NGMW Newsletter Spring 09 - The Northern Group of Motoring Writers

N
Autumn 2009
News
From the Northern Group of Motoring Writers
Northern
Test Day
back again
for 2010
Those were the
days my friends
WHAT do you remember
about 21 years ago?
Certainly, these four
members of the Northern
Group would be hard
pushed to recall the finer
details of what happened on
this model launch in
Morocco all those years ago.
Taking time out with one of
the locals were (left to right)
Bryan Longworth, Don
Booker, Peter Myerscough
and Alan Domville who look
to be planning a
rickshaw ride!
This sentimental old picture
has been chosen to highlight
a new News
feature looking
back at old
times for us
motoring hacks
to which we
are inviting
members,
including those
in this
photograph, to
contribute.
Turn to Page
Five and make
a start.
THE Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders is
to stick with the concept of a
test day for the North to go
hand-in-hand with the long
established event at
Millbrook.
The good news means that a
second driving day will most
definitely be staged at Wetherby
in the heart of Yorkshire, possibly
in September or October, a
little later than this year’s inaugural
session to avoid the holiday
season which it is thought
affected the attendance figures.
The decision to repeat the
special event so that Northern
motoring journos can drive the
very latest models and help out
Exclusive report
many in the industry
beleaguered by a lack of test
cars for more usual individual
bookings was revealed
exclusively to us by Janet
Wilkinson, Communications
Manager for the SMMT,
following a high level meeting
with other leading members of
the motor industry.
She reports: “There was a lot of
discussion about this new
initiative which we organised to
help the PRs who haven’t been
able to hold regional launches or
supply press cars to regional
media this year as well as help
regional journalists who don’t
normally attend Millbrook to
By Bernard Gent, Editor
have access to those cars.
She added: “It was felt the venue
at Wetherby Racecourse, the
access, the road routes and the
organisation were good but
everyone’s principal concern
was the low journalist turnout.”
Janet confirmed they had sent
out around 200 invitations
having aimed the event at what
she called “a wide geographical
group of people” but only 35
attended. A number of late
cancellations added to the low
and disappointing attendance.
She agreed that holding the
event in the holiday season –
August – could have been a
contributory factor.But there was
a perception among the industry
that some who declined the
invitation did so because, if they
had attended and driven certain
cars, they may have been refused
a longer test car booking.
This, she didn’t believe, was the
reality but the reduced number
of test cars available to
individuals was likely to remain
in the coming year.
She adds: “We all have to look
at different ways to ensure
journalists have access to cars
and it is felt that the event at
Wetherby was worth repeating in
2010”.
The next move is with the
SMMT’s public affairs
committee but a date next year
in September – to avoid the
holiday season – is under
discussion. The Northern Group,
at a recent meeting, said they
favoured October even more so
than September.
More on Page 2
Ready for the off: test cars line up at Wetherby Racecourse
Farewell David
NORTHERN Group member David
Pauline died after a short but
excruciating illness on October 17.
David suffered a heart attack in June and
shortly afterwards he was diagnosed with
an inoperable cancer. In August he was
given a year to live but that expectation
was almost immediately shortened to
Christmas and from then on his
conditioned deteriorated rapidly.
A Tribute to David: Page 10

News from the Northern Group of Motoring Writers Autumn 2009
It’s just great up North
PRs love it so
much, they
raced up to
Wetherby in
their own cars
WITH 27 press offices giving
support and with more than 60 PR’s
and 57 cars in attendance, the lineup
at the inugural Test Day North
during the last week in August was
impressive with the only major
absentees being Audi and Mazda.
There wasn’t a car transporter in sight as
PR’s drove the models themselves from
their respective bases to save money and
that included two ‘rollers’ which many
journos can’t get their hands on for their
normal test rotas.
Volvo brought the Irish and Scots to stay
overnight at nearby Wood Hall so it was
all the more disappointing that altogether
only 35 of us hacks turned out, including
ten from our own Northern Group.
Nevertheless some were on holiday and
others just couldn’t be spared from their
other work at their respective
newspapers.
Overall it was considered a very useful
day – and the SMMT are to be
commended for deciding to repeat it
next year
- The Editor.
Fastest tracker
gets Syd’s trophy
THE commemorative trophy commissioned in
memory of Sydney Burton, the Group’s oldest
member when he died last year, was presented to its
first winner during the British Automobile Racing
Club’s final race meeting of the season in Yorkshire
in August.
The NGMW Memorial Trophy – a piston from a Ford
Cosworth fashioned by Sydney’s nephew, Victor Hawkins
- was presented by John Burton, Sydney’s son, to Richard
Spedding, who recorded the fastest time of the day.
Spedding was behind the wheel of a single seater
racing car at the famous hill climb track at Harewood,
near Leeds.
The conditions for racing on the day were testing – more
suited to ducks than high powered racing cars, reported
John Burton, pictured right, handing over the award to the
winner.
Meanwhile Paul and
VW beat cuts to
stage Skipton event
DESPITE the restrictions imposed by the
recession, Paul Buckett and his energetic
team at Volkswagen came North for the
annual driving day for Northern Group
members although the social event which
in previous years has followed became a
casualty of the financial cutbacks.
Nevertheless an excellent day’s driving
based at the Devonshire Arms Country
House Hotel at Bolton Abbey, near
Skipton, was greatly enjoyed by those
members who were able to attend. Non
group members also gave support to the
event.
PR staff get down to business at Test Day North
(top) and, above, Wetherby Racecourse, venue for
the SMMT’s Northern test day.
News
The News is produced quarterly
by the Northern Group of
Motoring Writers
Editor & Chief Writer:
Bernard Gent
Design and Layout:
David Whinyates
Principal Contributor:
Alan Domville
Photography:
Bernard Gent & Alan Domville
Please send contributions to The
Editor at b.gent@ntlworld.com
or by post to 24, Silverdale,
Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough.
TS7 0RF.
Page Two

News from the Northern Group of Motoring Writers Autumn 2009
Exclusive? You bet!
I was the only
Motoring With
Maurice
By Maurice Glover, Vice-Chairman NGMW
journo who bothered to turn up!
A PLAN to conserve limited public
relations resources took a
spectacular turn for the worse when
a car firm’s roadshow tour arrived
in rural Shropshire this summer.
‘
I couldn’t help
wondering how
beancounters
at the company
might balance
the cost of the
exercise...
‘
THE presentation of our
traditional Miner’s Lamp to
Ford as winners of the
Northern Car-of-the-Year
Award produced an excellent
national profile for the Group.
Newspress sent out Ford’s press
release trumpeting the success.
Headed “Friends in the North” it
read: “Ford Fiesta is turning heads
in England’s highest latitudes with
the car named “Northern Car of
the Year, 2009” by the Northern
Group of Motoring Writers.
The release went on to say:
“Fiesta’s no-compromise package
of style, large-car features, driver
appeal and class leading
It also proved to
be a surreal
experience for me
– as well as
resulting in a
surprise lunchtime
treat for Myra.
By any yardstick,
efforts to make the
latest Ford models
available to the
media for brief
testing were a
disaster.
Ford trumpets Group award
Half a dozen of the company’s finest glistened
in the morning sunshine bathing the inn at a
picturesque hamlet alongside the main A49
heading out from Shrewsbury into North Wales.
But after three last minute cancellations and two
no-shows, I was left as the sole journalist in
attendance.
Embarassing? You bet. Obviously outnumbered
by a five-strong team of PR staff and drivers, I
felt ill at ease.
After years of seeking exclusives, this wasn’t
quite the situation I’d bargained for.
Clearly out to make the best of an
uncomfortable situation, one of Ford’s PR staff
suggested my test route might include returning
home – about 20 miles away - to collect my
wife for lunch.
I accepted the offer and we had a superb meal
with the very people who less than 12 months
earlier had worked wonders to get me back
practicality and ownership costs
saw it surge ahead of all
competitors to return the title to
Ford after Mondeo in 2007.
Northern Group chairman, Mike
Torpey, said: ‘The new Fiesta is a
real head-turner and a great drive
but even more than that, it gives
good honest value for money. It’s a
winner in every way.
The release went on: “The
Northern Car of the Year Award is
voted for by members of the
Northern Group of Motoring
Writers who selected the winner
from 23 nominated entries. The
award is Fiesta’s 10th accolade
across Europe since its launch in
September 2008.”
from the Fiesta launch in Italy in the wake of
the bombshell news of Myra’s heart attack.
Then I had the rest of the day to take the pick of
the car line-up. I did the job I’d been sent to do
and had a marvellous time enjoying the rest of
the range – but I couldn’t help wondering how
beancounters at the company might balance the
cost of the exercise against the magazine piece I
did on the latest version of the Mondeo
Econetic.
Much as I dislike the road show concept – it’s a
fifth-rate alternative to living with a car for a
week, after all – circumstances dictate that we
make the best of it and demonstrate good faith
by attending where possible and attempting to
get meaningful copy from them.
That way we’ll help prevent unnecessary
expenditure and maybe even make a
contribution to reducing the time we have to
wait before normal service is resumed from the
press offices.
Vice-chairman
Maurice Glover
handed over the
Group’s Car-of-the-
Year Award during the
SMMT’s Test Day
North at Wetherby
Racecourse in the
absence of the usual
venue, the annual
dinner weekend. Tim
Holmes, the
company’s Executive
Director for
Communications and
Public Affairs
renewed many old
acquaintances as he
accepted the
traditional Miner’s
Lamp award and held
the champagne in a
victory salute.
Pictured far left with
Maurice and Tim are
some of the Group
members who
attended the event
and supported the
hand-over. From the
left are Alan Domville,
Bernard Gent. Derrick
Grocock, Tom Sharp
and Val Jessop.
Page Three

News from the Northern Group of Motoring Writers Autumn 2009
Frederic’s a winner
THE Northern Group has The award scheme has been sponsored
scored another ‘first’ with the by headlineauto, the relatively new
but highly respected provider of
winner of a new media award
motoring news to the newspaper
being named as former
industry who recruited PR’s from a
chairman Frederic Manby, now wide range of companies to judge it.
working as a freelance but still Frederic was nominated for the
among the Leeds-based
Regional Journalist of the Year award
Yorkshire Post’s top writers. along with Carmel Stewart, who is the
Group’s new website editor, Chris
Known for his often blunt approach
Russon, who now runs the Driving
but praised for his honest to goodness
Force freelance agency, and the Scots
articles, he has just completed 40
Stephen Park and David Morgan.
years with the newspaper, the last 30
as its motoring man.
Frederic was first indentured into
Adrian Taylor.
THE new unprotected website for
the Northern Group, ngmw.co.uk,
continues to thrive thanks to the
efforts of Carmel Stewart.
The site, sponsored by Renault,
currently features Carmel’s
experiences when she changed her
old banger for a new car under the
Government’s scrappage scheme
while there’s also another article
from our Aussie based former
member, Adrian Taylor who
describes the ever-present dangers
in Queensland from snakes (12 of
the world’s deadliest 14 live there!),
journalism on the Craven Herald and
Pioneer in Skipton and gained his
NUJ diploma in Sheffield.
He took over from the celebrated
Sydney Burton at the Post where he
also became one of the paper’s top
feature writers. His decision to
become a freelance earlier this year
came with a contract to continue
motoring and weekend supplement
features.
His motoring features are also being
used in Scotland on Sunday and the
Sheffield Star.
Ade weaves on Group web
sharks, crocodiles and even magpies.
To Alan Domville’s delight Adrian,
who will be back in the UK for three
weeks from December 17, also
reports that his son is now playing
rugby.
The site also features members who
have been happy to provide
personal details and there’s a
definitive history of the Group
penned by Keith Ward and well
worth reading.
A second group website, the
protected version, continues to be
serviced by Newspress.
Page Four
In Brief
John
moves
back
onto two
wheels
ONE-time Yorkshire based
member, John Carroll, a
former Land Rover and 4 x 4
magazine writer, has returned
to his love for motor-cycles by
moving both his job and his
residence to Lincolnshire.
John has become staff
motoring editor for Classic
Motorcycle Mechanics and
Motorcycle Monthly based in
Horncastle with the Mortons
Media Group.
His new contact numbers are
01507 529461 (office), 07798
808475 (home) and 07834
049696 (mobile) with his e-
mail addresses as
jcarroll@mortons.co.uk and
ferricoxide@hotmail.com
John was previously with the
Kelsey Publishing Group in
Kent and lived near
Huddersfield.
Julie’s
grand ride
for nurse’s
charity
THE biking hobby of Julie
Marshall, our member for
Wakefield, has raised £1,130
for the Macmillan Cancer
Support nurses in South
Yorkshire.
Julie with her daughter,
Rachel, riding pillion, took her
motor-bike with 100 other
women on what is known as
the Breast Way Round Run, in
Scotland.
She was sponsored by the
Group and many of its
members. Altogether £37,129
was collected, over £11,000
more than in last year’s
inaugural run.

News from the Northern Group of Motoring Writers Autumn 2009
Fings
ain’t
what
they
usedapple
toapplebe!
Bernard Gent - that’s him on the left sharing a silly hat
moment with Alan Domville in Sweden in 1984 - recalls...
The good old
CAN you remember the good old days
when an early morning sing-song around
the hotel piano was almost a tradition
and when 'April-fool' type jokes were
played on journos and PR's alike?
Sadly it's not like that any more. The breathalyser
has killed off the 'party nights' atmosphere - some
still call them momentous p***-ups - and, even
before the current recession, there wasn't the same
amount of cash in PR budgets to spend on more
than just the chosen few.
I remember well the classic send-ups of a top PR
man who is still affectionately remembered,
especially by Northern Group members for
producing a nude model supposedly recovering
from a nervous breakdown to give an eye-opening
display around the pool at a posh chateau.
The same clever mischief maker had us testing
wine which was pure cheap vinegar and, with
another group, had them rolling up their trousers
to step into a sloppy solution of godknowswhat as
an antidote to foot and mouth which was non
existent at the time.
I can recall wonderful trips to the States where, on
some occasions, our partners joined us and, only
as a motoring scribe could you have flown on
Concorde on its maiden flight to Germany.
days
I still have the plaque, signed by the chief pilot -
the date: 17 August 1983, flying supersonically
from London to Munich.
I remember a massive temporary stand had been
erected along one side of the runway in which
thousands were seated to see us land and there
was a typical German oompah band and the best
bubbly to welcome us. That particular trip was for
the international launch of a new VW Golf.
Just about everyone - if not everyone - in those
halcyon days of motoring journalism was taken on
trips to Japan (there have been trips to other
countries including South Africa, South Korea and
Top of page: Keith Ward
(standing), Roger Stansfield,
Peter Myerscough, Geoff
Rumney and Val Jessop are
among those posing for a
multi-Group photograph in
Sardinia on a Ford trip. Can
you date it?
Left: What a
talented line-up –
From left: Messrs
Smith, Gent,
Whinyates,
Stansfield, Orme
and Kitson
playing cowboys
on a Toyota
launch in Spain
which included a
visit to a film-set
where the Good,
the Bad and the
Ugly was shot.
Below: Don
Booker is pictured
among this group of
national and
regional writers on a
Press trip to Japan.
Mitsubishi were the
hosts – and the
engaging Denise
Baldwin is there to
prove it. Do you
know the year?
India in even more recent times) and they often
finished with a return ticket via somewhere exotic
like Hawaii with the chance to relax on the
famous Wakiki Beach or make a once-in-a-lifetime
visit to Pearl Harbour, scene of the wartime
kamikaze attacks.
Across the Pacific we crossed the date line -
another rare experience for a humble journo -
because it meant that, in terms of the day and the
time, we arrived in Honolulu before we set off
from Osaka!
What memories - and they're just a few of mine.
Have YOU got others to recall?
Willappleyouapplehelpapple
recallappleoldappletimes?
Northern Group members are
invited to contribute to this new
feature which will run in
forthcoming editions of this
newsletter with reminiscences of
years gone-by – and photographs
to back up the story lines.
Page Five

News from the Northern Group of Motoring Writers Autumn 2009
Andrew’s
back in
the driving
seat at
Peugeot
A FAMILIAR face is back at
the helm of Peugeot’s public
relations. Andrew Didlick,
who moved to a marketing role
only last year, has returned to
the PR fold and taken on the
new position of Director of
Communications.
Andy Sutton who had succeeded
Andrew in the PR department has
now taken over the group’s
commercial and technical training
operation.
BMW has appointed Wieland Bruch
as their new product communications
manager and he’ll be responsible for
the MINI marque as well, replacing
Mark Harrison who moved to
Laura King -
bouncing back
to the Hyundai
PR department
Around
the motor
industry
with Alan Domville
McLaren Automotive. Weiland was
formerly part of the company’s press
and public relations team in Munich
where he recently took part in the
international launch of the 5 Series
Gran Turismo.
Janis Prescott has returned to MINI
as media relations manager following
her maternity leave but Dan Connell
has left the company after three years
and joined Harrison at McLaren. He
has become a press officer with a
global brief.
Gina Barnes, who became Mrs Finn
during the summer, has been
promoted to media events manager,
taking on responsibility for all BMW
and MINI media launches.
Gina’s new email address is
gina.finn@BMW.co.uk
A whole raft of changes have been
made in the Jaguar Land Rover press
office with Jonathan Griffiths
appointed as Head of media relations
to lead a team which includes Nick
O’Donnell, PR manager for Jaguar
and Natasha Waddington, PR
manager for Land Rover.
Lucy Reynolds has also joined the
Gaydon-based team with the title of
PR manager Jaguar Land Rover and is
handling Land Rover corporate
communications.
Paul Chadderton has been
Andrew Didlick:
back in charge of
PR at Peugeot
appointed Corporate PR Director for
Jaguar Land Rover while Ken
McConomy takes over Paul’s role as
the new Jaguar PR Director.
Fiona Pargeter, who has moved from
Ford, has become Land Rover’s PR
director.
Simon Warr continues as director of
communications with Jaguar Land
Rover with overall communications
responsibility.
PR manager Trina Brindley has left
the International Motors Group – she
was sadly made redundant as another
casualty of the recession.
She followed Jean Kelly, Seat’s
Media Relations Manager at the time,
in joining the unemployed – a
devastating result for anyone so loyal
to the cause.
Meanwhile, Laura King is back in
the Hyundai press office after
completing her final year at
Bournemouth University with Rosie
Hawkins having returned to the
University of Gloucestershire. Laura
graduated with a BA honours degree
in events management.
Seat’s new fleet and business sales
manager is Sally Livingstone,
formerly Audi UK’s key account
manager. Emmie Gynn, who used to
be with Seat, has been appointed
event manager with Wyndham Leigh.
In Brief
George
puts the
boots in
GEORGE Ameyaw,
team administrator in
the Ford press office, has
helped to collect more
than 100 pairs of football
boots as membership
co-ordinator to the Ford
African Ancestry
Network.
The aim is to provide
two million pairs for disadvantaged
children ahead of next
year’s soccer World Cup
in South Africa.
Anne’s a
wedding belle
KIA press officer, Anne
Almeida has been back
to South Africa - to get
married. Anne, who is
also responsible for
booking out test cars,
took a fortnight's
holiday - the first week
to prepare for her big
day and the other for a
brief honeymoon.
Doctor Who?
HEATHER Yaxley,
general secretary of
MIPAA, has just
submitted her
doctorate application to
Bournemouth
University to research
career strategies in
public relations.
Sunshine Andy
SURREY-based Andy
Francis of Performance
PR has just completed
the London Parks
Marathon to raise funds
for the Rays of Sunshine
Children’s Charity.
Well done Jon
JON Walsh, one of the
senior press officers at
Kia, has successfully
studied for the much
sought-after Foundation
award of the Chartered
Institute of Public
Relations.
Page Six

News from the Northern Group of Motoring Writers Autumn 2009
Remember John?
The Editor’s Postbag
THE Editor’s postbag
has bulged
since the
introduction of this
e-newsletter and
among our latest
contributors is a
voice from the past
– the fun loving
John Weinthal,
former PR chief with
the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and
Traders.
Now an Aussie pensioner based
in Malaysia, he left London in
1984 to spend five years doing
PR for Toyota and others who
were clients of the company in
Sydney he had joined before
freelancing on his own in PR.
He also wrote with his journo
wife, Raye, under the name
Words from Weinthal while
producing a weekly road test
for radio.
In 1997 he became Motoring
Writer-of-the-Year for
Queensland. Five years ago he
left Oz for Kuala Lumpur (a
great city, he says) where he is
motoring editor for the magazine
Indulgence and where he
offers a welcome to old group
friends who might be passing
through!
Gleetings from Kuara Rumple
Milord Gent,
One K. Read ex-oventry/MIRA
etc passed on the excellent new
Newsletter. What a blast!
Good to see you are such a long
lasting lot up norf; and so many
friends still at the coalface too ...
One or two might remember
Janet Wilkinson's ex-assistant
Wein Jonthal, now a five year
resident of Malaysia's capital; a
hot scene for sure but
economically most viable for an
Aussie pensioner.
GAWD - 1973 we first crossed
swords, specially with that
bloody leftie Ward. So many
good memories from Northern
Group annual dos to Mintex Test
Days and more.
Hi to anyone who might care.
In the spirit of things I am
forwarding the Newsletter to
David Hardcastle at Chiang Mai
in Thailand, although he
probably already gets it. We
have not met out this way yet but
swap news and funnies almost
daily by this modern world
shrinking medium.
Life is good! Do please heed
David Pauline's excellent advice
- get help fast when anything
seems awry!.
- John Weinthal
Top: John pictured in
Kuala Lumpur with his
daughter Katharine.
Dear Bernard,
Congratulations to you and your
colleagues for producing such a newsy
and topical newsletter. I thoroughly
enjoyed reading it.
My association with the Northern
Group pre-dates my entering motor
industry PR. I first attended Mintex in
1974 as a reporter with the Paisley and
Renfrewshire Gazette series of
newspapers.
My day-to-day contact with the Group
was at its maximum
between 1981 and 1986 when I was
based at Ford in Halewood.
Since then a lot of water and car
launches have passed under the bridge.
Highlights to me remain collecting the
‘best PR department” miner’s lamp on
behalf of Ford three times in the 80’s
and once for Vauxhall after I moved
there in the 90’s. I take into retirement
with me the many, many fond
memories of time spent in the company
of Northern Group members.
- Tom Malcolm
Recently retired Director of News
Operations, Ford of Europe
“This is probably
becoming the
benchmark for the
regional newsletters.”
Your new newsletter is a great read,
Bernard. Nice and varied with news
from just about everyone. This is
probably becoming the benchmark for
the regional newsletters.
- Denis Chick
Director of Communications,
General Motors, UK and Ireland
Cup joy
comes
better late
than never
for Alan
and Irene
THE disappointment of missing out on one of
rugby’s biggest occasions of the season – a
place in the stand at Wembley for the Rugby
League Challenge Cup Final – was followed by
consolation for Alan and Irene Domville, both
dedicated fans of Warrington Wolves, when
they were photographed with the actual trophy
at the players’ end of season dinner a few
weeks later.
The Domvilles have supported their favourites
for several decades and had tickets to watch
what proved to be the club’s first victory in the
Cup Final for 35 years, only for a family
wedding to clash with the big occasion.
On the day, a pocket TV came to the rescue
after the church service!
The whole Domville family are season ticket
holders at Warrington and Alan not only
covers games for the internet but also writes the
club’s match programmes!
Page Seven

News from the Northern Group of Motoring Writers Autumn 2009
Despite claims that
the worldwide
recession is coming
to an end, turmoil
continues within the
motor industry.
ALAN DOMVILLE
takes a close look at
the latest situation
and reports …
GM’s
Dark clouds over Ellesmere Port -
will it remain the Home of the Astra?
future still in the air
MAGNA International, the company and more than 600 jobs at co-operation in the future.
world’s leading automotive Gaydon have been shed this year. A Volkswagen and Porsche are
consortium which included former continuing to work out the future
parts supplier, which is trying racing driver Dave Richards bought structure of their business while VW
to buy control of General the prestige car manufacturer from is also exploring a tie-up with
Motors Europe with a funding Ford two years ago.
Chinese manufacturer Build Your
of 1.5bn Euros approved by Several car companies including Dreams.
Nissan and Honda, whose UK plants
the German government and
Chrysler and Fiat have now
have reduced production this year, completed their deal to secure the
the backing of the Russian stayed away from this autumn’s future of a new Chrysler while
Sberbank, has admitted it will Frankfurt Show as a cost-cutting SsangYong Motors has restructured
be making 10,500 job cuts measure.
and settled on a new model
within the company.
But partnerships are seen as the way programme.
forward by several manufacturers Price Waterhouse Coopers are still
If the deal is approved by the
with Renault and Nissan showing the seeking a buyer for commercial
European competition authorities,
way. Partners for the past 10 years, vehicle manufacturer LDV which
GM will, however, retain a 35 per
they are working on even broader went into administration in June.
cent interest in the company.
The new Astra has just started to roll
off the production lines at Ellesmere
Port and the Merseyside workers are Did you know...?
hoping they will be selected to build
the Ampera electric car.
JON WALSH, Senior Press Officer at Kia,
Meanwhile, General Motors USA
1
pictured right, once worked for an
has agreed to sell the Saab marque to
undertaker, was paid £10 a ‘box’ and
Swedish sports car maker
produced three a day. He also had a stint as
Koenigsegg, subject to certain
a DJ at the famous Cavern in Liverpool
conditions.
learning to cajole loud and unreasonable drunks which,
The deal should be completed by the he jokes, prepared him for his current job!
end of the year and includes a £450m
commitment from the European
JULIAN LEYTON, recently retired Press
Investment Bank and provides for
2
the next generation 9-5 models to be
and PR Manager at Citroen, took to his
built in Trolhattan.
bicycle at four o’clock in the morning after
an all-night session during a car press
GM is also on the verge of selling
launch when he decided it was too late and the
Hummer, their premium off-road
brand, to secure 3,000 jobs.
day too nice to go to bed. He finished pedalling his way
around the route which had been set for journos to
Fears have been expressed for the
drive – to get an appetite to eat a hearty breakfast.
future of Aston Martin following the
inability of Dar Investments to raise
necessary capital.
Source: Archive interviews with headlineauto.co.uk
Dar own a 51 per cent share in the
More from the
motor industry
Tesla
signs up
with SMMT
NEW electric sports car
manufacturer, Tesla Motors has
signed up to full membership of
the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders
(SMMT).
Tesla has provided 600
roadsters to customers in the
United States and made its first
UK deliveries during the late
summer when it also opened its
first flagship European store in
London’s Knightsbridge.
The company is committed to
providing ultra-low carbon
vehicles as a realistic alternative
for British customers.
Tesla’s sales and marketing
director is Don Cochrane who is
happy they have officially joined
around 500 automotive
companies including 27 car and
CV manufacturers in this
country.
Kia comes
out on top
KIA Motors has been named as
the UK’s top automotive
company by the Institute of
Transport Management to
recognise its innovative and
dynamic efforts, financially and
environmentally, to achieve a
healthier industry.
Page Eight

News from the Northern Group of Motoring Writers Autumn 2009
In Brief
Birthday
bonanza for
Citroen, Mini,
Volvo and Alfa
CITROEN has celebrated its
90th year of production with 300
enthusiasts receiving limited
edition commemorative plaques
to mark the event while over
25,000 attended the 50th
anniversary celebrations for
MINI held at Silverstone.
To mark 50 years since Volvo
created the three-point seat belt,
Prince Michael of Kent will
present a special award to the
company at a ceremony in
London in December.
Meanwhile Alfa Romeo is
preparing to celebrate its 100th
birthday next year.
Exclusive:
a ferry
nice
weekend
in Spa
A WEEKEND in Belgium for a small
number of Northern Group members
who also have travel outlets included a
visit to this spectacular Formula 1 race
circuit.
Bryan Longworth and Malcolm Robertshaw
accompanied P&O PR supremo, Jim Pybus to the Spa
Francorchamps venue while Frederic Manby and Keith
Ward, who were the other Group members, along with
their partners, in the exclusive party, went sightseeing
elsewhere.
The group initially enjoyed the overnight ferry journey
The circuit at Spa Francorchamps
and, below, the town’s historic Casino
to Zeebrugge before staying at the splendid
Radisson Blu Palace in Spa and being entertained to
dinner at a restored chateau styled restaurant-hotel, the
Manoir de Lebioles.
A guided tour of the town where the world’s first
health spa and casino were introduced several hundred
years ago included a visit to the very latest spa to be
built and to the Formula 1 Museum close to the race
circuit. The weekend was laid on by P&O and the
Belgium Tourist Office.
The Spa racing circuit was driven by group members
on a Mazda car launch many years ago and
Bryan says he was among them.
Guild ups
the cash ante
THE Guild of Motoring
Writers has added £500 to the
prize money for its Journalist of
the Year award, sponsored by
Renault, and now worth £3,000.
It will be presented, along with
the Pierre Dreyfus Trophy, at the
Guild’s annual dinner being held
at the RAC HQ in London’s Pall
Mall on Thursday, December 3.
Suzuki right
on the line
A CHANGE in telephone
number for Suzuki published in
the last edition of News
was, it has subsequently
transpired, only for the motorcycle
part of the business The
car details remain unchanged
with either 01908 336760 or
336775 the numbers to call.
Audi rings the
changes in 3D
AUDI has reworked the design
of its famous interlocking four
rings logo and brand identifier
beneath it. The new look features
a more modern font for the Audi
script and an imposing 3D
treatment for the rings.
Page Nine

News from the Northern Group of Motoring Writers Autumn 2009
In memory of
David Pauline
DAVID Pauline, who lived in
Macclesfield, joined the
Northern Group in 2000.
Thereafter he missed few meetings
and, until last April, he looked after
our Newspress website.
In his professional life, David was
employed principally by Wilson
Advertising based in Manchester.
For more than 25 years, he
provided motoring and travel copy
for many publications including
What Diesel, the Living Edge
lifestyle magazine for North East
Cheshire, the Local Life magazine
circulating in Staffordshire and
Macclesfield and also the Yorkshire
Weekly Newspaper Group. He was
an occasional contributor to the
Hull Daily Mail and Irish Car and
Travel. He also broadcast on Signal
Radio and provided material for the
Uniglobe website.
David’s father was on the staff at
Manchester United Football Club
and he was brought up to support
the Old Trafford club. In time he
gained his class one referees’ badge
and for many years he took control
of a high standard of semiprofessional
games.
As a member of the council of
trustees of East Cheshire Hospice,
he raised many thousands of
pounds.
Wayne’s heading back North
FAVOURITE friend of
the Northern Group,
Wayne Bruce (right),
former Head of PR at
Nissan in Maple Cross, is
to renew his close
contacts with the UK in
his capacity as Global
Communications
Director for Infiniti ’s
European arm, based in
Switzerland.
He plans to sponsor a
Northern Group
meeting next year to
co-incide with the
opening of an Infiniti
Centre in Yorkshire.
Wayne has already
He was also both chairman and a
reader for the Macclesfield Talking
Newspaper for the Blind.
David was a devotee of classical
music, the opera and theatre and
also ornithology.
A few weeks before his death David
realised his years as a motoring
writer were over and he expressed
the wish to “sign off” with a road
test of a Bentley.
Whoopi!
Les gets to
grips with
a superstar
ALWAYS one for mingling with the
rich and famous, Les Oliver, our
member for Sunderland, took full
advantage of a picture opportunity
as he spotted Whoopi Goldberg
outside the entrance to the Venetian
Hotel in Las Vegas.
It appears she snuggled up to our Les
and even held his cap in her hand. But
how he wishes she had been the real
thing and not just a dummy advertising
Madam Tussards!
Les was holidaying in the gamblers’
paradise after driving in a hired Kia
from LA and then returning through the
Nevada Desert.
entertained Group
members, along with
other motoring hacks, at
the first drive of all seven
models from Nissan’s
luxury brand, staged
over a ten-day period
recently and based on the
Infiniti Centre, the first
in the UK, in Reading.
The company’s PR manager,
Richard Durbin, agreed straight
away to the request.
But before the car could be
delivered it was realised that,
because of his illness, David would
never be able to drive it.
Richard immediately offered the
car to David’s partner Angela to
take him for a “spin” but it was
not to be.
GROUP
DIARY
Sunday
December 13
Group Christmas
Lunch
(with partners)
Thorpe Park Hotel,
near Leeds
at 12 Noon.
Please note: A short
Group business meeting
will precede the lunch
starting at 11.30am
promptly.
THE LAST
WORD...
Why, when
people go to the
top of tall buildings,
do they use their
binoculars to look
back at the
ground?
Page Ten