The South Eastern Section of The Rolls-Royce Enthusiast's Club is probably the most exciting, the busiest and the friendliest section you could wish to be a member of. If you are privileged to live in the geographical area covered by the South Eastern Section you will be contacted by me, Stephen Fabman-Beker when you join the R-REC. The headquarters, The Hunt House, will process your application and inform me that you live in the Kent / Sussex, South London area and I will then welcome you to join us at any of our events. My letter will be sent to you with a complimentary section magazine and a calendar of events.

The South Eastern Section moved onto a higher plain in 2000 and it has been moving upwards ever since. For 2010, the committee has planned 30 events as well as an eight day French tour based in the South West of Brittany. We will be staying in Quimper near to the beautiful coastline. The Hotel offers fine dining, ensuite bedrooms and a well stocked bar. We will make some interesting trips out, visit local beauty spots, interesting towns and a river boat tripas well as our usual Special Lunch in a Restaurant with two Michelin stars.

The ten-strong committee has produced a wonderful and diverse calendar of events for 2010, giving members the chance to use their motorcars at a variety of events, which include lunches, museums, historic aerodromes, Stately Homes and Country Houses. We will be attending the R-REC National Rally at Rockingham Castle, the South of England Rally at Cranleigh School, our section prize giving, the Dover Seafront Celebration of 100 years since Charles Rolls flew from Dover to carais and back to Dover non-stop. We are visiting castles and other interesting places not usually open to visitors as well as Hotel lunches, Carvery lunches, Christmas lunches and the AGM followed by a seasonal dinner at the famous Brands Hatch, Racing Circuit in Kent.

This is 2010, but what of the sections past, what of its history? Where did it all start? As with so much in the RREC, all may be revealed by asking member of our section and President of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club, Lt. Col. Eric Barrass who received his 50yr membership badge recently. What follows is taken from a conversation I had with Eric a few years ago when he kindly spend some time describing some key moments in the development of the RREC in its early years.

Eric joined 50 years ago, he became RREC Club Secretary, a position he held for 32 years, he was also the editor of The Bulletin for 26 years. He has seen the club grow to over 10.000 members. Eric formed the first Section called the South Eastern Section in 1962 by writing to every member located within 50 miles, calling a meeting at the Grasshopper Inn near Westerham. About 40 members turned up and a committee was formed. They organised the next event at the Bowles Fitness Centre on the Eridge Road just outside Tunbridge Wells. Returning to the present day, Eric continues to attend South Eastern Section events as often as he can but now in his 96th year, driving is a less regular occurance but Eric still drives his Rolls-Royce 25/30, a motorcar he has owned for the past 37 years.

The committee would like to extend a very warm welcome to any member new or old who wishes to attend an event. If you do, you may find yourself attending them all year long! The committee's names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses are here for you to use so please contact them for more details. The section magazine is one of the very best, but then I would say that as Editor and Secretary. It is informative and is your publication, so if you are moved to say something, recommend a garage, share knowledge or write an article, this is the vehicle to use. It reaches your fellow section members and is sent to Hunt House and all section secretaries for their members to read and its audience is growing. We print over 500 per issue and reach RREC members who are dedicated owners and enthusiasts of both Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars in the UK and abroad. RREC members in Germany, France, Hong-Kong and the USA donate to the South Eastern Section in order to receive our full colour publication. Why wait? Join the RREC via The Hunt House and see what you are missing. A link to tthe main RREC web site may be found on the home page of this web site.

Stephen Fabman-Beker

Pictures on the left

Top......... Statue at the Entrance to The Midland Hotel where Rolls met Royce in 1904
Next .......A lone survivor ~ Rolls-Royce 10HP displayed in 2004 at The Midland Hotel
Middle.... Section Prize Giving ~ some of the 98 Rolls-Royces & Bentleys present
Bottom....The South Eastern Section Prize Giving