Rally to remember the death of Rover

Apr 12 2007 By Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail

A MASS convoy of hundreds of cars is to descend on Longbridge to mark the second anniversary of the loss of more than 6,000 jobs following the collapse of MG Rover.

The second Pride of Longbridge rally, organised by the Rover Community Action Trust, is being held on Saturday.

Any owner of a car with a Longbridge connection, in name or manufacture, is welcome to join the wide variety of family events in Cofton Park.

And representatives from Nanjing will be on hand to bring residents up to date on their plans to relaunch production at Longbridge following the closure of the car factory in April 2005.

The event is being supported by Longbridge car fans group the Austin Federation, whose committee member Tony Osborne said: "All owners, or enthusiasts, of Longbridge-related products are invited to come along to this celebration, where former workers, owners and the local community can look to the future and celebrate the past.

"This will be the second Pride of Longbridge event and it is hoped that this year's rally will build on the massive success and local support enjoyed last year, which saw a convoy of 200 cars drive through Birmingham to the rally site at Cofton Park.

"Any car with a Longbridge connection is welcome. It is worth remembering that all MGB engines were built at Longbridge and shipped to Abingdon."

The event will start with a convoy to the rally site at Cofton Park from Hopwood Services at Junction Two of the M42. The cavalcade will gather from 9am and leave at 11.30am.

The rally, which will include a play performed by Birmingham poet and former Longbridge worker Spoz, will be held from 11.30am onwards.

Other attractions include face painting, nail art, an autojumble sale and an open stage for singing performances.