The Fellowship Secretary, has recently received greetings from a group in New Zealand known as The Fellowship of the Motor Industry, incorporating ‘Ye Ancient Motor Traders. Some of our more senior Fellows may remember that the Fellowship in the UK had a long association with this group in Auckland from their formation in 1943 up until about 2000 when for some unknown reason it lapsed.
At their recent AGM in Auckland it was agreed that an approach to the Fellowship in the UK should be made to see whether it might be possible to re-establish the relationship.
Their group in Auckland numbers around 35 and is growing all the time. They meet twice a year for a Ladies Lunch and a fairly social AGM lunchtime. Their objectives are much the same as our own providing fellowship for retired senior motor industry people. They retain no money, usually giving it away to local charities.
Attached is an extract from an information sheet providing some background. . They are the only motor industry ‘fellowship’ group in NZ and have deep roots into the beginnings of the motor industry in NZ in particular with old English car and truck brands.
Your committee has welcomed the idea of reinstating an informal contact with the view to inviting their members to attend any of our functions whilst in the UK and at the same time they have extended a reciprocal invitation for any of our members to make contact with them whilst in New Zealand.
The President / Secretary of the group is John Steele, whose e-mail address is jgsteele@xtra.co.nz should any Fellows wish to make contact.