spring 2015 - Merlin Event

SPRING 2015
The 2015 year of Merlin tours is well underway with the first event having already
taken place. Not so much a tour but a social weekend attending the fabulous ‘Classical
Spectacular’ concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 21st March. Seventeen of us
attended and we were treated to the most amazing combination of music, lazers and indoor
fireworks.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Choral Society and the band of the Coldstream
Guards combined to perform the perfect ‘Classical Spectacular’.
Our next event is the
Dutch Bulbfields and
Bruges Tour in April.
12 cars and 24 people
will enjoy this trip which
takes in the world
famous Keukenhoff
Gardens with its
stunning display of
tulips. We also visit
the beautiful Het Loo
Palace at Apeldoorn and
in complete contrast
the Den Hartogh Ford
Museum which houses
the largest collection of Above : Het Loo Gardens Right : den Hartogh Ford Museum
American Fords in the
world. One of the world’s premier motor museums is the Louwman Museum in The Hague
which we also visit before returning into Belgium for two nights in the lovely city of Bruges.
Below : Keukenhoff Gardens
Entries are being received for our following two tours -
Spring Classic in North Wales
and Snowdonia
14th-18th May 2015
We meet up and spend our first night at the popular Metropole Hotel
at Llandrindod Wells before heading north into Snowdonia.
Here we take the Ffestiniog light railway to the Llechwedd Slate
Caverns and also spend time exploring the fantasy world of
Portmeirion. Further highlights are Caernarfon Castle and the
mountain railway to the summit of Snowdon.
Altogether a fabulous tour through breathtaking scenery and
staying in excellent hotels.
Caernarfon Castle
and the
Early Summer Classic
in East Devon
and West Somerset
19th-21st June 2015
East Devon and West Somerset provides us with classic motoring
through the most beautiful countryside. Visits include a hugely
impressive private car collection, the Pecorama Gardens at Beer
near Sidmouth, a barbecue at a Merlin supporter’s holiday complex,
a most enjoyable visit to historic Dunster Castle and finishing at
Hestercombe Gardens near Taunton.
ns
Hestercombe Garde
Full details and entry forms are now available for the
Summer Classic
in Hertfordshire
21st-23rd August
The Summer Classic tours Hertfordshire and neighbouring counties
with impressive visits to Hatfield House, the Shuttleworth
Collection of historic aircraft and cars at Old Warden Airfield
and Knebworth House.
Hatfield House
Autumn Classic
touring the Cotswolds
6th-8th November 2015
The golden stone of the Cotswolds region attracts us with
visits to the award winning Cotswold Motor Museum at
Bourton-on-the-Water, followed by the picture postcard
villages of Burford, Broadway and Chipping Campden.
We also visit the National Arboretum at Westonbirt - at this
time of the year the autumn colours will be fantastic whilst
the weekend tour finishes at magnificent Blenheim Palace.
Blenheim Palace
Christmas Cracker
4th-6th December
which is being held at the superb
Tortworth Court Hotel near
Wotton-under-Edge in
South Gloucestershire (near J14 of the M5).
During our weekend we visit nearby Chavanage House
where the current Poldark TV series was filmed.
The Saturday evening is our traditional Christmas dinner
with musical entertainment and a great party atmosphere.
Tortworth Court
Hotel
To replace the cancelled Corsica Tour I have organised a 6 day tour of Western Normandy. We have never
toured this region before having concentrated on the eastern half of Normandy. So September 17th - 22nd
will see us visiting the WW2 beaches and their museums, plus Bayeux and the famous Tapestry, the chateaux
at Vendeuvre, Balleroy and Pirou. We stay at the beautiful Chateau d’ Audrieu Hotel near Bayeux which is
ideally situated for touring this region,
Western
Normandy
The Beaches and Bayeux
17th - 22nd September 2015
For Vintage, Classics and Sportscars
Chateau Vendeuvre
Chateau d’Audrieu
Fort Pirou
With the full programme of Merlin tours for 2015 now published, I look forward to welcoming you during
the year. Please note the cut-off dates as hotels are strict in their holding of room allocations.
Have a safe and happy year of Merlin motoring.
Keith McGee
CLASSICS AT THE CASTLE
Sunday 19th July 2015
SHERBORNE CASTLE, DORSET
Merlin Events will once again be having a stand at this
major show.
You are invited to visit us (just in front of the castle) and
enjoy a little hospitality.
With much sadness I have to report the loss of three of our ‘Merliners’ in recent months
Per Benemar, Angela Pick, Karel Bellringer
Per passed away on 29th December
2014. In his younger days he was a
professional rally driver in his native
Sweden before moving to England and
gaining British citizenship. He was a
senior executive with Gillette before
retiring to enjoy his beloved cars Jaguar XK150, Jaguar E Type V12 and
Ferrari 328 GTS. Per and Barbara took
part in 50 Merlin tours. Our thoughts
and condolences are with Barbara.
Angela, together with husband David
took part in 15 Merlin tours with their
Jaguar E Type and Jaguar XK8. Sadly
Angela died on 23rd March after a
short illness. Always fully supportive
of David in their Bristol garage
business and particularly with the
Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, Angela will be
greatly missed. Our heartfelt sympathy
goes to David and the family.
For further details:
MERLIN EVENTS
38 Kenmore Drive, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 4BQ
E-mail: [email protected]
www.merlinevents.com
Our deepest sympathies go to Chris
Bellringer following the recent death
of Karel after a period of illness. Chris
and Karel participated in 44 Merlin
tours both in the UK and in Europe with
a variety of vintage and classic cars.