A friend of mine from my earlier villages of Slip End and Caddington told me of his intention to visit a Classic Car event at the Cross Keys, Pulloxhill to display his excellent Jaguar saloon car, and suggested that I might be interested in joining him there, and it seemed a photographic opportunity not to be missed. John told me he would be arriving at around nine o’clock, so that was going to be the time I would aim for, and I was only late by a few minutes.
The Public House is blessed with a handy sized field behind its premises, and has hosted the event over a few recent years, and today local broadcasts and previous visitors ensured that with such excellent weather, the field soon filled up with exhibitors’ splendid classics and visitors own very varied marques, with some vehicles definitely not classified as cars, such as trucks, fire engines and a smattering of bikes and a Massey Ferguson tractor from a bygone age.
I first met up with the aforesaid John (Sentinella) to thank him for mentioning the display, and to catch up with each other’s news, then I took a stroll down the lines of exhibiting cars to get a feel of what was on show, and occasionally stopping to chat to the owners. As the numbers of visitors increased, I made a few more sorties returning some while later and sitting with John where we had a drink and something to eat under the shade provided by umbrellas supported from the arms of canvas folding chairs. Once the field was nearing capacity, I wandered again, before once more returning such that John might get the chance to look around. I had a long chat and saw some excellent photos from the owner of a car used on many occasions to promote a scene from Fawlty Towers.
During this next stint I began to wonder whether I might locate the owner of one of the two Fire Engines and ask whether I might be able to climb on top to get some shots of the cars from a higher viewpoint, but for some time no one was around. When one man returned, I tentatively asked whether this might be possible, to which he surprised me with his response that he had let me do just that at a Luton Hoo show many moons ago, and it would be just fine! I remember the event and the request, but was amazed that someone should remember me so specifically from some nine years previously, so David Rowell, you deserve ‘an Honourable Mention’, and I humbly thank you for offering me the same courtesy once again – thank you; it was most appreciated.
Since returning, I have turned the panorama into a Zoomify item that allows you to zoom around the image and get a good idea of the detail present in the image made from a dozen individual handheld frames.
Later I was to meet another gentleman with whom I chatted for some considerable time, and who pointed out his splendid and rare Nissan 260Z; the conversation was widely varied and most interesting. I am most grateful to John for bringing the event to my notice, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the day; in great company and splendid sunshine.
I hope it comes across in viewing the gallery of images displayed from the link in the main headline to this piece.
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