Tour of Mathewsons Classic Car Auction and Museum

It was wonderful to have over 60 Fellows and guests attend this event, a record number outside our London and Midland lunches. Without doubt the opportunity to visit Mathewsons Classic Car Auction and Museum, was too much of a temptation for many fans of the Bangers and Cash TV programme made famous by the dedicated Mathewson family members and of course the lure of seeing over 600 lots that would be auctioned on the following two days.

Due to the distance many of us travelled, with the longest drive award going to Mike and Jane Foster who drove up from Cornwall, 29 of us stayed over the night before and had a most enjoyable informal dinner at the White Swan in Pickering. Much fun and laughter had, which set us up for the main event. In the morning the full Fellowship team met up at Balderstons Cafe in Thornton Le Dale for breakfast and coffees, where we where well looked after by the owner, Claire, and her team. We then received instructions for the sortee to the Mathewson Museum, just up the road, from our own man on the ground Bob Batty. Thanks to Bob’s relationship with the family we were greeted by both Derek and Dave Mathewson who were so generous with their time and gave us a great overview of how Mathewson Classic Car Auctions came into being. After viewing some wonderful cars and vans, and one or two of us buying souvenirs in the shop, we returned to our cars for the short trip to the main auction facilities back in Pickering.

We had plenty of time to view the many lots all crammed into what is a very large building, and where the auction is carried out – with the well known back drop of the stage which was very familiar to fans of Bangers and Cash. We then gathered around the stage where Derek, Dave, and Paul, along with members of the TV production team explained their plans for the future, along with a number of funny anecdotes. They all clearly love their jobs and living the dream! They were happy to take questions and again we were all so grateful that they gave us so much of their valuable time, especially on a very hectic day before an auction. I was pleased to give a vote of thanks to the Mathewson’s, the TV crew, and indeed to the Fellows for making this such an enjoyable event. I had previously sort permission from the committee to offer a £250 donation of the Mathewson’s family choice in appreciation of making it such a very special day. The chosen charity by Derek, Dave, and Paul was Martin House Children’s Hospice.

Due to a strict non disclosure agreement I cannot possibly say who amongst us may, or may not, have made arrangements to bid on cars on the following day, doing so could put several relationships at risk!!

On leaving the auction facilities some fellows and guests quite understandably chose to start on their long journeys home, with 30 of us going back to the White Swan for a quick one course lunch and continued to enjoy each others company.

I would again like to personally thank my good pal Bob Batty for making this event possible, and for his local guidance on the day. (I will be writing to the Mathewsons on behalf of the Fellowship to thank them.) Finally my thanks to all of the attendees, you made it all so worthwhile and enjoyable. One thing we intend to do is find other interesting events “Up North” as we have many members in the North of England.

Plenty of photographs in the gallery below, mainly thanks to our happy snapper Nigel Barfoot.

Peter Cottle

Vice Chair