Hello to all members old and new. This chairman's chat page should have been in the December 2023 issue but the Editors' Computer decided to have an unforseen explosion and took some of the mag work with it. So most of this chat will refer back to what I wrote for the last mag editon. Here we go then,

So here we are again coming towards the end of another year of Granada-ing so to speak. I trust that you all have had a very good 2023 show season and we celebrated 30 years of the Guild with Terry Head (our Hounary President ) being one the brains behind it all 30 years ago. And we are still an international club with many members in parts of Europe. I know there are many members from the birth of the Guild in 1993 are still in the club today and still very active to date. Good going.

I've been a member since 2004 and I can't believe how quick the years have gone by. I can still remember that year being accosted by John Barton (a long time member) armed with a Guild membership form at a the “All Ford” day at Santa Pod Race way. And after 20 years I'm still here and enjoying the being in the club even after all the grief I get as chairman.

Now for the last couple of years weve had special celibrations. 2022 was the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Granada and in 2023 was our clubs 30 th anniversary. To cater for both the celebrations we invested in some keepsake giveaways for the AGM's. We invested in celebration items such as mugs, window stickers, cool bags and banners. All were part of the celebrations and were well recieved by the members.

In 2023 the new venue for the AGM & All Granadas Together at Emberton Country Park nr Milton Keynes has been accepted very well with those who attented. As you know we had been looking for a few years to get something mainly central. So here we are and for those who didn't make last year hopefully youll come along in 2024 and try it out.

New for the Guild in 2023 was to attend the two NEC shows in Birmingham. The first being the Classic Car Restoration Show in March which was a first for us. This show is smaller in size but very significant to the classic car scene being mainly for the trade scene and classic car restorers.

This was very successful for both the Guild & AKR restorations which put us in the spotlight of how we get Granadas to near concourse or concourse condition. AKR restorations is Julian Peapell's baby and he put on an eye opening display of three cars. One was a Mk1 Granada being stripped down to its bear bones in front of the public eye. The other two cars ( both Mk2's ) owned by Keiran Peapell and Reece Peapell. Both of these cars had been restored by AKR and showed the standard of finish acheived.

The second show is the NEC classic car show in November which we have had a Guild stand for many years. It is always a very successful show for the guild showing cars which are our pride and joy's and taking the public down good ol memory lane.

I would like to take the oppertunity to highlight our NEC commander ( Brian Creed) who has organised and run our club stand at this show for 20 year's plus and he continues to do so with excelance in mind . On behalf of the Guild thank you Brian.

On another thank you topic , this one is for Paul Wansbrough and his work for the Mag. Paul is our resident strip down and repair man who (over many years) without fail has painstakenly written many articles for the mag of particular repairs he's had to deal with to keep his Mk2 Granada Estate on the road. The detail that he writes about takes a lot of time and patient's and he does so that if we may come across this ourselves one day and it can point you in the right direction. It can save you a lot of wasted time trying to look for a replacement part that seem to not exist anymore, when you tackle a part shop they look at you like youv'e escaped from the local ( loony bin) when a simple strip down and clean will possably do the trick most times. Just want say a BIG THANK YOU Paul – keep up the good work. We really appreciate it.

And I have another thank you. It's for YOU the members of the Guild. The dedication you have really shines bright when you and your car is out on that show field. Your Granada's stand out from the crowd and we are rewarded by the amount of people that come to see us at shows all over the UK & in Europe. Only a FORD GRANADA MK1 & MK2 DRIVERS GUILD member can do it. THANK YOU.

Now time for a rant – would'nt be me if I did'nt.

Going back to the subject of so called classic car restorers. I've never known so much aggro trying to find one local to me who is interressed in taking on a classic car for light or full restoration work. I myself have recently been to 3 different car restoration workshops for a quote for some light restoration work to VAB. They all have been enthusiastic at the time when you front them with your Granada saying “YEP we can sort that out no problem”. “Give me a month or 2 and phone in and we will get you booked in”.

So you go back home thinking great I've found someone who wants to earn a good dollar. But NO and when I call 2 months down the line they have given me loads of Bully – Sorry not able to do the job at the moment or sorry I dont want the work. And they ain't sorry. It's not that I'm pushing them to do my car now right this minute. I understand that they have work in front of me. I just want to get booked in with them.

I heard the same story from several members recently. And when they did get the car booked in work shop that they have had unreliable time scales and the work is not up to standard. When they have eventually collected their car shoddy workmanship seems to be the main meal on the menu. So the car goes back and the friction between the customer & body shop begins. Dont get me wrong there are many top quality workshops out there its just a real pain trying to find them.

Just gives me the hump !

I will find one somewhere – will keep you informed.

Take care see you soon.

Your Chairman Bryan Stone PS. Hopefully I will back on the microphone at the AGM & All Granada's this year YES!