'Only Connect'
E.M.Forster
Warsaw
The 121st Commemoration of 'The Meeting' in Manchester on May 4th 1904
1974 Silver Shadow SRH18723 and 1993 Silver Spur III VIN 54888
We all know that May 4th commemorates
the 121st meeting of the Hon. Charles Rolls and Henry Royce at the Midland
Hotel, Manchester. Incidentally, I attended the charming black-tie celebratory
dinner on the 120th anniversary of this original meeting last year at the hotel.
However, on coming to live in Poland from many years in Marylebone, I felt I
could never be parted from my 1974 Silver Shadow SRH18723, now owned for 38
years. Through the assistance of characteristically Polish rapid understanding of matters mechanical, I have managed to keep it running well in the distant east. I
used to celebrate this anniversary for years at the Bristol Hotel in Warsaw,
often alone, but much has changed since then.
The imminent proximity of the VE Day celebrations in the UK made the modest contribution of our celebration in Poland even more significant, considering the incalculable gift made by Polish pilots and servicemen to the fighting and subsequent victory. Needless to say, Rolls-Royce Merlin engines in Lancaster bombers, Spitfires and Hurricane fighters made the triumphant outcome of WW II in the realm of aeronautical engineering, absolutely indisputable. Polish mechanics were among the best fitters on Spitfires and Hurricanes and developed a deep emotional connection with their machines. In the press many articles have appeared in both Polish and English demanding an apology for the shameful omission of Poland in these celebrations at that time. A complex argument unfolds. 'Chips' Cannon wrote in his diary entry of Monday 7th May 1945: 'The long nightmare has ended.'
A
rare photograph of RAF ground crew working on Supermarine Spitfire fighters in
Italy during 1944
Some
may be Polish
(History Online photo)
Yes, of course a commemoration such as
this was not easy to arrange as it was a long Polish national holiday weekend and
everyone was away! Thursday the 1st May was known in the past as Labour Day and
is now a state holiday. Friday was free for shopping to stock up in order to stylishly
celebrate Constitution Day on Saturday May 3rd.
The first written constitution in
Based on Enlightenment principles, it
created an hereditary monarchy, reformed the government and limited the powers
of the szlachta (Polish gentry). The day is still a public holiday in
In response, Catherine the Great
massed her troops and precipitated a year long war. In 1793 the defeated Poles
were forced to rescind the constitution,
The interest in older Rolls-Royce motor
cars in Poland is rather limited, but for me May 4th is May 4th even if it
conflicts with long public holidays! However, driving our cars in dense holiday
traffic on an excursion is not enjoyable. As a replacement activity, on Sunday
afternoon, I offered at my home in Warsaw a glass of French champagne (Lanson
Black Label has been a favorite of mine since youth) and freshly baked French puff
pastry snacks and lemon tarts.
Various other diversions were offered
to the CCC (my Casual Car Club) and the RREC Polish Section members who
attended. This rather intimate commemoration tradition gradually became a
particularly pleasant occasion, leafing through many Rolls-Royce and Bentley large
format books which of course included, among others, those monumental and
magnificent Davide Bassoli volumes. In addition, we perused recent editions of Spirit
& Speed, the brilliant Swiss Section's Alpine Eagle publication
and the 20-Ghost Club News & Record magazine.
I also screened the highly
professional and enjoyable old Top Gear film of the Rolls-Royce Alpine Challenge
of 1993. As you may know, the owners of 50 Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts recreated
in 1993 James Radley's 1,750 mile journey through 19 Alpine passes in 8 days,
known as the Austrian Alpine Trial. This was accomplished without Radley having
to open the sealed bonnet of his Ghost throughout. Quite an achievement even now,
but Radley achieved this in 1913! Memories of the formidable 2017 20-Ghost Club
tour of Poland and Germany were brought once again onto the brain's surface!
I love this professionally made documentary presented by Tony Mason with an introduction by a youthful Jeremy Clarkson, he being a charming lesson of encroaching age. Alan Clark was an interview delight, driving his fast, 'rakish', spider-bodied, 1915 Ghost 30ED. He spoke of a Vickers or Maxim machine gun fitted to the rear on this possibly stripped down military chassis. The picture presents 'a very tricky car to understand' according to Tom Clarke in an email to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQcUyXRWX-Q
Lt-Col
Eric Barrass, former Chairman of the RREC, wrote a magnificent, highly detailed book
entitled simply The Rolls-Royce Armoured Car (published after his death in the
RREC Historical Series No. 48, Paulespury 2016, edited by Eliot Levin). As a
military gentleman, he surely would have been both devastated and
temperamentally irritated by the recent fraught Club and Foundation
developments.
As darkness and a damp chill fell
over parkland, the members gathered to leave. It was clear an unexpectedly
memorable anniversary had evolved and been celebrated once again.
CLASSICA
MIERZĘCIN 2025 RALLY
12-15 June 2025
(Mierzęcin Palace photo)
The Classica Mierzęcin is not solely an RREC Polish Section event, although the entire section committee and members do take part. The resort lies between Szczecin and Poznań in the N-W of the country.
From June 12-15 2025, the grounds of
the farm and the park surrounding Mierzęcin Palace, will become the setting for
a meeting of lovers and owners of vintage cars. For the eighth time, the Classica
Mierzęcin rally opens its gates to exhibitors from Poland and Europe, who
eagerly visit Mierzęcin to meet with collectors and other enthusiasts, exchange
knowledge and experience and spend time together. We invite you to an event
that combines a casual social gathering with a rich program of attractions in
an atmospheric place and on a platform for the exchange of knowledge and
experiences. A commander's ball, a rally around the area, a drive-in movie, a
tour of the vineyard and a tasting of excellent palace wines from the Mierzęcin
Palace Vineyard are just some of the attractions waiting for participants.
The tradition of the rally is to make
exhibits available for viewing by the local community on designated days. During
the Open Days (June 14-15), local residents will have the opportunity to view
rare examples of beautifully restored cars, talk to the owners, take photos and
participate in the attractions prepared on the premises. About 70 teams take
part in the event every year.
A fully illustrated account of the
delights of the 2024 Classica Mierzęcin can be found in the August 2024
edition of the RREC Spirit & Speed at p.76
The official website for 2025: https://www.palacmierzecin.pl/classica-mierzecin
No comments:
Post a Comment