The South Eastern Section of The Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' 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 the Membership Secretary, Laurie Hammond when you join the R-REC. The headquarters, The Hunt House, will process your application and inform Laurie that you live in the Kent / Sussex, South London area and we will then welcome you to join us at any of our events. A new members letter will be sent to you with a complimentary copy ofour 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 2013, the committee has planned 31 events as well as an eight day tour based in Luxembourg staying in a Chateau Hotel with wonderful views from every room. We will enjoy interesting trips, visit local beauty spots, historic towns and Chateau as well as some fine wine houses and a special lunch at a 2 Michelin star restaurant.

The ten-strong committee has produced a wonderful and diverse calendar of events for 2013, 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 at Monks Horton and many more wonderful places. We will visit castles and other interesting places not usually open to visitors as well as attend hotel lunches, Carvery lunches, Christmas lunches and the AGM at Chart Hills Golf Club ~ such a success in 2012.

This is 2013, but what of the sections past, what of its history? Where did it all start? As with so much in the RREC, I knew that a conversation with the President of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club, Lt. Col. Eric Barrass who received his 50yr membership badge in 2009 wouldanswer all my questions.. What follows was 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. Alas Eric passed away two years ago and we still miss him.

Eric joined in 1958, and in the fulness of time he became RREC Club Secretary, a position he held for 32 years, he was also the editor of The Bulletin for 26 years. He saw the club grow to over 10.000 members and it was Eric who formed 'Sections' the first in 1965 was ours - called the South Eastern Section. Eric wrote to every member located within 50 miles, calling for a meeting at the Grasshopper Inn near Westerham, Kent. About 40 members arrived and a committee was formed. They organised the next event at the Bowles Fitness Centre on the Eridge Road just outside Tunbridge Wells.

The 2013 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 400 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 the main RREC web site may be found on the home page of this web site.

Stephen Fabman-Beker

Chairman