Labour of love for Colchester Classic Cars group has continued for 50 years

His fascination with pre-war cars inspired him to form the Colchester Classic Cars group in 1967, formerly known as the 30/40 club.

About 75 members would meet in Friday Woods to show off their prized possessions, but as membership grew the group had to relocate a number of times.

Fifty years on, a total of 120 households declare themselves members, all with a common passion for motorbikes, steam engines, cars and lorries.

Paul, who has been secretary at the club since it started, said: “We have always encouraged all sorts of vehicles as long as they were made before 1940.

“By the 60s these cars were used as everyday transport, but now they are hobby cars.”

The group has more than 200 vehicles, including Rileys and Austin Chummys from the 1920s, and vintage Bentleys worth up to £500,000.

“A lot of people will be passing their cars on to their families so the final value may never be realised,” Mr Gallifant said.

“It’s a pity cars are so expensive now as young people cannot afford to buy them.

“We were young people with old cars and now we are old people with old cars.”

The members, many whom are now in their 80s, still dedicate their lives to keeping the classic motors up and running.

They rebuild engines, patch up upholstery and fix paintwork - a real labour of love. The 72-year-old added: “Many will take on anything, they have an enthusiasm for classic cars so they enjoy doing it.”

After three months of the group expanding, its name changed to Colchester Classic Cars, and members now meet at Langham Community Centre.

The group dismissed the idea cars are boy’s toys, and they are proud of their equal demographics on the committee.

“We have always had a policy of having half women and men on the committee so it is a very sociable club and it seems to have worked very well,” Paul said.

“Initially we just got together as lovers of pre-war cars, and we are one of the only clubs in the country which has only pre-war cars.

“We enjoy a common bond, whilst most other groups have expanded out to cars from the 50s and 60s.

“My wife Merriel and I have stuck with the same cars for years, I think that’s part of our character.

“There’s no doubt modern cars are fantastic pieces of engineering but of course roads were different back then, some of the cars were made before roads were even tarmacked.

“Our oldest car is a 1904 Panhard and the owner uses it a great deal, but it would have been used on dust roads and they do require constant maintenance.”

The Gallifant family has an Alvis from 1930 which they have had for 51 years. They also have a 1927 Sunbeam and a 1929 Austin Chummy, which their youngest daughter passed her driving test in.

Paul said: “I bought the Alvis for £20, I was a young teacher then and £20 was more than two weeks of pay for me.

“The car needed completely rebuilding.”

Amazingly a number of members have taken their cars on some very interesting tours, and most have made it back home in one piece.

“The Riley section of the club has just been to Europe to every town that was ever named as a model of their car, for example the Riley Monaco in southern France,” Paul said.

“They do break down occasionally and they do come back on AA low-loaders but the vast majority complete their tours.

“One of the Rileys had to be brought home from Europe this year but most achieve their goal.”

As well as the tours, including a trip to Norfolk at the end of August, the group takes part in the Tendring Show each year and has done so for the past 46 years.

They showcase about 50 cars, with owners from Norwich, Suffolk and even Yorkshire.

“We never thought about how long it was going to go on for,” Paul said.

“We didn’t look back, we just carried on.”

Paul owns more classic cars that most people ever will, but there is still one car on his wish list.

He would love a Bentley 8L Saloon - the only issue, it costs in the region of £600,000.