On Saturday 2 May we had the last of our three visits to the Vulcan XM655 at Wellesbourne. I again heard great reports of the warm welcome and enthusiastic presentations that the 24 Members received.

On Wednesday 6 May, 20 Members descended on Denham Bowls Club where we enjoyed a full day’s hospitality.  The day started with refreshments and an introduction to the club members.  We were then issued with appropriately weighted woods for our coaching session split over three rinks.  This was followed by a delicious, unhurried lunch before heading back out for an 8-end competition in teams.  Occasionally we got the bias wrong and the wood disappeared across a neighbouring rink but generally the standard was pretty good.  I received a friendly scolding when shouting to the skip at the far end, but generally we adhered to good etiquette. The afternoon concluded with more refreshments and a prize-giving.  The bottles of wine were won by Jane Brill and Karen Stretch.  Our thanks go to Members Steve and Wendy Johnson and the members of the bowls club

On Sunday 10 May, nine Area 10 Astons attended the Fawley Hill Museum Open Day having been invited by Aston-loving Lady Judy McAlpine, Sir William’s widow.  I hear that the steam engine’s brakes were faulty and so the diesel pulled the rolling stock.  Plenty of wildlife was to be seen including deer, pheasants and peacocks, and of course the extensive museum was full of 1000’s of interesting exhibits.  And Lady Judy loved the sound of the Astons’ engines.

We held our monthly meeting for May at The Dinton Hermit, Ford near Aylesbury. They allocated the main restaurant for our sole use and we were very well looked after by the staff led by Kasia.  We welcomed potential new Member Tony Saxon and by the next morning he had joined the club. I counted 10 Astons in the car park – fewer than expected, probably due to the on-going hailstorms or the Eurovision Contest semi-final on TV?

Our “Feast on the Farm” event held at Peterley Manor Farm was great success with more than 70 Members and friends attending.  We were joined by Andrew Howard the boss of Beechdean Ice-cream and an enthusiastic Aston Martin racer who brought along one of his cars which he had raced three times at Le Mans.  He spent an hour with the car answering questions before joining us for the food.  This year, Katy Brill and her team prepared a delicious barbecue buffet offering freshly cooked meats from their inhouse butchery plus a wide variety of salads, vegetables and breads, all followed by a great selection of self-serve desserts.  Andrew Howard did not mind that the ice-cream was from Chiltern Ice-cream since Beechdean have moved their Jersey cows and production from High Wycombe to Cheshire.  Speaking of Cheshire, Andrew raced in BritishGT at Oulton Park last weekend and finished second overall in both of the weekend’s races and after three races is now leading the GT3 Drivers Championship.

Future Events

The annual Pangbourne Classic Car Show at Pangbourne College takes place this Saturday 30 May. Unfortunately I have a surprise birthday lunch to attend and so can no longer make it.

Area 10 Member Mark Pilling is coordinating our Members’ attendance at Wheeler Dealer Live at Bicester Heritage on Sunday 31 May - see: Wheeler Dealer Live  We have a unique club link for discounted tickets at £19 per car including passenger: AMOC Area 10 Tickets  Please contact Mark to let him know that you are attending: hoose4459@gmail.com and we will all be parked together. 

The AMOC Spring Weekend with Concours and Dinner is being held at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland on the weekend of 6/7 June – full details of the weekend are on the AMOC website at: Spring Weekend 2026 Alnwick Castle - Aston Martin Owners Club

For those of you travelling up the A1 on Friday 5 June for the AMOC Spring Weekend, Aston Martin Workshop are inviting you to drop in for a tour of their facility at any time that day.  And for refreshments they have their own on-site pub, The Black Horse.

We will be holding our monthly meeting for June on the 11^th at The Crown Inn, Penn, HP10 8NY. They are reserving the lower car park for our Astons and have allocated the sheltered outside area overlooking that car park for our use, which should be perfect as we approach the longest day.

On Saturday 13 June, Astons are invited to attend the Shuttleworth Gyrocopter Day which is attempting a world record of autogyros flying in on the day. "Little Nellie" from You Only Live Twice will be there.  Visit Shuttleworth Gyrocopter Day - Events - Aston Martin Owners Club for details.

I have been invited to find 15 Astons for a display on Saturday 20 June at The Odney Club in Cookham, a private club for past and present partners of John Lewis. All places were snapped up very quickly and so we look forward to a pleasant day in beautiful riverside surroundings.

The annual AMOC Festival is being held at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon on Sunday 21 June. This year it will be celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the V12 Vanquish.  Tickets for Aston drivers and passengers are available at £13 per person – visit: AMOC Festival 2026 - Aston Martin Owners Club

If you are not heading for Gaydon, Hart Classics have announced the 2026 Classic Car & Motorcycle Show to be held on Sunday 21 June at The Elvetham Hotel, Hartley Wintney, RG27 8AS. All ages of cars are welcome and there is a Supercar Category.  For more information visit: hartclassics.co.uk

We have 26 people coming on our visit to Summerdown Farm near Basingstoke for a tour and lunch on Thursday 25 June.  I will be sending out joining details shortly.

On 11 May you will have received an email from HQ which included details of the Yattendon Classic Vehicle Show being held on Sunday 28 June 2026.  As a reminder it read:

A wonderful day out in the picturesque village of Yattendon, located between Newbury and Reading in Berkshire. The annual Classic Vehicle Show attracts in excess of 700 vehicles. The Royal Oak Pub is within walking distance and the renowned Pot Kiln Gastropub, is close by.
This year, the show is keen to welcome the Aston Martin Owners Club and has dedicated an area outside The Renegade Brewery for the Club (shared with Porsche and Ferrari). There is flat road access, so no grounding out issues. The Renegade Brewery offers a good breakfast, with ample outside seating, and is located a short stroll to the main display site. The Brewery is offering a free drink voucher for all breakfasts purchased by AMOC members.
More details can be found here: Website
… and the Vehicle Entry Form is here: Entry Form

On Tuesday 30 June 2026 Area 13 have arranged a joint lunch meet with Area 10 at Winchester Auto Barn – After I emailed Members with the details, all 30 places were reserved very quickly and so it is now full with a short reserve list.

Linda Davies is kindly organising the annual Area 10 Ladies Lunch which will take place at Gerrards Cross Golf Club on Wednesday 1 July. A link to the special menu is just below here.  All lady Members or partners of Members are welcome and can register their interest with Linda at: linda@altavistacressing.co.uk

Area 10 Ladies Lunch Menu 2026

On Thursday 9 July, Steve Johnson has arranged a private tour of the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge followed by an optional visit to The Apple Tree in Gerrards Cross.  As I write, the visit for 30 people is fully subscribed subject to payment.  Our monthly meeting is also held that day and so we have arranged for the meeting to be at The Apple Tree

On Saturday 18 July the Hellfire Motor Vehicle Club is holding its annual The Big Meet in West Wycombe raising funds for men’s mental health.  I have booked an AMOC display stand.  The entry fee is £10 for your Aston and all occupants. For more info and to book your ticket visit: The Big Meet 2026 | Men with Machines CIC | MatterPay.  Please let me know if you plan to attend.

Graham Maidlow has arranged for us to visit Jenners Café in Maidenhead for brunch on Sunday 19 July. As it is under threat of closure, we are having an earlier gathering this year. If you would like to join us in this final Jenner's event, please email Graham: grahammaidlow@gmail.com  Graham needs to know how many people are coming and also if you will be coming in your Aston.  This is for the café to determine the number of catering staff required and also for the number of Aston parking spaces.

Tickets are now on sale for the BRDC Classic Silverstone on 24-26 July - see BRDC Classic | Silverstone  The club will be there, and Car Club tickets are available using our discount code – for a low price you get two entry tickets per day plus infield parking close to the AMOC marquee. For details visit: The BRDC Classic 2026, Silverstone - Events - Aston Martin Owners Club. 

I now have all the details for our Area 10 Tom May Special Meeting at the Eton Dorney Rowing Lake on Thursday 6 August and am producing the flyer which I will send out separately very soon.  I will just say now that it is very helpful and reassuring if you book your places promptly as I have to guarantee fairly high minimum numbers – I can always refund you if you inform me that you cannot attend up to two weeks before the event.

I have been notified of the date of the RAF Benson Families Day – it is Thursday 13 August.  I have no further details yet, but please let me know if you might be interested in attending with your Aston. Last year we were treated to some excellent flying displays.

Simply Aston Martin is scheduled for Sunday 23 August – for information on tickets and to request to park with fellow Area 10 Members, visit Beaulieu Simply Aston Martin - Events - Aston Martin Owners Club

On Wednesday 26 August we will be visiting Rycote Park and Waterperry Gardens.  We will meet at Rycote Park at 10:30am for refreshments and an introductory talk by the owner.  This will be followed by a guided tour of the Capability Brown gardens, the renovated barn and the 15^th Century chapel.  After the tour we will drive to the nearby Waterperry Gardens where we have arranged for segregated parking and lunch in their “Tea Shop”.  The cost to join us is £15 which covers the visit to Rycote Park.  Lunch is extra at cost, and you might wish to visit the gardens themselves.  Places are limited and so please contact Jo Sears (josears24@hotmail.com) for confirmation of your place and for payment details.

We have again been invited to exhibit our Astons at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre Auto Fest on bank holiday Monday 31 August.  They welcome cars, motorbikes, vans, buses, fire engines, bicycles to be displayed, but our Astons will have a special area reserved by the Visitor Centre. Steam train rides and all the fun of their heritage railway will be on offer as well.  There is a suggested (but not obligatory) donation of £6 per car for exhibitors.  To register please click on the link and let me know when you have done so.

Auto Fest 2026 Buckinghamshire Rail Centre – Fill in form

I have been asked to remind you of an event being organised by club president Dr Ulrich Bez.  He is inviting Members to field a team of two or four to take part in the Club's Charity Clay Challenge taking place at Holland & Holland's Northwood shooting grounds on Friday 11 September 2026.  Booking information is available: HERE

The Kop Hill hillclimb event at Princes Risborough is being held over the weekend of 12/13 September.  It is an annual 2-day event in aid of local charities.  Area 10 Member Mark Pilling has arranged for the AMOC to have a stand there and so if you wish to go up the hill or simply display, you can elect to park in the AMOC area - see Home - Kophill Climb

Other News              

We have some Members who are new to Area 10 over the past month – I would like to welcome Mark Wallace, Edward & Lian Griffith, Tony Saxon, Andy & Ines Rose and Giles Kidd-May