Longford's Lakeland Vintage Club Edre passes on secretarial baton after quarter of a century of loyal service

The past few years there has been a pall over Lakeland Vintage Club as they came to terms with the loss of two long standing members; Bertie Mills in November 2021 and John Harte in May 2020.
The two men were stalwarts of the club and instrumental in building it and the annual Autojumble that attracts vintage enthusiasts from all across the country.

Like all voluntary associations, the engine keeping it going is the committee working to draw the strings, making sure all the events pull together.

For the last 25 years, Edre Mills served in the role of Lakeland Vintage Club Secretary.
“There was a big fuss about it,” Edre jokes about the official handing over of the role to Mary Mulvaney.

When the Abbeyshrule woman started out as the Lakeland Vintage Club Secretary two and half decades ago little did she think that cars in the showrooms of garages in Longford would be considered classic cars when she eventually passed on the baton.
“The membership has rocketed. There were only a handful of members when we started. I'm in the process of doing up this year's list and we have in the region of 120 members now,” she told the Leader of the strength of the organisation.

The enthusiastic collectors of the club take their tractors and cars to vintage shows around the country. These shows display the motor attractions of yesteryear, tractors and cars and threshing, and provided entertainment to make great family days out.

Lakeland Vintage Club's own Autojumble always attracts a large crowd.
They also host vintage tractor and car runs to raise funds for local and national charities.
“Our members have tractors, cars and engines,” Edre says,.
“People come from the four corners of Ireland for our Autojumble. We had a massive one in January of this year.”

The outgoing secretary of the club explains the popularity of the hobby: “The people involved are very loyal. Vintage is a disease.”

Edre joined the club to share her husband's passion for the machines of a bygone era. “I lost my husband in November 2021. He had five vintage tractors, he loved to spend his time working on them.
“To be honest I find it hard to go into the shed since Bertie passed. He had a great interest in vintage. That was how I got involved.

“I have enjoyed it, I have met a lot of different people and made a lot of new friends. I am still involved in the role as treasurer.”

Like all voluntary organisations there is a significant time commitment.
Edre pointed out, “People don't have a notion of how much work is involved. You can get these jobs very easy, but it can be much more difficult to get out of them.”
“The night I was appointed secretary, my husband was appointed treasurer, but because figures were not his forte I did the two jobs.

“I retired when Bertie passed, but my family were very anxious that I keep in touch with the organisation so I stayed on as treasurer. I suppose I am known far and wide.”
Edre hopes the club will continue to flourish in the coming years, and wants young people to get involved.

Edre concluded, “When Bertie was alive and able we travelled the country to vintage and Autojumble shows. I have two daughters and one son, perhaps he may get involved when he gets a little bit older. It is a great hobby, but you have to have the time to give.
“We don't have a lot of young members, which is a pity, we would like to see more young people get involved. It really is a good social outlet.”

There are plenty of upcoming events locally for vintage enthusiasts to enjoy.
Longford Vintage Club is preparing for their 'Cars and Coffee' event which returns on Sunday, March 12 at their clubhouse in Connolly Barracks, Longford, and looking slightly further ahead, their Annual Vintage Show and Fun Day will take place on Sunday, June 4.

While the 2023 County Longford Ploughing Championships, which are being hosted by Sean Donohoe, on his land at Cartron, just a short walk from Granard town, takes place on Sunday, March 26.