My last visit to Horndean was two years ago and my memories of that visit are variable—good weather, good show, had a hell of a sore throat. The 110 Liz was driving broke down on the way, ripped the canvas on the way back and rubbed a hole in the trailer canvas due to bad packing. So this year I approached the event with some hesitation. It didn’t start well as I joined the car park on the M25 near Heathrow and again at Hoggs Back, apart from that no problem in getting there. Reported to the booking-in point and on asking where the Ex-Military Land Rover Association was I was told there were ex-military Land Rovers all over. With that helpful comment l decided to park up and walk round the show to find the stand which l found them next to a kids’ quad bike stand complete with inflatable edge protection, there is something about EMLRA stands that attract inflatable items with compressors running at all times, although normally it’s a bouncy castle [see Waddington. Again.]. Due to the quad bikes being shoe-horned in at the end of our pitch we had been squeezed somewhat for space. Never mind, it was a good turnout and the weather generally was good.

A lot of MVT vehicles were due to travel to Normandy on the Tuesday and I recognised a number of vehicles in the pictures in the Daily Express. There was at least three new faces at the show with some interesting vehicles, one will certainly be returning. As he lined up to drive into the arena three young ATC girls joined him in the front of his Land Rover, he didn’t complain at all about the cramped conditions. On the Saturday night Colin Voss did a free nut checking service for all members on the stand and I won the prize for having the loosest nut on a Sankey trailer. All of which does have a serious side, i.e. you should check your nuts occasionally. Wheel nuts too. Good to see George Jackson and family in the ambulance (mobile nursery). George has done an excellent job on restoring this vehicle— unfortunately he decided to go on the green lane run and broke a half shaft, so he returned home on the back of a recovery truck. At least the cost of the fuel saved should help towards the new half shaft… For the return journey I cut across and joined the A34, a very nice trip and I am not sure it was much longer.

Report: Dave Simpkins. Photo's: Steve Marsh