Hello everyone. It’s been a little while since I grabbed the headlines in this blog, but then I’m a modest little chap really, living quietly next to my best friend, the XK140 Jaguar, in the museum’s Mill Gallery. I’m quite happy to let others make the news while I amuse the children in the museum. However, I’ve been keeping up with the latest news on these so-called driverless cars and my antifreeze is starting to bubble. I have to speak!

It all started when my guardian Graham (you know, the young one at the museum) sent out this rather fetching photo of me having fun in the snow. See for yourself – I do seem to be ageing very well even if I say it myself.

Anyhow, back to the point, a very observant recipient of Graham’s message was concerned that Father Christmas’s hat might be blocking my driver’s view of the road and even suggested that I might be committing some sort of motoring offence. Well, I WAS offended! DRIVER indeed! Have you ever seen anyone sitting in my driver’s seat? See those headlights, well those are my eyes and I haven’t hit anything (much) in the last 25 years – that hat is no problem at all!

My cooling system was churning, my suspension went all wobbly and my doors and bonnet went into a flap ……. but I’m alright now. I have been far too modest for far too long! Time to speak out.

Twenty-five years ago, I was driving around the streets of Bourton on the Water and even around very big towns all by myself – I was even given a good rubbing down by a very nice bunch of firemen. (I’m told you can see me on something called your tub I think it was).

So, when you read about all these NEW self-drive, auto-ominous cars, just remember I was doing all that 25 years ago. Don’t you think that was impressive? Do you think that was a WORLD first? Could I be famous? Do you think Mr Google might want to talk to me? Oooh, I’m getting quite excited.

Ah, hang on …… Graham has just whispered in my wing mirror. It seems that driving on the road without a driver, 25 years go, may not have been entirely legal, he said something about a crusher – not sure what that is but it doesn’t sound very nice. I think I’ll just have to keep my bonnet down for a while.

Have a wheely Happy Christmas and don’t forget to come and see me next year. I’m told we reopen on 11^th February 2017. Toot toot.

A smart new building has appeared in the grounds of the Cotswold Motoring Museum and Toy Collection. On the 1^st and 2^nd December 2016, Dunster House buildings delivered and erected the 15-square metre building on an existing concrete slab in the museum gardens. Not only has this tidied up a rather unsightly corner of the garden but, more importantly, it has provided a dry, secure space in which museum staff and volunteers can work on those items in the museum collection that need a spot of tlc.

Currently, such work is performed in the meeting room on the first floor of the main museum building and must share space with all the other activities that take place in that room. Before a school visit, for example, work must be moved out of harm’s way or made safe from little fingers. The new building, once fitted out will be used as a clean work area where items can be safely left whilst they are being restored. It will also become part of the ‘visitor experience’ with the large glass area providing an opportunity to see on-going restoration work.

The purchase of the workshop, erection and fitting out is being funded by the Friends of the Museum using funds generated over the years through donations and the sales of raffle tickets, model car sets, badges and refreshments from the shepherd’s hut.

The application of timber preservative and fitting out will hopefully be completed before the museum reopens on 11 February 2017.