The Early Days
The ‘Morgan Sports Car Club’ supports around 40 ‘area centres’ worldwide , the ‘Eastern Counties Centre’ being one of these. The centre is known as ‘FolkMog’, although that has not always been the case.
The Morgan Sports Car Club was formed in 1951 as the ‘4/4 Club’. The focus was on racing, rallying and treasure hunts, and the social side did not start to properly develop until the 1960’s. The London Centre was formed around 1965, followed by the Northern Centre in 1968, with the East Anglian Centre (now AngleMog) appearing on the scene in about 1969, being listed as a centre in ‘Miscellany’ in 1970. It was in 1970 that members voted for the club name to change to the ‘Morgan Sports Car Club’.
Over the years other regional groups formed and it was reported in Miscellany in May 1979 that the North West Norfolk Centre had had an encouraging start with its first meeting on March 16th. Two Morgans were present but various other members attended, including Roger Comber who later went on to become the centre secretary. The organisers for this inaugural meeting were Betty and John Fillingham from Wisbech. By June Iain Warner had joined – one of the current area members – and Ian Steele who was a regular until his move up north a few years back.
The centre grew and became more embracing in geographical terms, and by 1982 had become the Eastern Counties Centre, with its centre secretary as Roger Comber, regular meetings taking place in the Bull Hotel at Barton Mills.
Centre events centred around the joys of owning Morgan’s and motoring,
with convoys to Mog events, motor races supporting the Morgan series, participation
in sprints and trials, and visits to the Mildenhall Air Show, Worstead Festival
and similar mechanical and motoring related happenings. The Christmas
do’s and ‘Meals on Wheels’ were a huge success!
Eastern Counties Morgan owners tended to be somewhat eccentric characters, at least in the early days! This led to all sorts of diversions, such as a hat stand was always prominent at trackside picnics and there was a shared interest in all things mechanical, such as gramophones. The enjoyment of playing records grew, and members became very fond of the comic records of Frank Crumit, who is reputed to have been the inspiration for our own local George Formby – hence as the area lacked a distinctive name (other areas having adopted names such as JockMog, BogMog and SexMog) a decision was made to become CrumMog!
If you wish to listen to one of Frank Crumit’s songs visit this link
To read the lyrics try this link
And you can hear other song excerpts on Amazon, some of his music having been famously used in advertising.
FolkMog Appears
The centre has had its ups and downs but was on a real ‘down’ (I don't believe it - Alan) in very early 1995 when the secretary ship passed to Chris Dady. It was agreed at this time to change the name to ‘FolkMog’, much more appropriate to the area.
The meeting register was begun so there is now a detailed log of events stretching back to March 1995 – the latest book is always available at meetings and members and visitors are encouraged to note their attendance!
Our fabulous badge was designed in early 1996 by the late Colin Bruce, and
produced for us by Gladman and Norman who had advised against the original
shape (the original sketch is below) on economic grounds – hence our
round badge. The first numbered batch of 50 soon sold out!.
In the 1980’s 4 or 5 cars was a good turnout for the centre. Under the direction of the current secretary, Maurice Cook and his wife Eileen, the centre has gone from strength to strength with meetings having on occasion 30 cars, these meetings taking place all over Norfolk and Suffolk, and sometimes much further afield! The social side has developed over the years away from motor sport, although there is still a gymkhana and motoring tours, with regalia available alongside the badges. Cars too have become very up to date, and perhaps members are now less eccentric – maybe not so in the eyes of those non Morgan owners we meet!
The Eastern Counties centre ‘FolkMog’ celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 2007 with a dinner dance in Swaffham, and we all looking forwards to FolkMog’s success over the next 25 years!