QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Abingdon convoy accompanies ’B creator to his final resting place
We did well with the convoy. Had restrictions not been in place, we’d have had cars lining the 13-mile route.’
THE MGB REGISTER’S JOHN WATSON ON A CONVOY ORGANISED FOR DON HAYTER’S FUNERAL.
Don Hayter, the father of the MGB, was laid to rest on 28 October with a funeral cortège of 11 MGBs.
Different variants of the iconic Abingdon sports car accompanied him on a scenic 13mile drive through Oxfordshire all the way from his home to the funeral venue. This particular aspect of his memorial service was organised by John Watson of the MG Car Club’s MGB Register after careful consultation with Don’s family. The procession of cars featured two lead MGBs, an early roadster in Iris Blue and a later Citron-coloured GT, between them symbolising Don’s 20-plusyears working relationship with the MGB from start to finish.
John Watson, MGB Register chairman and organiser of the cortège, appealed to all online members to park their own ’Bs outside their houses as a mark of respect on the day of Don’s funeral and to then send their images to the Register.
John said: ‘ We had a really good response to the request for images – people sent pictures of their ’Bs from as far afield as New Zealand and Australia.
‘Given the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, we did well with the convoy; Don’s wife and his children were pleased. I think had restrictions not been in place, we’d have had cars lining the 13-mile route.’
] mgb-register.org