Norfolk and Norwich Rover Owners Club members, who are keeping the famous motoring name alive, celebrated the 40th anniversary of their annual rally at Bressingham.

Eastern Daily Press: The best club car was this 1958 P4 75. Picture: NNROCThe best club car was this 1958 P4 75. Picture: NNROC (Image: NNROC)

This year was Norfolk and Norwich Rover Owners Club's 40th All Rover Rally and marked another significant milestone following the club's 40th anniversary two years ago.

To mark the latest anniversary, the club celebrated in style with the usual display of cars plus musical entertainment throughout the day and an evening barbecue which is something the club used to do in the early days at the rally venue at Bressingham Gardens and Steam Experience, near Diss.

There was also a special display featuring a selection of photographs taken at past rallies going back to the early days. The display also included a section taking members and visitors back to 1977, the year of the club's first rally, with photos of the cars you could buy back then and details of what was happening in the world that year.

To accompany this, Adrian Bloom, the son of Bressingham Gardens and Steam Experience's creator Alan, entertained club members with stories of Bressingham in the 1970s and his recollection of the early rallies there. He also cut the celebration cake.

Eastern Daily Press: Car of the show - a 1970 NADA (North American Dollar Area) P6 3500S. Picture: NNROCCar of the show - a 1970 NADA (North American Dollar Area) P6 3500S. Picture: NNROC (Image: NNROC)

The excellent display of cars included one or two unusual examples. From the Rover stable a 1928 Weymann fabric-bodied Rover 10, a 1937 Speed 12 Tourer and a Sports 16, plus the only open-topped P6.

In total there were 101 cars on display, with a record number of 34 P4s, including a selection of low-wing models. These were joined by 18 P6s, slightly less than in the past but still with excellent examples of all the various models produced by Rover, including the superbly-restored NADA (North American Dollar Area) model. The P5s numbered 12 with the usual mix of saloons and coupes in either 3.0 or 3.5-litre V8 form. Red seems to be a popular colour for SD1s, with four in a row plus one gold and one blue.

It was good to see a more varied mix of modern Rovers joining us with three 75s, two 800 Series, a couple each of 400 and 200 Series, a 100 Ascot and a Range Rover.

A selection of non-Rovers added interest, with a number of really fine sports cars, including an MGA, an MGB, a Triumph Spartan special and a Morgan Plus 4.

Since its early beginnings, the Bressingham rally has developed a wide following and, in addition to the eastern counties, cars came from as far afield as Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Nottingham, Hereford, West Midlands, Middlesex and Kent.

Mark Gray, of MGBD P6 Parts and one of the club sponsors, chose the car of the show – a 1970 NADA P6 3500S owned by R Shaw. Tom Norman, a long-time supporter of the event, selected the best club car – an excellent 1958 P4 75 owned by Graham Teeson.

Club chairman Russell James said: 'We now see it as part of our job to keep the famous name alive along, I'm sure, with all the other Rover clubs, and hopefully Bressingham plays an important part in doing this. Thanks must therefore go to all those who brought their cars along for the day to help create such a splendid display.'

Details of next year's rally will appear on the club website at www.norfolkandnorwichroveroc.org.uk

Classic fun day fund-raiser

Norwich Classic Vehicle Club is holding and fun day and show on Sunday at Strumpshaw Steam Museum, east of Norwich, with at least 700 classic cars, bikes and commercial vehicles.

Lots of clubs from around East Anglia are turning up in force at the event and, with no pre-booking needed, car owners can just arrive on the day.

There will be an events arena with action and displays all day, including birds of prey from Wild Encounters, as well as live music from Frankie's Guys, Airmail and ABC.

There will also be craft stalls inside and outside the museum, autojumble stalls, and food and drink outlets. The museum will be open and the steam train running.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance will also have a stand with a raffle for a 1977 NVT Easyrider motorbike which needs some restoration.

Last but not least there will be hundreds of classic cars of all ages, types and nationalities

Proceeds from the show will be given to the neonatal intensive care unit at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with the club hopeful of hitting its target of raising £10,000 for an incubator this year.

Entry for classics is £2 for cars and all occupants. Public entry is £5, with children free, and admission to the steam museum is included. The show at Strumpshaw Steam Museum (postcode NR13 4HR) is from 10am to 4pm.

Website www.norwichclassicvehicleclub.co.uk