and the Centre’s own annual awards. Top awards went to Will Opie (Club Member of the Year), John & Jenny Morgan (Significant Contribution) and Roger Gasson (Carrisima Spirit of the Club award).
You’ll find all the annual award winners below.
With the first half of the day complete, some of the award winners left whilst those that had booked for the whole day’s experience retired to the dining room for a drinks reception. The afternoon lunch began with a recitation of two monologues by member Simon Gray, with piano accompaniment – Providence and Timmy’s Lament.
Lunch followed and then it was the turn of our guest speaker Dr Ian Pogson who showed some unseen films of early MG6 testing and some stories about engineering in China. Following this was the raffle which raised £180 in aid of Royal Marsden Cancer Care. Then the secretary presented the results of his challenge with the Matthews family being the majority winners!
Throughout the lunch the Gold Cup was on display to remind us of the great achievements of the South East Centre.
Thank you to Philip Roussel-Smith and Austin Banner who organised the event, Tim Morris for hosting throughout the day, John Davies and John Morgan for organising the trophies, Dr Ian Pogson and Simon Gray for providing the entertainment and Hartsfield Manor for providing the food and facilities.
THE ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS 2025
| Club Member of the Year | Will Opie For his work on the Newsletters, Spark, Safety Fast and running the North Downs Natter |
| MGCCSE Significant Contribution Trophy | John & Jenny Morgan For revitalising and introducing more grassroots motorsports events to the South East |
| Carrisima Spriti of the CLub Trophy | Roger Gasson Attendance at shows with his MG Magnette and accompanying “dog” |
| Young Member Participant Trophy | Alice Hanson For entering the two new autotests |
| The Derek Edwards “It Could Have Been a Better Day” Award | Chris & Janice Leigh For a failed water pump on the way to the Summer Gathering in their MGA (rescued by Will Opie!) |
| Andy Turner Trophy for best newsletter article | John Morgan Crosthwaite & Gardner two parter |
| Lew Wooster Trophy for Best Marshaling at events | Jenny Morgan |
| South East Championship for the highest competition points scored | Tim & Liz Morris |
| Ladies Award for the best result from a lady entering events | Lis Wooley |
| Pentathlon Trophy for best results from entering events | Ian McCullough |
| Social Championship for best attendance at MGCCSE Natters/events | Mick Breare |
| Lingfield Trophy for the overall Naviscat winners | Steve and Gary Goodwin |
| Magic Midge Trophy for best results in driving tests | Ian Cleghorn |
| Alternative PoO Trophy for the overall winner of the alternative PoO | Adrian Malthouse |
| Barnard Trophy for the winner of the Premier PoO/Concours at the Summer Gathering | Richard Thorpe |
| Summer Gathering Trophy for the Car of the Show | Gary Barden |
