THE ‘BIGGEST and best ever’ Pride of Longbridge Rally took place earlier today in Cofton Park – 20 years to the month of the collapse of MG Rover.
More than 1,000 cars – all built in Longbridge – descended on south Birmingham with a multitude of models from Austin 7s to Minis, Metros, Montegos, Maestros, Allegros, MGs and more.
Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
Gemma Cartwright MBE’s husband Andy was one of the many who lost their jobs during what was billed as ‘the darkest day in British motor-manufacturing history’.
She took the workers’ fight to Number 10, Downing Street, in a bid to get then Prime Minister Tony Blair to put together a rescue deal to save the factory and the jobs the area was built on and depended on.
Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
Speaking to the Standard she said: “We’ve done it, we’ve absolutely done it – it’s been amazing.
“The weather has been kind to us, we’ve had people come from near and far for us – we’ve had enthusiasts, lots of ex-Rover workers and Austin ex-apprentices, people from abroad – we’ve done really well.
“The thing about the Pride of Longbridge is it is more about the cars – it’s about the community around it and celebrating the heritage.
“Look around – it’s a river of happiness.
“We recognise the collapse of MG Rover 20 years ago which was devastating to our community and celebrating the heritage.”
Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
MG and Rover enthusiast – Australian Mark Bell – travelled all the way from Melbourne to be at the event and presented Gemma with a Rover Car Club Australia cap.
He said: “I have been an enthusiast of Rover cars for about 50 years since I had my first ride in a P6B and then I owned one.
“I joined the club in the early 1990s and wanted to be here because of POL. It was nice to find out what was happening here and I realised this was an important year – 20 years since the collapse of the Longbridge plant and production.
“I told my wife I was going and now I’m here. It’s absolutely fantastic – there’s so many great cars here.”
Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
There was extensive interest in the cars and their history.
Simon Haddleton, from Mortons Funeral Directors in Northfield took a quirky 1964 Mini Woody hearse ‘Bert’ – named after Herbert Austin – to the event.
He said: “As it was born in Longbridge, we thought it would be fitting to have Bert Here today.
“It’s been creating quite a stir with everyone who has come down here today.”
Simon from Mortons Funeral Directors in Northfield with a Mini hearse. Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
He added, as well as being popular with people who used to work at the Austin or MG Rover, it was also a hit with Mini enthusiasts.
Richard Crane from Charford in Bromsgrove with his Austin 8 CWT van. Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
Richard Crane, from Charford in Bromsgrove, brought his Austin 8 CWT van to the Pride of Longbridge.
He said: “I owned this exact 21 years ago and used to use it for social, domestic and pleasure drives.
“Then by shear chance I saw it on YouTube on Mathewsons on Bangers and Cash and decided to buy it back.
“And now, as it was built in Longbridge, I thought I would bring it down today.”
Mollie Weaver, three, from Northfield in the 1957 Morris Minor Traveller. Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
The demise of MG Rover
The collapse of the plant saw 6,000 people lose their jobs. Many had worked, most of them all of their lives, making an array of cars, including Rovers, Minis, Metros, Montegos, Allegros, MGs and more.
On top of that, a further 18,000 ‘supply chain’ jobs were put at risk, many also in south Birmingham.
