HISTORIC MALMESBURY RALLY

      Malmesbury, cradle of both democracy and “The English Way, uncharacteristically boasting the following….
To be the oldest borough in England.
Site of the first Iron Age Fortress.
Home of the first King of a unified England, Athelston the Glorious.
The first English Aviator, an 11th century monk who launched himself on paper wings from the ramparts of the Abbey to be nearer to his God, and, only broke both his legs.
In the Cemetery can be found a stone commemorating Hannah Twynnoy, a barmaid, the first person to be killed by a tiger in Britain. Her stone reads…In bloom of life, She’s snatched from hence, She had no room, To make defence, For Tyger fierce, Took life away, And here she lies in bed of clay, Until the Resurrection Day.

Such was the venue for our Historic Malmesbury Rally.

Held at Burton Hill Caravan Park and hosted by Barrie and June Blackmore  assisted by Mike and Bunty Cowell.
With sunny weather laid on for the opening day of the rally there were numerous trips, barbecues, get togethers and  meals including  an on site fish and chip supper with ‘Happy Hours’ all of which were to be enjoyed by all.

A scene setting walking tour of Malmesbury was arranged for the first day, with enthusiastic guides who explained the claims above of this lovely town.
An impromptu visit was made by some to the standard gauge Heritage steam railway, Blunsden which included a trip on the railway.

The highlight for many was the days outing to Bristol to see the magnificently restored SS Great Britain back now near her original building yard. She was designed by Brunel and launched in Bristol in 1843 being the first iron hulled, steam powered, ocean going ship and it changed sea going for ever. Initially a luxury passenger liner for the North Atlantic, she was soon used as an Emigrant liner to the Australian gold rush. She also served as a troop ship, coal transporter and finally a coal and wool warehouse whilst beached in the Falklands. The enclosed picture shows our Rally Officers at the SS Great Britain site. In the afternoon we enjoyed a river boat cruise on the good ship “Bagheera” starting in the Bristol Floating Harbour and on into the River Avon.

The Cotswolds, famous for their picturesque villages, with none more than Lacock with its Abbey was our next arranged trip. In the hands of the National Trust the village with faithful restoration of medieval buildings, and the former Abbey was founded in the 1229 by the powerful Countess of Salisbury, Ella. A powerful woman and mother of a large family, she became a nun after the death of her husband in 1238 and later became Abbess in 1240. After the dissolution the Abbey passed into private hands and it was the Talbot family who passed it to the National Trust in 1944.

The rally officers influence over the weather waned and the English summer then descended upon us and after an excellent lunch in the Greyhound Bromham and a viewing of St Nicholas Church, Bromham, a 12th Century Norman Church, the rain somewhat curtailed for the viewing of the Caen Locks near Devizes which have a 16 continuous lock system to handle the 130 foot ground height difference at this location on the Avon and Kennet Canal. After this and despite the inclement conditions some hardy types walked the famous Avebury Stones whilst others partook of light refreshments and museum. 
The rally ended with a splendid farewell evening meal at The Kings Arms, Malmesbury and the following day vans/mobiles away by 11am, some destined for the delights of the Summer Rally at Stratford upon Avon.