The Invade and Conquer France Society

“Zut alors,” wrote the Bexhill Observer in October 1985. “Theese crazy Engleesh! What will they do next?”

What indeed?

As the paper reported, even the most cosmopolitan Parisian head turned when the most eccentric of processions drove to the Bois de Boulogne.

In the midst of a convoy which included representatives of the Invade And Conquer France Society, was a vehicle unique to Bexhill.

In this old picture, Craft design technology teacher Peter Fairhurst was taking an example of his Minion Jackdaw kit-van design on the Great English Wine Run, organised by Motor Magazine.

Together with his 17-year-old daughter Catherine, who acted as navigator and co-driver, and Pat Connor, boss of Regency Cars of St Leonards, Peter and the Jackdaw got within striking distance of their objective.

They were bearing two bottles of English wine from the Waldron vineyard to Paris when the cam belt on the Jackdaw's 2.3 litre Magnum engine broke.

With no spares available in France, Peter's son Christopher and a mechanic colleague Kent Smith set out on a 250cc motor cycle with a new cam belt and saved the situation.

Peter and Catherine were pictured with Ian Hendry, the St George's Vineyard mascot.

“Nostalgia Spot has a habit of reminding one that old age is creeping on relentlessly,” writes Peter Fairhurst.

“This week’s picture was taken in 1984, or thereabouts, and it was taken at Drusilla’s, or was it The English Wine Centre, both at Alfriston?

“The occasion was a ‘Reverse Beaujolais Run’; English wine producers decided to take home-grown wines to Paris to match the long established event when wine lovers vied to get the first bottles of ‘le Beaujolais Nouveau’ into England each year.

“I am the one in the background, holding a wine-glass aloft. My daughter, Catherine is in the foreground, holding a bottle of English wine and St George is a family friend, Ian Hendry, who was at college with my other daughter, Maria.

“We were carrying wine from St George’s Vineyard, near Heathfield; hence the knight in shining armour.

“The run started badly for a few entrants, the police had a speed trap near Polegate and booked several drivers, and our ‘vintage van’, broke down in Paris; those were the days!

“The vehicle was the prototype light van, the Jackdaw’ built in Bexhill by ‘Minion Motors’, a small company manufacturing replica vintage-style sports saloon cars.

“It is more than twenty years since these vehicles were built but they still have a strong following and it is possible that as many as half of those produced are still in existence.”