Report from Steve Kirton



West Lancs. MG Owners Club held their AGM in January and as usual had its annual draw by the members to nominate four local charities for a £100 donation to a charity close to their heart.



Club member Ray Travis presenting a cheque to Emma Richardson, Southport Gymnastics Club - with possibly two of the next team GB?
Southport Gymnastics Club http://www.southport gymnastics.org.uk/



Treasurer David Grant-Wilkie with his MG-TC and the lifeboat behind presenting a cheque to Keith Porter Southport Offshore Rescue.
Southport Offshore Rescue Trust http://www.southport-lifeboat.org.uk...?current_id=80



Ben Dobson, one of our junior members presenting the cheque to Emma and Hayley at St Catherine's Hospice.
St Catherine's Hospice (Preston) https://www.stcatherines.co.uk/



And our last donation with our new Chairman, Ralph Greenhalgh, presenting a cheque to Martin Walsh from Blood Bikes North West, flanked on either side by Goldie, the MGF and Ralph's own 1946 MG-TC.
North West Blood Bikes (Lancs & Lakes) http://www.nwbb-lancs.org/

Here’s one of the thank you letters:

‘Dear members of the West Lancs MG Owners Club.
On behalf of Southport Gymnastics Club I would like to express our gratitude having received your kind donation to the club.

As you maybe aware the Club here in Ainsdale was taken over by a charity set up by parents of young gymnasts who train at the club after the club was threatened with closure whilst being run by the YMCA last year. We currently have in the region of 1200 members attending from all over the local area who take part in our classes each week.

All of members from our tiny 3 year olds in our preschool classes, the enthusiastic children who enjoy our recreational classes right up to our advanced gymnasts and elite gymnasts who train up to 15 hours at the club each week are thrilled that you chose us to donate to this year at your AGM.

Daniel Purvis and Frank Baines (both part of team GB ) also train under our head coach Jeff Brooks here and we are all very proud of them! Without donations and support from others this fabulous facility for Sefton and West Lancs would be lost and we are desperate to ensure this doesn't happen.

When we, as a charity, took over the club on September 1st 2016 we began fundraising to purchase the building from which we currently operate from which is still owned by YMCA.

Your kind donation will be added to our building fund in the hope we can finalise the purchase of our 'home' at the earliest opportunity and secure a healthy future for artistic gymnastics in this area!

With kindest regards and many Thanks from us all here at Southport Gymnastics Club!’

Claire Campbell, SGC Parents support group.

It’s letters like these that make our fundraising and donations truly worthwhile and although it is not a massive donation it gives WLMGOC club a great feeling of warmth and satisfaction that we are helping good causes in our local area with our fundraising and donations; as a well known supermarket says: "every little helps".

And if you like socialising and car runs while having a bit of fun with like-minded people and have a MG or classic car, you’d be most welcome to check us out or even join the WLMGOC. We meet every third Thursday at 8.00pm at Briars Hall, Lathom - have a look at our Facebook page (West Lancs MG Owners) or at our website www.westlancsmg.co.uk