by Robin Roberts | Jul 1, 2016 | From the Chair
The long-drawn out Brexit vote produced a lot of hot air, dubious claims, exaggeration and a whiff of reality mixed with recrimination, much like a marketing campaign for a new car. We should not be surprised with the results of any new car’s campaign; the hype is...
by Robin Roberts | Jun 1, 2016 | From the Chair
It’s almost here. Thewesterngroup annual PR Driving Day 2016 is lining up to be one of the best with registrations ahead of previous years and a mouthwatering array of automobiles allocated by manufacturers. While DD2016 is a day for the industry...
by Robin Roberts | May 1, 2016 | From the Chair
I recently attended an event where a truly captivating magician held his audience spell-bound with his close up slight of hand tricks, and it got me thinking. Infront of your eyes, Phil Jay, who has appeared at thewesterngroup industry event a few years ago, made...
by Robin Roberts | Apr 4, 2016 | From the Chair
In a break with regular routine, this year’s Western Group driving day at Castle Combe #DD2016 will see our members taking advantage of the assembled cars to catch up on the models they may not have driven. The group decided at a recent meeting that the 8 June event...
by Robin Roberts | Mar 1, 2016 | From the Chair
As the motor industry PR machine moves to the Geneva show I wonder how much longer it will survive in its present form. It took a few days last month for the news to spread that Ford has pulled the plug on Paris later this year but I believe the significance of its...
by Robin Roberts | Feb 1, 2016 | From the Chair
I love watching F1. With the new season about to warm up and behind the scenes manoeuvering for drivers and suppliers mostly concluded, it looks very sunny for the season. But is there a shadow about to be cast over the sport? It’s a multi-billion pound industry...
by Robin Roberts | Dec 1, 2015 | From the Chair
The motor industry pours millions into making an impression. Cars have to look attractive, drive well and economically; they have to be marketable and sellable; their launch must be eye-catching and the prs must be eager to promote them.Memorable launches are...
by John Kendall | Nov 2, 2015 | From the Chair
With the Group AGM just under two weeks away, it is hard to believe it’s two years since I first wrote this column. In truth, I wrote the first one over 10 years ago, but was interrupted by an unexpected chairmanship of the Guild of Motoring Writers. I couldn’t...
by John Kendall | Sep 30, 2015 | From the Chair
Former WGMW treasurer Mike Orford probably won’t want to be reminded that he takes up his new job as head of PR for VW in the UK this week. To say it has been a turbulent time for VW is probably something of an understatement but the group really wishes him...
by John Kendall | Sep 1, 2015 | From the Chair
September already? The summer seems to have come and gone with alarming rapidity, not least the sun or absence thereof. Just the same, the grass does not grow under the WGMW and September and indeed the rest of 2015 is already looking pretty busy. I...
by John Kendall | Aug 10, 2015 | From the Chair
I didn’t keep a running check of the showroom value of all the cars that I drove at the recent JLR driving event at Bowood, but it must have been well over £500,000. Given that the Range Rover Hybrid was listed at £107,000, that was not a particularly difficult...
by John Kendall | Jul 1, 2015 | From the Chair
Western Group PR Driving Day, the Guild Classic, Le Mans, The Festival of Speed… June is a month that accelerates almost as quickly as Jensen Button up the hill at Goodwood and the British Grand Prix will be the next fixture in the automotive calendar this weekend....
by John Kendall | Jun 8, 2015 | From the Chair
Blue sky, balmy breezes, guests relaxing in the sun… Not quite the way that our annual PR driving day began at Castle Combe on 2 June. Heavy showers washed the circuit and those on “zapping” duty, checking cars in and out, until after lunch....
by John Kendall | May 4, 2015 | From the Chair
As I write, we have just one month to go before the PR Driving Day on 2 June at Castle Combe. So far, we have had a number of press offices register for the day but there are plenty more to come. So if you have yet to do it, make it a priority when you return...
by John Kendall | Mar 2, 2015 | From the Chair
We held the first Western Group meeting of the year at the RAC control centre at Bradley Stoke on the edge of Bristol, courtesy of the RAC. PR Manager Simon Peevers explained that the site was opened some 20 years ago and handles insurance and administration...
by John Kendall | Feb 2, 2015 | From the Chair
Plans for a new London Motor Show were first revealed by Prince Michael of Kent at the Guild of Motoring Writers Annual Dinner and Awards at the beginning of December. It would be the first time that a full-scale show has been held in the capital since the...
