A SIGHT TO SEE
The Morris Minor Owners Club at the Lord Mayor's
Show
Saturday 14 November
Nineteen ninety-eight has been a fantastic year!
Reaching the dizzy heights of Blenheim Palace in the summer, could
the Club end the year with a bang? Thirty-three Minors went up to
London, and Rosie Hamilton made it all happen.
The Corporation of London is the oldest municipal authority in
the world; it covers the area known as "The City" (or
the "Square Mile") the financial centre or merchant heart
of Old London. Each year it elects a new leader - the Lord Mayor
of London. On taking up his office the Lord Mayor is asked to swear
his allegiance to the Sovereign at a ceremony at the Royal Courts
of Justice. He is taken there in a horse drawn golden carriage,
part of the Lord Mayor's Show, the largest unrehearsed procession
in the world. Approximately 2½ miles long, it takes an hour
to pass a given point. The first Lord Mayor of London was Dick Whittington.
 Head
of the cavalcade.
On Saturday 14 November, Lord Levene of Portsoken became the 671st
Lord Mayor, and invited the Morris Minor Owners Club to participate
in his procession.
Preparations for our entry started over a year ago when it was
decided which types (models and colours) of Minors to invite. We
wanted to present a colourful and vibrant display encompassing all
aspects of our famous car and to make the day a fitting conclusion
to the baton run and our own year of celebration. The co-operation
and commitment given by all the participants was exceptional. We
achieved a two page spread in the Show programme, three minutes
live TV coverage (in commentator Barry Davies' own words "Now
here is a sight to see - the Morris Minors") and everyone had
a superb and most enjoyable day; indeed the euphoria is still going
strong. 
Even rollerblading Morris Minor enthusiasts were allowed
in the show!
Left to right: Noddy a.k.a. Frank O'Connell; Minor Mania's
extended six-wheel pick-up; Henric's famous lobster; Police Panda
driven by members of the Metropolitan Police's Special Constabulary,
brings up the rear of the cavalcade.
The MMOC Marie Curie Cancer Care charity car leading the
way. Can you spot Len Cooper's two radio controled model Minors?
The day began early when 14 of the 32 participating cars made
their way down the M11 and along the Mile End Road (where they were
joined by another four cars) to assemble in St Martin's le Grand
just behind St. Paul's Cathedral.
We had a band of walkers at the front of our entry twirling Club
umbrellas, and Noddy (Tony Seed in his Harewood outfit) doing the
regal bit, running back and forth across the road shaking hands
and speaking to dignitaries and children in the crowd.
Cars and people came from all over the country but special mention
should be made of Trevor Mitchell and members of the Northern Ireland
branch who travelled all the way from Bangor, Co. Down to be there.
Also Malcolm and Dorothy Bainbridge from Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham
in their 1953 Series II; Paul and Sandra Richards with their Million
from Glastonbury, as well as all the Derby mob.
Left to right: 1968 GPO Post Office telephone engineer's
van (Sheila Wakley); 1971 yellow telephone engineer's van (Mark
Keyhoe); Red Royal Mail van (Paul Wood). Blue concours pick-up following
(Philip Horn).
Passing the Lord Mayor's box. White two door saloon from
Northern Ireland (Trevor Mitchell).
Henric's Lobster had his claws greased especially for the occasion
and all the cars had had appropriate decorations made for them.
John Frye's South African Minor had balloons in South African colours;
the 1953 car had a crown, orb and sceptre; and Sue Smith who was
celebrating her own 50th birthday gave her car a cake. Kevin Pearce
had a proper cat costume in 'Tweetie Pie'; Bryan Gostling was the
real Norfolk farmer; Frank O'Connell was Noddy in a real Noddy car-,
there were firemen in period uniform, the RAC and the Police.
There were a few hiccups along the way: Postman Pat and Jess the
Cat experienced some difficulty and whilst they apologise that the
Royal Mail was delayed due to the Lord Mayor's Show, they had the
unforgettable experience of a motorcycle escort against the traffic
to rejoin the others at the lunch stop.
We were lucky to find safe parking for some of the cars and were
thus able to enjoy a spectacular firework display later in the day
and the 'big kids' had a ride on one of the roundabouts at the Fair!
Rosie Hamilton 
Tweetie Pie driving this yellow 1000 convertible owned
by Kevin Pearce.
Ian Portsmouth drives "Henrietta" his maroon
1275cc powered saloon. Len Cooper's van provides transport for his
business. Highway yellow convertible owned by Vera Newton. Roger
Horton's red Series MM Tourer.
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