Register President Lou Shorten passed away on Friday 3rd April, after devoting much of her life to keeping MG Z Magnettes on the road through the 'MG Specialists' business that she established in 1964 and ran with her husband John, providing spare parts, panels and restoration services to customers around the world.

 

As a young but independently-minded farmer's wife, it was almost by accident that she bought a Magnette after seeing it on a garage forecourt, although as a woman she had to have her husband guarantee the hire-purchase payments ! YPG136 was to be a life-long treasured possession.

 

In the 1960s Lou was involved in establishing an East Anglian Magnette group, one of several local groups that eventually led to the formation of the Magnette Register in 1974. In recognition of her contribution over many years, the Register appointed her President in 2001, following the death of Dixon Morris. For nearly 20 years Lou and John hosted an annual open day at their home in Lenwade, Norwich, and Lou was always ready to receive Magnette owners visiting Lenwade in search of parts or advice about their cars.

 

Here's some stills from Lou's appearance on 'The 1952 Show' with Len Goodman, in 2012 on youtube - http://youtu.be/3DF_5RCnGC0

 

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