Review of Events in 2008
The years events would be an even busier year than 2007. With the 60th Anniversary of our much loved Morris Minors. For me the highlight would be to lead over 500 classic and vintage cars and vehicles in the Milford Haven to Tenby run in September.
last year (2007) I attended 23 events but 2008 saw my diary a full one. 2008 would see me attend over 36 events.
The start of 2008 show season would be a cold and wet start to the season. With a new respray on my Morris I was very keen to start of the season. In March "Easter weekend" I started with a visit to the Haynes Motor Museum in Yeovil Somerset. A PC-UK event saw snow and heavy cold wintry winds. April saw a cold and very wet weekend at a Festival of Transport in the Blackwood area of Sth Wales. May, and the weather started to make a small change but because of a faulty handbrake cable my Morris failed it's MOT and the garage failed to return the car to me so I missed attending the Glamorgan Classic Car Cubs show held at Pencoed nr Bridgend. I attended this show along with my future Son-in-Law. The weather being the hottest day in the month. 
Chepstow Steam faire followed and at Whit-Sunday we attended the Abergavenny's Steam faire where we saw vintage steam traction engines along with other vintage and classic vehicles like this 1950's Morris van.
Steam Traction Engines like this 1913 Steam Roller were on display in Chepstow and Abergavenny Steam fare's.
June 2008. After 40 years my Cardiff Police Force Morris Minor returned back to the Capitol City for a Classic Car Show held at Cardiff Castle. Cathays Park HQ is just metres away from the castle and my Morris would not have looked out of place there.
I returned back to Newport High street where many classics were parked outside the High St. shops After showing my Morris to the visitors and shoppers I was approached by these two Star Wars "Storm Troopers" who stopped for this quick photograph. I also managed to get my Morris photographed in the local newspaper.
After the cold and wet start to the 2008 show season June was getting the best sunshine. I attended the Barry Island Festival of Transport where I met a fellow Classic Police car owner. Mr Lee Jones who lives nr. Pontypool. only a few miles away from me. He was proudly displaying his Austin 1100.
A well earned weekend away was on the cards for both my wife and my self. We booked a hotel at the Gower where the following weekends events the "Under Milk Wood Run" was to be followed by the Swansea Festival of Transport show. On the Saturday morning I dressed the Morris but found it wouldn't start. After a few hours I resorted to call the breakdown service who told me my car had blown a gasket and that I was to be towed back home. I managed to travel back to the Gower to finish our weekend and attend the Show on the Sunday without my Morris. The Swansea Show had a great arrangement of vintage and Classic vehicles on show that included these vintage buses. I managed to attend Cwmbran carnival the following weekend and after having the head gasket replaced by fellow Morris Minor Owner Godfrey Crew, we managed to attend the Pandy Steam faire.
July and another busy month was awaiting. On the 6th. July we attend the Gwent MG Owners Club annual show held at Caldicot Castle. It was my intention to try and attract 60 Morris Minors to attend this event as it would be the Morris Minors 60th Anniversary but only managed to get 30 and another photograph in the local press.
Sunday 13th July saw the Sth Wales branch of Morris Minors take to the Sth. Wales Valleys in their effort to raise funds for the Marie Curie Cancer charities. Our Branch travelled over 100 miles throughout the area passing 60 bridges, pubs, and places of interest in the all things 60 challenge. The branch raised £300. and apart from 6 Morris Minors that belonged to branch members we also attracted another 4 Morris's to take part.
After attending the Gwent MG owners show I was telephoned by a radio presenter who was trying to organise a classic car run from Pontypridd to Porthcawl and back to the Rhondda Heritage Park. This was called the "Butty Bay Run". With a set route we set of from Pontypridd and made good time to Porthcawl for a fish and chip lunch. We made our way back to the Rhondda Heritage Park to show off our vehicles to judges. Prizes were awarded to the best vehicle on the day and a prize for the vehicle who reminded the radio presenter of what good times he had during his childhood. These prizes were awarded to a Austin 1800 "land crab" and a 1972 Morris Marina. About 25 vehicles took part in this event.
A Classic Car Show at Penallt Nr. Monmouth. saw classic and vintage vehicles such as these tractors and vintage bicycles and a fairground Organ.
August. A busy weekend saw us attend the Rhondda Heritage Park for their annual two day event. The following weekend was another sad day for me as we headed for the Pontypridd Park in the pouring rain. As we arrived into the park my Morris started to show signs of trouble to come. We were to line up and travel through the town of Pontypridd and then back to the park. Heavy rain had all but cancelled the days events. Half way through the town my Morris started to show all is not well. I stalled at the major round-a-bout and had to be towed back to the park by a tractor. After many knowldgable owners braved the pouring rain under my bonnet I was given a Jump Start and told to make my way home. I was advised that another head gasket was on it's way out and my car showing days could be out for the rest of the month. I managed to get home without incident and parked the Morris in my garage. I had trailered my Morris to the Blaenavon Festival of Transport and back home again but over the next few days another engine change was due.
September. I was hoping that this month would be the highlight of the year for me. With the engine replaced and a few mechanical problems behind me I needed to have the Morris in Milford Haven for the 7th. An 85 mile run through the Pembrokeshire County to Tenby left me with a dilemma. I couldn't put all my trust in travelling the 120 miles and then completing the 85 mile run and the 120 mile return trip back home, so I hit upon the idea of having the Morris trailered to Milford then doing the run and then returning back to Milford to be trailered back home.
We left cwmbran at 6am and arrived at Milford Haven in time for Photographs and introductions with the Chief Supt. of Dyffed Powes Police. At 10am prompt we left Milford Haven and lead out the 500+ vehicles. As we had permission to travel the route with all the police badges and lights on, It was deemed to risky to leave the light box on the top of the car while travelling. About 1 mile from the start line we stopped and removed the lightbox. the engine sounded bad and I was burning oil like nothing before. Although the run wasn't a race we didn't push our Morris and took to the hills with great difficulty. With speeds of 10 - 20 mph and large plumes of smoke from our exhaust we scailed the steep coastal hills of Solva and coasted down the other side.We managed to reach the outskirts of Goodwick before stopping and replacing the lightbox, there we drove into the our halfway resting point. 
After showing our Morris to the locals and officles we set off for Tenby. With a great rattling from the engine, we managed to get to Tenby unaided. What seemed a lifetime of photographs and greetings I managed to find a few friends that I made last year. We managed to present Mr and Mrs Jeff Edward's with a special Morris Minor plaque for all their hard work in organising this special event. We said our "good bye's" and headed back to Milford Haven to trailer the Morris back home. A fantastic day was had by all (stress and all). and another engine to transplant into my morris awaits.
After a quick engine change I managed to attend the Avon Branch Rally nr Bristol where over 50 Morris's took part and after meeting a young lady in Newport back in June, I managed to take her and her father, a retired policeman to Newport where she got married. Both her father and new husband new nothing about the surprising travelling arrangements to both the church and reception that followed the wedding.
Only one more event for the month of September was planned for this years busy events and that was for me to travel back down to Carmarthen where by special invitation from the Chief of Dyffed Powys Police Iwas to attend their special 40th. Anniversary at their Police HQ. where I was treated to a guided tour of their HQ and a Lunch.