Our AGM was held at the Holiday Inn, Milton Keynes East on Sunday, 21 May 2023. We had a great tour around the quiet lanes of Buckinghamshire, passing through several attractive villages, including the quaintly named ‘Newton Blossomville’ with it’s thatched cottages. Thanks to Andrew Stevens for organizing a one-hour drive through the local countryside, to get everyone ‘in the mood’ prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM). 24 members attended the AGM, with 17 Giulias and Giuliettas: 8 Sprints, 7 Spiders, one SS and one Ti.

Guy Sweeten retired from the editorship of the Letta after 5 years of excellent work and requested to step-down from the Committee following this AGM. The Chairman and all members present thanked Guy for his professional and conscientious editorship and thoughtful contributions, and for his support to the Committee over the years. Duncan Ferns made a presentation to Guy as a small token of the Club’s grateful appreciation.

Bernard Lien-Lambert, who joined the Committee in November 2022, was formally elected at the AGM. He has agreed to take on the role of Editor for the Letta, starting with the Autumn 2023 Issue. Please give Bernard your support by writing an article – or indeed, a series of articles for the Letta.

The Chairman and other members of the Committee were re-elected for another year.

Awards

This was the first year of the Club’s changed system of awards and the unveiling of the new presentation trophies.

Exceptional Service Award for 2023 was awarded to Peter Pleitner of Ann Arbor, Michigan

This award was made to Peter Pleitner in recognition of his work establishing the 750/101 Forum many years ago (with the late Lew Rosenberg), specifically for technical queries about our cars. Whilst quite independent of the Giulietta Register, this Forum had for several years been the “go to” forum for 750/101 owners, and our members have benefited substantially from his initiatives and advice. Peter is also a long-term member of our UK-based Register and a regular contributor to the Letta. Peter Pleitner was unable to attend and the award was accepted on his behalf by Peter Yaxley, who gave a short speech referring to Peter’s own response.

Peter Yaxley accepts the new Exceptional Service Trophy on behalf of Peter Pleitner, from Chairman, Duncan Ferns (left).

Contribution to the GiuliettaLetta Award for 2023

Guy Sweeten presented this award to Peter Collins of Kent, UK, who has for several years contributed excellent photographs to the Letta. In accepting the award, Peter said he was delighted to be the first recipient of the new trophy for the Contribution to the Giuliettaletta Award. “ To say that it will probably be the only time in my life that I will be given a prize for enjoying myself, would be an understatement, but I hope my pleasure over the years in being able to take the shots that I have sent Guy, the outgoing Editor, and plan to continue with Bernard in the future, translates in some way to all the readers of the ‘Letta.”

Peter co-founded Auto Italia magazine in 1994, and, more recently, co-founded another magazine entitled Auto Tradition, which covers every aspect of historic and classic motorsport and motoring. He is a professional photographer and proud Giulietta Berlina Ti owner.

Guy Sweeten (right) presents Peter Collins with the new trophy for the *Contribution to the GiuliettaLetta* Award 2023.

Life Member Award

Whilst the Register does not make a new Life Member Award on an Annual Basis, the Management team unanimously agreed that Richard Wigley, of Warwickshire UK, deserved to receive this award in 2023. Richard has been an active member for over 18 years, he has served the Club as past Chairman, he has regularly written for the Letta. He has also strengthened links with international members in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. The Life Member Award presented was a personalized, framed print, of a cutaway drawing of a Giulietta Spider by Shin Yoshikawa. Richard gave his thanks for the unexpected award and was brave enough to say that ‘he has enjoyed every minute of his years in the Register, even when he was Chairman’…

Club AGM and Drive, Sunday 21 May 2023