A PEMBROKESHIRE car club is celebrating a very special vintage this year.

Rare cars from across the county descended on Slebech Park this month to mark Pembrokeshire Vintage Car Club's fiftieth year.

It all started in 1964 when the two founder members – Neville Pugh and Bob Colley - placed an advertisement in the Western Telegraph asking if there was anyone interested in starting a vintage car club.

In March of that year, the Glen Hotel was chosen for their first get together, with around 20 people attending, in seven vintage cars. A club was formed, and regular monthly meetings were established.

In July the same year, a picnic run to the Preseli mountains took place, with the event featured in the Western Telegraph, and this publicity helped the club to develop. Further events were held that year, together with a Christmas party at the Swan Hotel.

On Saturday, April 5, the club's members celebrated its 50th anniversary in style, with a gala dinner at Slebech Park, where members arrived in their vintage cars. A fantastic celebration cake was made by Betsan Twose, a catering student at Pembrokeshire College.

The oldest car there, was a 1913 Morris ‘bullnose’ Cowley – owned by Michael Richards of Pembrokeshire Motor Museum, while the youngest car was actually produced in the year the club was formed.

Car makes present included Alvis, Austin, Jaguar, Morris, MG, Riley, Rolls Royce, Sunbeam, Triumph and Wolseley, while the rarest car was a Dellow owned by Richard Neale, retiring president of Cooper Cars.

One of the vehicles Mike Richards, of Pembrokeshire Motor Museum, took to the event was his 1913 bullnose Morris. He said: "We took the car up to the Gaydon works last year for the 100 years of Morris.

"They came down to Pembrokeshire and filmed us at Newgale too.

"Not only is it 100 years old - it's one of the most original you'll find. It has the original carburettors, original paintwork, apart from one wing, and the original hood, though it's been patched."

Richard Neale, arrived in his rare red 1950 Dellow. He said: "It was made in a factory in Alvechurch, just south of Birmingham between 1950 and 1956. Only about 250 were made and my wife Elizabeth's uncle used to own the company that made them - so I just had to have one!

"I have had it a couple of years. It was in very good condition when I got it by I have done quite a lot of work. They need an awful lot of maintenance."

Another special car in attendance was a 1934 Riley Monaco which has been attached to the club since day one.

It was previously owned by founding member Bob Colley, formerly of Pembrokeshire and now of Cardiff.

He bought the car when the club was formed and was just its second registered owner. He later sold the vehicle, in April 1967, to current owner David Brockway.

On setting up the club, Mr Colley said: "Neville [Pugh] and myself were into old cars and thought it would be a good idea to set up a club with anyone else interested. We had the first meeting in Haverfordwest. The nice thing is the red and yellow Riley Monaco here today for the 50th celebration was mine at the time. It is fantastic to be here today with the club still going 50 years on."

Mr Brockway, the car's third registered owner, bought it from Mr Colley for £37-10 shillings in 1967 as his family's 'every day' car.

Mr Brockway said: "I've had it more than 40 years and my son drove it this year - 43 years after he was driven to Johnston Play Group in it as a child.

"It was first registered in January 1935 and was owned by Thomas Powell, a chicken farmer of Panteg, St Dogmaels, near Cardigan. Bob who sold it to me was only its second owner, and its low mileage was due to it being driven locally for example to and fro weekly to the Cardigan market with eggs and chicken.

"It still only has 43,000 miles on it."

Club chairman Ivor Whiting said that anyone with an interest in vintage or old cars is very welcome to join the club, which meets at the Cottage Inn, Llangwm, at 8pm on the first Tuesday of the winter months. For more information call 01437 890841 or email wjjames@btinternet.com