STAGS TRIUMPHANT IN KENT Over the weekend of 9th to 11th May, 90 Stags from Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and of course the UK, converged on Ashford for the 28th European Stag Meeting (ESM). The weekend coincided with the finest and warmest weekend of the year so far, which meant everybody was able to drive ‘topless’. Whilst, officially the ESM was to start on the Saturday, the ESM started for some, on the Friday, with a scenic drive through the Kentish countryside to Tenterden where a specially chartered train (Stag Express) awaited at the Kent & East Sussex Railway station. After all the participants had boarded, supervised by our own Fat Controller, The Stag Express steamed to Bodiam where all were able to visit the castle, teahouse (and pub) before returning to the station for the journey back to Tenterden. Mike Allen, SOC Technical Co-ordinator managed to ride the footplate and check the technical operation of the steam engine. Stand by for a technical report on how to improve the operation of steam engines.  Following the official opening of the ESM on the Saturday morning, conducted by the Stag Owners Club Honorary President Lesley Phillips, 90 Stags set off on another scenic route to Port Lympne Wild Animal Park. At Port Lympne, everybody enjoyed a ‘Safari’ truck ride and had plenty of time to view the animals and to have lunch. A very good package provided by the Port Lympne management.
On the Saturday evening, attendees partook of a 3 course gala dinner with entertainment provided by an ABBA tribute band and a magician. The Abba band seemed to hit the right spot with the dance floor full until the very end. 70’s music for a 70’s car club! On the Sunday, all Stags convoyed to the Chatham Historic Dockyard where parking was specially provided in front of Commissioner’s House. Lunch was held in a marquee at the Commissioner’s House, an elegant Georgian building, followed by the official closing ceremony. The Presidents of the visiting Stag clubs took turns to thank the organisers of this year’s ESM, the organising team having been drawn from the Kent and Surrey areas. The President of the Stag Club of Netherlands announced that next year’s ESM would be in Maastricht in the Netherlands. If past Dutch ESM’s are to go by, this will be an event not to be missed. The weekend wasn’t finished yet with a run organised to Brooklands where, following coffee, tea and biscuits in the members room, there was the opportunity of a photo shoot on the historic banking.  Some took the opportunity to visit Mercedes World to view the ‘future classics’ on display in the sales area. The good news is that the organisers were aware of only one minor technical problem during the event, that being a snapped alternator belt, which was quickly changed in the Dockyard car park. Who says Stags are unreliable? The Stag Owners Club wish to thank the following organisations for their support of this year’s very successful event: Richardson Hoskins Insurance Brokers. James Paddock Robsport SOC Spares.
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its a 10mg file All the Stags at Chatham, we counted 84 ! 
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