The general scene in the Paddock, with John Newell’s Minor to the fore, but seemingly missing one or two odd parts …

26th July 2015  Just arrived back in Seattle last night after a superb Pre-War Prescott 2015!  Thanks SO MUCH to everyone who turned up to make this by far the best PWP yet, as sincere thanks also to all those of you who helped marshal the day.  The Paddock was packed with over 150 cars and even the weather gods turned up to smile on us!  The hill was kept very busy all day, and the action concluded all too soon.  168 souls then gathered at the Clubhouse for the evening Battle of Britain Victory Party and were delighted by the wonderful air display by the Hurricane which, as a bonus, also arrived overhead mid-afternoon to take a look at the proceedings from a unique perspective.  Sunday was also a great day spent touring the Severn Valley, ending up at Stanway House for cream teas, a demonstration of the hugely impressive gravity fountain and a rather special Enigma code-breaking challenge.  The weekend concluded on Sunday evening with our traditional gathering at the Pheasant at Toddington where we said goodbye to the merry Dutch contingent who had been enormous fun to be with all weekend.

I will be sending out one more PWP 2015 Newsletter in a few days which will include a good selection of photos from the weekend, and now the process starts all over again for PWP 2016!  The date will be Saturday 16th July.  Watch this space for developing plans!

11th July 2015  Yes, there is room to squeeze in a few more entries!  We can accept advance entries this weekend – up to Sunday night.  Any entries received over the weekend will be ticketed on Monday.  After that, if you have not entered, then simply turn up on the day and pay at the gate – although you won’t get your free climb for advance bookings. The gate opens at 9, so we suggest you arrive early if you want a chance of picking up a climb ticket or two – they are almost sold out.  With 150 Edwardian, vintage and pre-war cars already entered, this is going to be the biggest and best Pre-War Prescott yet!

Jayne and I depart Seattle this morning, arriving at Heathrow tomorrow lunchtime.  Apart from when we are in the air, we should be able to check e-mail right up to the day, so do get in touch if you have any questions or need any assistance.  We want to make sure you have the best possible time next weekend!

10th July 2015   Today’s date is truly significant as it marks the officially-recognized start date of the Battle of Britain, 75 years ago today.  The Battle opened today with a series of Luftwaffe attacks on shipping convoys in the Channel.  By the end of the day, Fighter Command and anti-aircraft guns had collectively destroyed 14 enemy aircraft and severely damaged 23 more.  200 patrols were flown by RAF aircraft today, involving a staggering 641 aircraft.

The Battle of Britain ranks alongside the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo as one of the most significant in all British history.  It was the first major battle in history fought entirely in the air and was the first significant strategic defeat for the Nazis during World War II.  It is no exaggeration to say that it marked the turning point in the war.

The Battle of Britain ranks alongside the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo as one of the most significant in British history.  It was the first major battle in history fought entirely in the air and was the first significant strategic defeat for the Nazis during World War II.

We are extremely proud to be marking the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain at Prescott next weekend, and to particularly remember the 3,000 pilots – Churchill’s ‘Few’ – who saved not only Britain from the jackboot, but the whole of western civilization.

For more on the 75th Anniversary, see http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/battleofbritain75thanniversary.cfm.

9th July 2015  We now have a magnificent seven vintage and Edwardian Vauxhalls entered for Pre-War Prescott 2015, including this 1911 Prince Henry C-Type from the Vauxhall Heritage collection.  Entries are STILL open, so if there are any others out there, this might be quite a good time to make yourself known.  The Vauxhall lineup will be given pride of place in the Paddock, close to the start line.

Tomorrow, 10th July, marks the officially-recognized first day of the Battle of Britain in 1940, so stand by for a big update tomorrow.

8th July 2015  We have had several first-time entrants asking what time their climbs will be.  Its entirely up to you!  The hill opens for climbs at ten, closes for an hour for lunch and then closes for the day at four.  Once you have attended one of the safety briefings that take place at regular intervals throughout the day (and any passengers you take must also attend a briefing), you will receive a wrist band which gives you access to the start line.  Then it is entirely your choice when to take to the hill.  What usually happens is that everyone gets chatting and looking around in the morning and then there’s a mad traffic jam at the Paddock exit to the start line around 3-30!  So we try to keep the hill well fed with cars in the morning so that everyone has a chance to take their climbs by the time the hill closes.  If we can keep the hill marshals busy all day, and we have no red flags, we can squeeze in 450 to 475 climbs during the day.  This year we will be using the long course all day – its somewhat counterintuitive, but we can get climbs in at a faster rate on the long course than is possible with the short course.  As of this morning, we have distributed 401 climbs, so we’re getting close to capacity.  So if you haven’t entered yet, we strongly suggest you do so immediately if you want to climb the hill!

7th July 2015  With just ten days to go to Pre-War Prescott 2015, we received news this morning that Vauxhall Heritage will be bringing three historic Vauxhalls to Pre-War Prescott.  These will be their 1918 D-Type staff car, their 1926 OE 30-98 tourer and their rare and historic 1911 Prince Henry C-Type.  Here we see the 1918 D-Type staff car in a dramatic and thought-provoking setting at Ypres in Belgium last year for the World War One Centenary.  Needless to say, we extend a very warm welcome to all vintage and pre-war Vauxhall owners to join us at Prescott.

6th July 2015  Spectators!  If you are not lucky enough to actually own a pre-war car (so you are a future owner!), or perhaps your pre-war car isn’t quite ready for the road, then come along as a spectator!  For the petty, paltry. piffling sum of a mere fifteen pounds, you can bring a post-war car loaded with as many souls as you can squeeze in!  You get to park in the Prescott Orchard, mere inches from the historic start line and you, and all your merry party have full, free and unfettered access to the hallowed Prescott Paddock, the hill and all the fun of the fair!  Moreover, and perhaps more significantly, you will have the unparalleled opportunity to take your seat as a passenger in any of the illustrious pre-war cars climbing the hill.  You just need to attend one of the several safety briefings that take place at regular intervals during the day and then it is up to you to thumb a lift on any of the 400 or so climbs that have already been booked for the day in all manner of splendid and spiffing vintage machinery!  You should simply turn up on the day and pay at the gate (which opens at 9 a.m.) and Pre-War Prescott will await you!