56 replies to this topic

[puggered]

Excellent news and great to finally see the sign. Its just a shame i'm miles away to get to see it

[Ryang556]

Well done! Shame I'm 75 miles away from it

[mab01uk]

Great photo..........thanks Tanya for posting and progressing this through to completion.

Maybe worth approaching Paddy Hopkirk for the official sign unveiling?........he has obvious known Mini connections for most people even outside the world of Mini's and he is officially the brand ambassador for the BMW MINI Plant just down the road in Oxford, so it could be somewhere local for him to arrive and depart from on the day, and also somewhere for any invited public, press and media hospitality to be laid on maybe?

Paddy is normally at the London to Brighton Run prize giving where it might be possible to have a friendly persuasive chat with him about it!

Edited by mab01uk, 25 February 2012 - 07:32 PM.

[89mini-boy]

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I met up with Tanya at the weekend and we including scissor-cut25 went along with her to Alec issigonis way and took a few Photos.
This is a few of them,
Enjoy

Ashley

(Liquorice is a very messy mini and has no where near as much photo appeal as Mr Bump)

[Tanya]

(Liquorice is a very messy mini and has no where near as much photo appeal as Mr Bump)

What are you on about Ashley!! Liquorice is lovely and I'd happily own him I love all most Minis particularly well used and well loved ones. Liquorice remind me of my first Mini Freddy, who was a tatty 79 City - he was brilliant (when he actually worked ).

[Black.Ghost]

That's a job well done!

Maybe they do not want a big unveiling as it will draw more attention to it being there and therefore more of a target for theft?

Aside from that, Paddy Hopkirk is a good choice. Also Jon Sheppard (see interviews in Mini World). Failing that, if you check out p32 of Mini World (latest issue) there is a letter from a guy called Robert Robbins, who apparently worked with all of them way back in the design. A much lesser known person, but because of that potentially more likely to be available? I'm sure both the magazine teams would turn up though. Good luck with organising it.

If I'm ever near there, I'm stopping for a couple of pictures. Well done.

[Tanya]

The unveiling is going ahead this Monday at 12 noon and John Sheppard has very kindly agreed to do the honours. We also have a 1959 Cowley built Mini who is owned by a former apprentice at Cowley (I think 1969 to 1973) , an original unrestored 1950 Morris Minor with a local plate (JO) whose first owner was a secretary in Morris Exports and MINI Plant Oxford are bring along a MINI and hopefully some umbrellas! I’ve given up hoping that we won’t be rained on!

Our local MP, Andrew Smith is also coming along. He’s been Cowley’s MP for 25 years and has always supported Cowley and its workers. Hopefully it will be a good occasion and John is really looking forward to it.

[jamesmpi]

Well done Tanya. It shows that with a little dertmination you can achieve anything!
I'll keep an eye out for you through my office window

[jamesmpi]

Saw this today

http://www.oxfordmai...Harris_manner_/

Well done Tanya!

[mab01uk]

My photos of John Sheppard (The man who drew the Mini as part of Alec Issigonis's design team) carrying out the official unveiling cermony with local Cowley, Oxford East MP, Andrew Smith, Wayne Morse of MINI, a 1959 Cowley built Morris Mini-Minor and the latest 2012 MINI Roadster built at the Oxford Plant across the road.





John Sheppard with 1959 Morris Mini-Minor and 1950 Morris Minor both designed by Alec Issigonis


John Sheppard with Miniworld's Kay Drury's Mini.


Alec Issigonis Way is in the Oxford Business Park built on the site of the old Cowley Plant's North Works.






Thanks again to Tanya for organising this day and making it all happen!

Edited by mab01uk, 22 June 2012 - 11:38 PM.

[minimarco]

Somebody stop that mini! It's gonna jump!

[minimininut]

This is fab! Nice one on your hard work Tanya, lovely story and great to have the road sign in place :)

[Black.Ghost]

Well done Tanya, that's a really great effort to get all that done.

[Spud_133]

Very well done Tanya! Such good news for the mini community, an shows how strong it is!

[liamharries]

I think its the same reason Abbey Road has no road sign... because it's a Mecca for Beatles fans... prone to either theft or graffiti.

Apparently road naming is a very contentious issue according to the Austin and Longbridge Federation. We discussed road naming at ALF's recent AGM as a considerable number of new road names are going to be needed for the redevelopment of the Longbridge site. ALF were asked to put suggestions forward which had connections to the factory which they did with many rejected for one reason or another. However, apparently mini limited editions fared well, so watch out for Rose Road, Sky Drive, Designer Way etc!

what about Cooper Close?