UK & NI Area Representatives
UK & NI Area Representatives
Areas with Representatives are listed alphabetically below.
We do have some vacancies – if you would be interested in becoming a Club Representative, or would like to find out more about the role, please contact the Club Secretary on sarah@xkclub.com or call +44 (0)1584 781588.
Hampshire (incl. IoW)
Berkshire: Bill Voice
Channel Islands: Mark Blanchard
Cheshire, Merseyside, Gtr Manchester, N. Wales, Staffordshire
Mike Bielinski
"First memory: As a post graduate in 1964 I missed and always regretted not buying an XK120 from a friend.
Most important memory : Taking delivery of 'Delilah' my XK 140 OTS following a nuts and bolts restoration and driving it to the Goodwood Members' Meeting.
Worst memory: The second day of the GMM suffering a complete engine failure as one of the pistons slipped through its liner!
Best memory: After an agonising, but thorough, rebuild of the engine, completing a rolling road test and achieving over 190bhp @ 4500rpm.
Now every driving day adds to a long list of great memories."
Devon & Cornwall: Nick Haigh
Hi, I have owned my XK140 SE FHC since May 2011.
It is a rather unusual Pastel Green shade, which is always a good talking point.
We have managed to attend a few XK Club events, such as the XK70, legs of the Round Britain Tours and Hampton Court.
Living close to Plymouth, then it is easy to arrange ferry trips to Brittany.
The XK's always attract attention parked in a French town square.
I have been to many car shows around Devon and Cornwall, as well as a number of local tours on Dartmoor and the South West.
If any members would like to discuss ideas for events, or you are passing near to South Devon with your XK, then do get in touch.
Dorset: Paul Abadjian
"As a small boy, I was always interested in cars, and that general enthusiasm tended to focus down to Jaguars when my father bought his first, a MkX in 1963. By 1975, I had bought my first classic, a Daimler Dart, which I still have, and will probably never part with."
East Anglia: Mike Read
Hello, my name is Mike Read, I am a Yorkshireman but have lived in Norfolk and Cambridge for the last 40 years, where I worked for a major multinational chemical company. I decided to take early retirement three years ago when my late wife was seriously ill.
My introduction to XK's started in 1966 when my sister's boyfriend turned up one day in a metallic blue 150 FHC. He was helping a friend convert it to LHD to export it to USA! I decided that one day I would have one.
Three children later, it was 1994 at the age of 42, when I could afford my first one, a very rotten 150 FHC from Arizona. There was no floor front to back and somebody had jumped on the roof. It took 11 years to restore, including converting it to a DHC and RHD. Since 2005 it has covered 12k trouble free miles.
In 2007 I decided I needed another project and bought my 140 FHC which was a barn find in Guernsey. It was a lot better than the 150 and very complete, but has still needed complete restoration and is now 90% finished in its original birch grey, but with red wires.
In 2012, not satisfied with two XK's, I also bought a 150 FHC, the one that was used in a banger race at Ipswich in 2010. This is now stripped down to the chassis and all the parts and panels required for the rebuild have been sourced. It is to be a road legal Track Day car, finished in Ecurie Ecosse blue.
As is becoming obvious, I have become a bit obsessive about XK Jaguars and plan to do an aluminium bodied 1951 C Type after the "banger" has been finished.
As well as enjoying restoring these cars, I love driving them so am looking forward to organising some meets with drives for the East Anglia members.
Essex: David Cuff
I am a 99% retired project manager, originally from Surrey but now live near Chelmsford in Essex. My work career was primarily based on hospitals and health care management and facilities. I worked in Saudi Arabia on a hospital project and always had a great love for anything car related. In my early teens I was very much into the hot Fords, then for a hobby I started importing muscle cars from the States. About 25 years ago, again for a hobby, I was importing Austin Healey 3000's from the usa as barn finds. From this I managed to keep one 1967 BJ8 3000 and a 1957 100/6. I still own these cars today and they are currently in my workshop, both having a full restoration, now that I can find time.
I am fairly new on the XK front and my son and I decided we were going to do a joint project on two XK's. We found two in America about three years ago and shipped them home. Unfortunately, my son sold his as his priority was to travel but I still have mine which is a 1957 XK150 FHC. Its numbers matching, originally maroon but somebody had sprayed it badly silver. The engine does run and drive but will need total restoration that I am planning to do over the next few years in my own workshop.
My other car dependent is a 110 Land Rover Defender and anybody that owns one knows that it is in constant need of care and attention. I seem to spend all of my time in my workshop working on one of these projects.
My aim to become involved in the XK club is that I have this idea that club members can get together to share their knowledge and enthusiasm on this motor vehicle.
Hampshire: Robin Appel
I am a humble Corn Merchant, of 60 plus years standing, still engaged on a semi-retired basis. I live in Droxford, and I have 3 Jaguars, a 1956 XK 140 in the photograph, put on the road for me by Twyford Moors in 2018; a 1962 E-type Coupe, currently also undergoing a full nut and bolt restoration at Twyford Moors; and an XF for my ‘daily driver ‘.
I would like to serve the local membership by organising local outings, to start with - pub lunches/visits - that create a small gathering of like minded owner/drivers with an excuse to drive the XK. I am open to ideas, but prefer to steer clear of large events, and I will respond to support by doing the organising.
Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire: Don Grant
"I grew up in Edinburgh and my first memory of XK Jaguars was at the Kinkell Breas Sprint outside St Andrews in about 1969. I went with a friend who built a Lotus Elan Sprint and was keen to give it some wellie. Amongst the varied entry was a tatty bright red XK120 with an aero screen in place of the windscreen, it belonged to a chap who lived in Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond. Although tired on the outside, I vividly remember the sight and sound of it on its runs that made a deep impression."
Isle of Man: Ian Thompson
"Car interests have been many with the first Jaguar coming along in the form of a 1983 XJ Sovereign, followed by an XJ40 Sovereign."
Midlands (East): Ciprian Nistorica
"I first fell in love with the XK120 FHC when I was a boy. Certainly the best looking out of all the classic XKs, in my opinion.
A shape that brings you so close to the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic, another of my childhood poster cars."
"My father had a XK140 FHC that he sold when i was 2 years old. I don't remember the car but growing up remember him showing me pictures of the car and talking about it.
This convinced me to buy an XK when i had the opportunity and after research chose the XK150 DHC.
Sadly my Father has passed on so didn't have the chance to drive my car. However. i am sure he would have approved."
Scotland: David Barnett
My passion for XKs probably started around 1961 or 1962 when as a 11 or 12 year old whilst waiting for a bus with my mother, a bright red XK120 fhc pulled up opposite us, and out stepped a ‘teddy boy’ with slicked back and brylcreemed hair, leather jacket, drain pipe jeans and of course the de rigueur ‘beetle crusher’ shoes completing the look.
I’m not sure what fascinated me more, the car or his apparel, but as I’ve never felt the urge to dress like him, I guess it must have been the car because it certainly gave me the urge to own and drive an XK.
The sight and sound of that bright red 120 coupe has definitely stuck with me, I was hooked and growing up in Fife I then found myself looking out and logging any sightings in my school boy note books.
Although a lot of my current time is taken up with the preparation and racing of my Mallock Mk20 the XK affliction has not left me, and along with my wife Hazel (luckily equally as enthusiastic) we have several XK, ‘GYN’ our XK120 roadster, the 1953 Geneva Motor Show and ex Burton car is the one used the most, clocking up between 3,000 to 5,000 miles each summer.
Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire: Stephen Hill
Surrey: Patrick Hanratty
I have been in the XK Club now for some years and believe that supporting Philip and the XK Team is so important to enjoying these fabulous cars.
Reading in the Gazette of some owners’ adventures is a big inspiration. The XK meets are special to me. Why did I take my foot off the accelerator at the S bend on Shelsley Walsh!!!
I have taken my XK120 OTS 1954 on all stages of the RBCD. In addition, Tours to Chinon (the French made me a Chevalier) and Angouleme in the 120 with Classic Grand Touring have helped the French experience. Classics on the Road with Diego has taken my 150 to Italy.
Being a member of Brooklands and the 96 Club has enabled me to meet other Classic Car owners. The highlight for this year will be the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court. Thank you, Steve Beeson, here.
Anyway, for me it all about driving these lovely cars, appreciating their history and meeting like-minded enthusiasts. Goodwood Revival will see me in my overalls (oil stains) on the Friday!
