Chairperson - John Batchelor

John was heavily involved in the design and development of the R8 Rover 200/400 as he was a member of the Rover team on several of the derivatives from 1986 to 1992. He then led the R3 Chassis Team. His specialities are steering, suspension and braking systems.

He has owned 6 R8s, having also driven several of them as company lease cars, and currently owns a rare R3 200Vi and a Turbo Coupe.

He enjoys organising unique event for owners of club cars and is involved with improving the parts supply for our cars.

Secretary - Dave Kirby

Dave grew up in a household where either new Austin Rover company cars, used Maestros and Montegos, or British-built New MINIs adorned the driveway. In the garage throughout that time was a family-owned 1973 Austin 1300 GT, which he began restoring in 2023, 38 years later after it had been laid up.

It is fair to say that the late 1980s era left the biggest impression on him. In 2013, aged in his mid-20s, he finally purchased an Austin Rover product of his own, opting for a 1988 Rover 213 (SD3). Four years later, he became involved in the club and witnessed a growing following for the oldest and least common generation of the 200 series. Besides the 1300 GT, Dave also owns a 1988 MG Metro 1300.

Treasurer - Jonathan Living

Jonathan is a software and hardware design engineer by trade.

He purchased his Rover 216GSi from Summit Garage in Dudley in 1995 having realised just how good the R8 model range was. He kept the car, and it has now been fully restored to look even better than it did in 1995. It has been recently joined by a Phase 2 R8 216SLi.

He has been a fully participating club member since 2013 and as well as his duties as treasurer he has written articles for the Club\'s Viking magazine, prepared content for the website and gathered together technical material for the complete range of cars.

Membership - Jeremy Howson

Jeremy has been a life long fan of all things BL. Having been brought up in a family that only ever owned BMC-BL cars, he has continued that tradition, having only ever owned cars built at Cowley, Longbridge, or Solihull. He is not just a fan of the cars as he learnt to drive on Leyland tractors and has driven Leyland coaches. He currently owns two club cars, both R8 214 models including the first car off the production line in 1989.

His wife currently runs one of the last 25 models built, a 2.0TD GSi that she has owned from new. This is the third R3 Diesel she has owned.

Jeremy has a great memory for Rover models, specifications and trims and back in the 1990s represented his local Rover dealership at Rover product knowledge quizzes, getting through to the national final on one occasion.

Events - Sammy Ross

Sammy only recently (in 2024) developed a love for Rover 200s (R8s), but it is a passion that has quickly grown. The interest had always been in the back of her mind, especially after her parents owned an MG Metro and later moved on to a stunning white R8.

Her partner got a Tomcat, and from that moment, Sammy knew she had to get an R8 of her own. Now with three in her collection, it all began with a white cabriolet that needed a full cosmetic restoration. Then came a black cabriolet with a red mohair roof, which had been modified, and most recently, she brought home a 220 coupe that had been sitting for 17 years. This car had even been used as an MVO vehicle at Longbridge.

Sammy is excellent at sourcing parts, which she passes on to her partner for fitting, especially since she spends most of her time driving buses around Brighton for work.