To celebrate Tamworth's history, for the last few years the second weekend in September has been a Heritage Weekend displaying Tamworth’s rich history. Last year we were on the Aldergate Car Park in the town center directly opposite the Tamworth Information Center and Assembly Rooms. As 2014 is the 50th anniversary of Tom Williams’ death (The founder of Reliant) the event was moved back to St.Editha’s Church Square as this was actually the birth place of Tom Williams in 1890. He was born at 32 Church Street which was knocked down in 1967 though is now where the Reliant Gathering is held. Unfortunately for the first time since I have been organising the Reliant Gathering I was not able to attend it this year as it double booked with a holiday we had booked in Spain. My brother Geoff therefore took over the helm on the day ensuring that all ran smoothly..
Although the number of vehicles dropped again this year to 36 there was a good variety of vehicles on display with at least one vehicle from each decade of Reliant production. The complete list of vehicles was as follows:
1930s 1935 7cwt Pick up. Geoff Payne
1940s 1949 8cwt van Black Country Living Museum - On loan to Geoff Payne
1950s 1959 Regal Mk V - Steve White
1960s 1969 Rebel - Kerry Croxton 1969 Regal / Supervan - Steve Denton 1969 Scimitar GTE - Dave Poole
1970s 1970 Scimitar - Bob Coles 1971 Regal - David Wharmby 1973 Rebel - Simon Hodges 1973 Regal 3/30 - Melvin Turpin 1974 Robin 750 - Geoff Payne 1974 Scimitar - Pete Stocks 1976 Kitten DL - John Pearce 1977 Kitten van - Steve Casey 1977 Kitten van - Azzy Hemsley 1977 Kitten DL - Kirsty Payne 1977 Kitten van - Adam Turpin 1977 Kitten DL - Geoffrey Ward 1978 Kitten van - Tony Wiese 1979 Scimitar - Brian Kenyon
1980s 1981 Kitten DL - Michael Rowley 1984 Fox Tandy - Keith Gittus 1984 Fox Tandy - Syd and Steve 1984 Fox Tandy - Duncan Bradford 1985 Fox - Mick Rowley 1985 Fox Tandy - James Holland 1987 Scimitar SS1 - Roy Small 1987 Rialto - Garry Gregory 1989 Scimitar SS1 - Mark Cropper
1990s 1991 Rialto - Brian Gordon 1992 Robin LX - Colin Scholey 1992 Robin LX - Simon Drake 1995 Robin Royale - Antony Snow 1996 Robin LX - Steven Carrol
2000s 2000 Robin SLX - Terry O'Keeffe 2002 Robin BN1 - Peter Huggins
My sincere thanks goes to everyone for coming along. Thank you.
Thanks also go to: My brother, Geoff Payne, Big Daddy & Micromma (Steve & Janet White) for again organising the camping for those wishing to make a long weekend of it, the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley for again lending us the 1949 Reliant 8 cwt van for the day. A big thank you also goes to the person who provided a donation for buying this years rally plaques, to Kerry Croxton for all the photos and to Tamworth Borough Council and the Tamworth Information Centre for giving us the opportunity to put on this display.
My apologies if I have forgotten anyone.
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