Heads turn as 102-year-old Ford Model T rolls up to classic vehicles meet at West Berks pub

THERE was another great turnout for the informal meet of classic vehicles at The Bell at Aldworth on Sunday.

First to turn heads as he pulled into the pub was "true Newburian" Peter Bosley in his 102-year-old Model T Ford, which he has owned for 20-odd years. "1920 it was made," said Mr Bosley. "It's just under three litres and hasn't really needed any reconstruction". He drove the car from Newbury, where he said he has lived for 90-plus years. "A bit of a job to handle with all the traffic today, but drive it I say, don't trail it."

Newbury engineer John Payne restored his 1935 Morris 10/6 Sports Special for his son's wedding in 2015, the same year Bob Matthews bought his 1955 MGTF off eBay, had it shipped over from the US and coverted it to right hand drive. "The prettiest car on the road," he said.

Jan Sommerville from Thatcham has taken some five years to modify the two-stroke 1957 Berkeley 328 that he bought eight years ago.

The company produced economical sports cars with motorcycle derived engines between 1956 and 60 and their famous drivers included Pat Moss who drove one in the 1958 Liège-Brescia-Liège rally for cars up to 500 cc.

Paul Smith's Norton Model 16H motorbike, bought around seven years ago, was a remarkable "barn-find" from Cornwall, where despite having been there for 79 years is "all original condition – I only replaced the oil pump, piston and carburettor plus put new tyres on it."

Pictures by Geoff Fletcher.

On a sweltering afternoon, visitors and enthusiasts quenched their thirst in the Bell garden as organiser George Simmons did a good trade in spare parts, raising in the region of £300 for the Air Ambulance.