Hello everyone,

Following the recent AGM, I have taken up the post of Editor of The Viking, following in the footsteps of the famous 'Smithy'...who I am now in contact with and whom I am sure will be guiding me in my early steps in this new role.

At this stage, I want to do three things: First introduce myself, second let you know about the approximate timetable for the next issue of The Viking, and third to seek your ideas for its content.

1. By background I am an aerospace engineer. My career includes time in the RAF and at Rolls-Royce (the aero-engines division). In the 1990s I also worked alongside Rover's Engineers at the Warwick Manufacturing Group. I own a Rover 216 GTi, H Reg; and you can see its ongoing restoration in the Introduction Forum. My other hobby is 'photography', as both a photo-club member in Nottingham and as a Midlands photo competition judge. This imaging skill set will hopefully transfer into my desk-top-publishing of The Viking.

2. Our plan is for there to be two issues of the magazine per year, in March and in September. With briefer newsletters between, in December and June. I am working on the first newsletter now and it will feature a summary of the AGM and news of the Committee elections.

3. I am currently reviewing past issues of The Viking, to see what has already been covered; and I am very interested in hearing from members about what they would like to see covered in the future, be it: Historical, Social, Shows & Events, Technical, Competition, Your Cars, the Club itself; or anything else. Please let me have an outline of your best ideas, and I will get back to you for a more detailed discussion on how we could create the content.

Finally, Being the 25th anniversary of the R8 model range's introduction next year; I am sure that its origins, testing and launch will feature heavily in our publications and events throughout the year. If you have kept any information on those early topics then dust it off; we would like to hear about it.

I look forward to hearing from you.

John Anfield

I enjoy reading about the development of models, collaboration with other manufacturers, there is so much that happened in the years leading up to the R8 in October 1989 launch which brought the range about. How the workforce culture was change. The management structure and ethos/focus was changed. And the great cars which resulted. If its a Rover story, I'll read it and don't mind if it goes into lengthy detail, the more information the better content. Perhaps member's pictures could assist with your write-ups to get people involved? Or a thread showing the numbers or each model and/or county location, see where clusters now exist, which may encourage meets? Maybe I am getting ahead of myself here, but anything to generate interest can't be a bad thing, can it?