Back in 1983 I was getting very bored with my Vauxhall Chevette (!). Being in my early 20s and a little 'carefree' I had been considering a soft-top car of some description and rapidly came to the realisation that the 'traditional' vehicles (e.g. MG Midget et al) were well beyond my finances. I cannot remember who it was but one of my friends jokingly suggested a Dyane and this got me thinking...!

Most people in those days either loved the 2CV for its charm and idiosyncrasies or hated it and wanted to do everything in their power to overtake one! I hadn't really thought about them before and set about looking at the type to make my own mind up.

At my local Citroen dealership (then Omega Cars in Crookes) they had a lovely new white Special in the showroom and sitting in it felt somehow...just right really. I think it was priced at about £2,000 and I was offered a derisory £500 part-ex on the Chevette so it was back to the drawing board. Luckily a garage close to my work place took one in part-ex and wanted to shift it quickly. Days later I was the proud owner of a bright jaune yellow 2CV6 Club YWJ852T - quickly named Busby. A small obsession had begun.

I came across the address of the Deux Chevaux Club of Great Britain (2CVGB) in a book on the marque and soon joined up. The club magazine was full of enthusiastic articles ranging from serious technical issues through to amusing tales of camping weekends full of 'in-jokes' mainly relevant to those who were there!

I discovered that there was no club local to Sheffield or South Yorkshire and put an appeal in the 2CVGB magazine in late 1983 seeking like minded members who might like to start a little gathering in the area. I received two serious replies - one from Dave Harvey (owner of a yellow/black Charleston) and David Jane (owner of a well used lhd 2CV van). Although both were enthusiastic it was Dave Harvey who became my main 'partner in crime' and we set about establishing a local group. From the outset we didn't want to get too involved and merely wanted to get the group established - but it never really works out like that does it?

After a long introductory campaign which saw much publicity in the local press and radio our first meeting was held on a cold February evening in 1984. The room above the bar of the Robin Hood in Millhouses, Sheffield saw the birth of the 'Hallam Globetrotters'. We expected a fairly low turn out but were supported by members of existing clubs from West Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire (most notably the 602 Squadron from Nottingham) and a quick tour of the surrounding streets counted up some 60 A-Series vehicles! Wow! What a start!?

 

Over the next few months a core membership was built up and we had monthly meetings in the Robin Hood with guest speakers, quiz nights and so on. In the summer months we had picnic convoys, treasure hunts and trips to bordering Clubs' nights. We exhibited at local motor shows and attracted a fair bit of attention.

The highlight of this first phase of 2CV ownership for me was a visit to the '6th World Meeting of 2CV Friends' in July 1985 - the meeting held at Cheltenham Racecourse. We convoyed down from Sheffield with 10-13 cars from memory and had a fantastic time. None of us had seen so many A-Series in the same field and we marvelled at the weird and wonderful cars from all over the world. The spirit of camaraderie and being at 'one' with the car was brilliant. The high point was the convoy which saw approximately 250 cars trail around the Gloucestershire countryside - I took a part in the marshalling of that aspect of the meet and it was very enjoyable!

Regretably, from then on interest in the Globetrotters began to wane. We had to move meeting venues a couple of times - firstly to the Princess Royal in Crookes and latterly the Red House on Solly Street. Dave and I wanted to pass on the reins to others - he and his wife Chris had a poorly daughter who required a great deal of care and I was working particularly long hours. The club was wound up in 1986.

The experience of running the 'Globetrotters' was a very good one - I made many friends and learnt a great deal about the car and the people who enthuse about it. Unlike the 'beard and sandals' stereotype there is no typical owner. They are all different!

I now have a Black and Maroon Charleston which is garaged most of the time but makes regular pleasure trips and appears at the annual Whirlow Hall Farm Fayre car show in September along with many other 'old' cars of many different marques.