In glorious Spring sunshine 34 club members and guests enjoyed a two museum outing on the first 1020 coach trip of the year.
First stop was the excellent and well presented Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) Museum at RAF Lyneham which is home to a large collection of military vehicles, artefacts and memorabilia relating to the corps which was founded in 1942 and has served in every major theatre of operation since, including World War Two, Korea, Malaya, Northern Ireland, the Falklands and Afghanistan.
Vehicle displays include adapted tanks, heavy lifting equipment, communications units, snowmobiles, fire engines, tracked armoured carriers, all-terrain trucks and even a helicopter.
Subsidiary displays featured aspects of the work of the corps such as the various trades, its roll in re-establishing the Volkswagen marque and an armourer’s hall.
Most took the opportunity to have lunch in the former officers mess before returning to the coach for the short 15 minute drive to the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum at Calne which is home to over 100 cars, mostly British marques including several MGs.
The collection was assembled by Richard and Hasell Atwell who began with a 1937 Buick Albermarle (which is still in the museum) and then added to this a 1934 Vauxhall 14/6 and a 1931 Singer Junior.
Today’s collection, now run as a charity, is spread across several halls and includes a diverse collection of cars and motorcycles mostly typical family cars of their period rather than exotica.
The museum opened its recently enlarged catering facilities and was serving serving tea and biscuits before the coach departed for the return journey to Hamworthy Sports Club.
During the return journey a limited edition bottle of Taylors port which celebrates 325 years of the Royal Artillery and features an engraving of their logo was auctioned for the club charities and raised £25.