LagondaNet

[Keith]

Suggestion:

I read in Vantage magazine that on October 12th 1976, the work force at AM got to see a "completed" Lagonda for the very first time at the Bell Inn in Aston Clinton.

How about we try to arrange a meeting at the Bell on the weekend before or after the anniversary date of Wednesday 12th October 2016.

[Lagondanet]

Why not? Sounds like a good idea Keith. I don't recall though whether the embargo held or if the car actually functioned there.

[Keith]

Sorry, my mistake. The photo of the AM workers looking at the 1st completed Lagonda was taken at Tickford Street. I think it is safe to assume that the car was only "visually complete" but probably a non-runner

The first showing on October 12th at the Bell Inn was to the motoring press before the public debut of the car at the London Motor Fair later that month.

Still, might be nice to arrange something at the Bell for that date, even if it is only an excuse to meet up and have some lunch.

[Lagondanet]

I'm in Keith.

https://www.thebellastonclinton.co.uk/

[Lagondanet]

Checking it out tomorrow.

[Lagondanet]

http://www.innkeeperslodge.com/aylesbury-east-aston-clinton/#location

[Dimitri]

Count me in

[Lagondanet]

Nicole & I had a very nice lunch there yesterday. It's a pub, with rooms. Could be good for an anniversary reunion dinner & overnight stay. I'll make some more enquiries and report back later.

[Vrije]

[Lagondanet]

As Keith said, the first showing to the Press of the Lagonda was on October 12th at the Bell Inn in Aston Clinton before the public debut of the car at the London Motor Fair later that month.

2016 is the 4oth anniversary of that event. In recognition of the launch I propose a mini-meet at Aston Clinton. I have provisionally booked 11 rooms (ie. all of them) at the Bell for 2 nights from 14 October to 16 October 2016. It is suggested we visit Bletchley Park & the National Computer Museum on the Saturday. So far 6 rooms have been allocated. Please let me know if you are interested in coming. This will be a relaxed informal/social meeting. More info later. Let me know if you are interested in coming if you haven't already done so.

[Lagondanet]

Well, nine of us in four cars met at The Bell in Aston Clinton on Friday 15th October to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the launch of the V8 Lagonda to the press there on 12th October 1976.

I believe the launch actually took place at an adjacent pavilion which has since burnt down and been built over. If anyone has any pictures of the original event in 1976 I should like to see them.

We had dinner in a nearby Chinese restaurant. On Saturday we visited the museum at Bletchley Park (of Enigma/Turing fame) and also the separate National Museum of Computing both of which are very interesting. We had dinner at The Bell.

On Sunday we attempted in vain in torrential rain to find the AMOC cairn on the nearby Aston Hill. From there we made a pilgrimage to Works at Newport Pagnell, the birthplace of the Lagonda, where we took a few photographs in front of the new showroom courtesy of Paul Spires, their Commercial Director. There was considerable interest from passers-by. We met the daughter of someone who had painted the Lagondas who stopped whilst driving by. Clearly AML is in the DNA of Newport Pagnell and long may that continue.

We ended our weekend with lunch at the nearby Carrington Arms in Moulsoe.

Thank you everyone for coming!

Ps. I’ll post a few pictures soon.

[Lagondanet]

Keith's photos.