25/10/2026
Today was our last event of 2026: the Lombard Rally Festival at Floors Castle, Kelso.
We put the gazebo up on Friday afternoon in very cold conditions. Saturday brought heavy rain and strong winds, so the crowds were understandably a little quieter. Still, it was a worthwhile day, and we made some great connections as we plan our 2027 event at Paxton House.
We packed up around 5pm, with the wind starting to pick up. Everything was tied down, but we still had a nagging feeling that we might arrive on Sunday to find our gazebo had taken off and ended up in Berwick! It made for a slightly sleepless night.
James Miller went down early on Sunday to check on things and phoned to say all was well: the Jim Clark Trust gazebo was still firmly on the ground—thank goodness! But by the time I arrived, the wind had picked up, so we quickly decided to take it down and move it to a more sheltered spot. I can assure you, that was quite a challenge, but with the team’s help we got it done.
Although the weather kept the crowds down, the festival was buzzing with petrolheads, and we feel we did a great job promoting our 2027 Paxton House event. We also secured the very nice short-wheelbase Audi Quattro, along with several other cars, so overall it was a very productive weekend.
A little more organisation might have helped, as there seemed to be some confusion in a few areas. That said, well done to all the competitors who took part and put on a great show.
Finally, a huge thank-you to all our volunteers. Without you, none of this would happen. Doug, James, Marion, David, Evelyn and Marcus—you’re all stars! 🎉
