Celebrations as classic cars line up at a classic Caithness backdrop
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The Castle of Mey provided the perfect backdrop for a display of vintage vehicles yesterday (Sunday, June 13) morning as a local club celebrated a successful funding achievement with the official handover of a new events trailer.
Caithness and Sutherland Vintage and Classic Vehicle Club (CSVCVC) is back on the road with its new custom-built trailer that was partially funded by Caithness and North Sutherland Fund (CNSF) along with Stroupster Community Fund (Foundation Scotland). The two funders also helped fund a 20ft steel container to store necessary equipment for the safe running of the annual show in John O’Groats.
CSVCVC committee member James Bremner said: "There was loads of paperwork involved in applying for the funding but the only funders that would give us money were from this local area. We're absolutely delighted with it and we can use this now as a centre stand for the John O'Groats Rally, Canisbay Show and the Mey Games."
The events trailer will be able to accommodate commentators at the various shows and provide shelter for invited dignitaries if the weather turns bad. "We had over 200 entries at our last annual rally in 2019 and over 2000 visitors so it will really help with that," added James.
He also said that the staff at the Castle of Mey were very accommodating and went out of their way to help matters run smoothly for the photo shoot yesterday while also being aware of the various Covid restrictions still in place. Those same restrictions led to this year's annual rally at John O'Groats being cancelled but it was decided instead to do a road run within the county yesterday just to "keep up the interest of all the new members". The club will be holding several events over the summer in hope of attracting even more members.
David Shearer, CNSF fund coordinator, said: "The club’s annual rally is a valued community intergenerational event that attracts people and visitors to the area as well as promoting the history of vintage and classic motor vehicles. The CNSFund is pleased to support the club in its aim to improve its operating facilities that will enhance the annual vintage rally and other club events."
The club's new chairman Kevin Sutherland said that they hope to do a monthly run of the classic vehicles throughout the county. "We decided that today's event would be a good opportunity to thank the funders," said Kevin. "We'll be travelling as far south as Latheron today but on previous runs we've been to Dornoch as we have various members down there. The majority of members are from Caithness but a lot of people want to join in Sutherland."
The CSVCVC is a voluntary run, not for profit, vintage and classic vehicle club with the aim of preserving old vehicles for enjoyment and to educate the younger generation on vehicles through the years. The club has been running for over 50 years holding events for fellow enthusiasts both young and old regardless of whether they own a vehicle. Its aim is to keep the club alive and build on the success of its annual show, at John O’Groats, which in 2019 attracted crowds in excess of 2000, allowing it to donate to local charities and help the local economy.
Back in December 2019, however, the club was in crisis as the hard-working but ageing committee felt they could no longer hold office and appealed for younger volunteers to take the club forward. At that year's AGM they could not get anyone to take over the position of chairman, secretary or treasurer so had to call an extraordinary general meeting at the end of January as the club was now in crisis.
Committee member James said that after an article in the John O’Groats Journal appealing for volunteers to fill the positions was published in January 2019 "it came up trumps with three volunteers stepping up to the mark to breathe new blood into the club".
The retiring committee "kindly agreed" to help the new committee in the transitional period and have stayed on to aid in the running of the CSVCVC. Along with the new committee there are volunteers to help with the running of events. Meetings have been held over Zoom in readiness to organise events as soon as Covid restrictions are eased.
If you want to follow the club it has a Facebook page and is always happy to welcome new members.
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