TOC 90th ANNIVERSARY TOUR BEACONSFIELD TO ASTON CLINTON 23rd Jun 2024

Arriving in Beaconsfield early on the Sunday morning, a place usually noted for being one of the most beautiful and idyllic market towns outside London, to be greeted by anti-establishment protestors came as a surprise. However, this was Beaconsfield, the protestors were actually most civilised, not averse to vintage cars, and when the appointed time came, packed away their placards, wished us well for our 90th Anniversary Talbot tour and quietly departed. An intriguing start to a great day. 

Almost exactly 90 years to the day, Talbots again gathered outside the Royal Saracens Head hotel, as they had done in 1934, for the inaugural Talbot Owners Club rally. The display of Talbots created great interest with both local residents and visitors to Beaconsfield. In total seven Talbots: Ian & Pam Polson (AV105 Brooklands), David Thomson (AW75 Grose Bodied Tourer), Nigel & Sally Woof (AO75/90 Team Car Replica), Glyn Lloyd & David Roxburgh (AX65 VdP Alpine Tourer - kindly loaned by Neil Lucas), Trevor & Christina Andrews (AG14/45 Coupe Cabriolet), Harry Sear & Paul Harold (AD14/45 Tourer), Howard Day (AM90 Deluxe Tourer).  Also participating:  Quentin & Susie Chases (Bentley 3 Litre Tourer) and Gordon Matthews (Alvis Saloon).        

Following a pleasant and leisurely lunch at the Royal Saracens Head, TOC 90th Anniversary mugs were ‘awarded’ to all participants.  With route maps and notes issued, the cars set off in clear sunshine across the Chiltern Hills for Aston Clinton, where possible following the route of the 1934 rally.  

Narrow single track roads, often with steep inclines from Marlow on Thames to Lewknor were challenging, requiring patience and care.  However the reward after the long steep climb from Stonor Park (one of the ‘observed’ hills on the 1934 tour) was coming out on top of the Chiltern Hills at Maidensgrove & Russell’s Water Common (unfenced common land) – a historic area of open grassland unchanged since the 1934 tour and an ideal location to photograph the cars.

Dropping down the escarpment at Stokenchurch, the route followed the base of the Chiltern Hills to Princes Risborough.  Here Kop Hill (the location of a timed ‘special regularity’ test in 1934) was climbed only to immediately drop down Whiteleaf Hill (location of ‘braking’ tests in 1934).  The final section again followed the base of the Chilterns, passing through the HS2 works on the outskirts of Wendover to Aston Clinton for welcome refreshments at the Bell Inn.

A great day out, beautiful countryside and excellent company.  Busy, challenging roads and steep hills all easily handled by ‘The Invincible Talbots’, just as they had been 90 years ago.   

Howard Day