The Historic Volkswagen Club has been asked to support a small, new show being organised by The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in memory of Major Ivan Hirst, who died ten years ago. The show is to be held on Sunday 26th September 2010 at the REME Museum, Isaac Newton Road, Aborfield, NR Reading, Berkshire and will take the form of a gathering of early beetles and their owners/passengers/families and the official unveiling of a new exhibition dedicated to the memory of Ivan Hirst.
Full details are yet to be announced but flyers promoting the meeting will be available from The Historic VW Club display plot at Peppercorn this coming weekend.
For the moment its simply a matter of spreading the word and putting Sunday 26th September in your diaries. The aim is to attract as many early Beetles, Kubelwagens and Schwimmwagens as possible to the Museum on that day to help celebrate the life of Major Ivan Hirst.

Thanks.

I will be there, been meaning to pop down for a while now. I assume JLT 420 still resides there?

:beer:

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Yes JLT 420 is there and will be playing an active role on the day.

So - Here are the details so far...

Date - Sept 26th 2010,

Location:
REME Museum of Technology,
Isaac Newton Road,
Arborfield,
Berkshire
RG2 9NJ

https://reallysimplesites.co.uk 

I'll post a little more soon - as I seem to be organising this show...

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Indeed Gertie JLT420 is still at the museum but there is another star car there too -



The Maj. Hirst (REME) Beetle will be onshow in it's own display for the first time more images   on the site.

If you are bringing an early VW please register it on the site  to make sure we display it in the best possible place -

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I forgot to mention that REME have posted some more preview photos on Flickr.com  Well worth a look.

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The show at the REME Museum is being organised a little later than we’d hoped. The launch was meant to be much earlier in the year but Volcanic ash, Builders schedules and many other small hiccups threw spanners into the works…

Then I, as an old friend of Ivan Hirst’s was asked by Judy Booth the museum’s senior curator to help spread the word and ask a few like minded individuals hence https://reallysimplesites.co.uk  .

We would really appreciate it if – due to the aims of the event and the short time before the event – you could please register your interest and any vintage VW you’ll be bringing, we’d like to organise displays if we can… and that is all done on the site.

Many thanks

Tim

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Really looking forwards to this ! Cant wait 😛

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Just added a three part video of Maj Hirst to the site - well worth a watch https://reallysimplesites.co.uk/video 

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In the last 48 hours I have had a number of phone calls and emails about the show, its format and its layout. There as been a lot of desire expressed for a stock VW show. By this I mean a show featuring original – as they left the factory Volkswagens as opposed to what one correspondent called the ‘Seaside special’ VW show format - defined as shows where the stereos were louder than the engines.

Our intention from day one of this event has been to honour a man many of us were proud to call our friend, Maj. Ivan Hirst (REME). Since becoming involved in this event I have been touched by the high esteem and affection in which he is still held to this day, by his comrades in the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, his friends at Volkswagen AG as well as by the Volkswagen enthusiast’s community at large.

The mere mention of my friend Ivan’s name has opened so many doors for this event and put a smile on so many faces I feel it is only right that we as a community organise a show he would have recognised.

My personal feelings mirror many of the comments I have read and heard over the last few days – I feel that the right show to host is perhaps better described as a display. A gathering of many of the Volkswagens Ivan would have known and recognised. Pre-67, six volt air-cooled VW’s, and then with a generous splash of 25 and 30 bhp motors thrown in.

Your opinions please…

Tim – Organiser of the Ivan Hirst (REME) show.

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just registered for this....im the only modfied so far :oops:

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I'll be there as it's just up the road. :d

Looking forwrd to seeing you - 30+ pre registered cars and growing! To help us organise the best possible show at short notice, please if you are comming Pre-Register  so we can get the display right!

Many thanks

Tim

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I agree with those sentiments completely, Tim.

However, you might want to think about changing some of the banner pictures as they show the usual ridiculously lowered and knackered Beetles so beloved of 'Dubber' fashion victims!

Ill be ther but i dont think my 51's going to make it

"However, you might want to think about changing some of the banner pictures as they show the usual ridiculously lowered and knackered Beetles so beloved of 'Dubber' fashion victims!"

Quite right!

The photos went on to the site before we did almost anything else. as soon as i have an hour all clear out the dross.

Many thanks

Tim

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So, all is going well with the show - there are now 50+ VW's registered for the show including two swimming Schwimmers including one that I don't think has been seen on the UK VW scene before. Plus it looks like it was built by the British Army (REME) under Hirst's command.

BUT...

I would love to find two models for the show, both of which i have seen in the UK shows before.

Firstly I would like to see a Hebmuller Roadster - mainly as it is closely allied to the Radclyffe Roadster.

The second is i think again a Hebmuller four door Police car.

Any help in getting these and any other stock pre 67 Volkswagens registered for the show would be appriciated.

Tim

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Oooh, just found out about this!

I'm going to be stuck in Sandhurst on a training weekend until 13.00, but will be bringing my 53' along to the meet.

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:d - just had confirmation of several Special Guests who are comming for the official opening of the exhibit and the show - can't give names just yet but these people don't normally come to Volkswagen enthusiasts meets.

The REME Officers mess have inited both Ivan Hirst's family and a couple of bigwigs from VW too. Oh I am so looking forward to this do now.

To think when we started to plan this event the expectation muttered by one person who shal remain nameless was "12 VW anoracks in a field kicking tyres."

I'd like to express my thanks the the Pre67VW.com community for their help in getting this show off the ground.

Tim Jennings
Event Organisor (in charge of praying for a sunny day on the 26th)

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:arrow: The Ivan Hirst Volkswagen Meeting

You’re Invited!

Firstly let me thank you for registering for the Maj Ivan Hirst Volkswagen meeting at the REME Museum of Technology on September 26th 2010. Please take two minutes to read this, it will help you have a better start to your day.

Parking:
On the day of the show the Display car park for the Ivan Hirst Memorial Volkswagen Meeting will open at 8am for the early birds. – (remember the show doesn’t open till 11am) I have had a word with the Café at the museum and they’ll be opening up as early as possible for coffee’s and the like. The display area is to the right side of the museum, 100m beyond the main entrance – it will be sign posted.

I am pleased to say that there are volunteers from the Historic VW club to help organise the display parking.

Entry Charge:
On the morning of the show you’ll be asked to purchase a wristband from the Museum Shop – the prices below are the same as the museums and will give you entry into both the show, the Museum and the Family friendly activities around the show. Wristbands will be expected for all visitors.
Adults £5
Children £4
Family £15 - Family Ticket for 2 Adults and up to 3 Children.
The same fee applies to all participants both those displaying cars and those visiting us for the day.

Opening times:
Display Parking – Opens at 8am (gates close at 10.45am sharp and reopen at 3.30pm)
VW Parking – Opens at 9am
Secondary Parking - Opens at 9am
Main Display - Opens 11am
Museum – Opens 11am (TBC)
Family activities – Previewed for 11am (TBC)

Press:
There are a few members of the working press at the show, including at least one film crew, as always the press may be looking for people to talk to…

Refreshments:
The Museum Café is opening early for us on the morning, and later on we have a Hog Roast and other catering coming along.

Facilities:
There are toilets, baby change and all the usual amenities on hand. We’ll have First Aid and a meeting point tent for meeting up with the missing member of the family. If you need to find me or the other organisers we’ll be here.

Family Friendly Activities:
REME and the British Army are laying on family activities i.e. their famous Jr. assault course – trust me it is a must for the children. – BUT it is an outdoor activity and therefore weather dependant. The Museum also has many family activities available throughout the buildings around the site.

Directions to the event:
https://reallysimplesites.co.uk/map  ] and as usual the immediate area will be signed as always. For those with SAT-Navs point them at “RG2 9NJ’ otherwise look for Arborfield on the map and well sign post it from there.

I am also assured around that REME will be posting soldiers to direct the traffic and give directions as needed.

[-x Friendly notices:
The Arborfield Garrison is as the name subjects a GARRISON – i.e. a working Army base. As such it is Policed by the M.O.D. Police. The Garrison commander informs me that they will take a very dim view of illegal parking etc. Please use the parking lots provided.

Also the area immediately around the show is Army families accommodation we would please respect these families and their privacy. – I know I am preaching to the choir here but it needs to be said.

As always if you have any comments, questions or thoughts, please drop me a line at [email protected]

Many thanks

Tim Jennings
Event Organiser.
https://reallysimplesites.co.uk 

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