Kia Hosts the Northern Group’s AGM and Driving Day at Matfen Hall

Kia has once again played host to the Northern Group of Motoring Writers for our annual general meeting, along with a driving day to allow members to sample a wide range of the brand’s products.

Now in our 51st year, the meeting headed to a location just about as far north as anyone in the Group can remember, in the tranquility of Northumberland. It’s an underappreciated part of our region, but sports some of the prettiest scenery and quietest roads around.

The chosen location was Matfen Hall, just north of the A69 between Heddon-on-the-Wall and Hexham and close to Hadrian’s Wall. This site has housed a manor since the 13th century, but the current building was constructed in 1832 as the home of Sir William Blackett, 6th Baronet of the Blackett Baronetcy of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Of course the driving day came first, with a fleet of around 15 vehicles that included the latest EV9 — in AWD and RWD forms — and the updated EV6, as well as Niro, Picanto, Sorrento, Sportage, and XCeed models.

From the moment the doors opened at 9.30am the cars were never all in the same place again. Indeed as the Group racked up almost 100 test drives, there were occasions when none were in the car park at all.

In total the fleet covered almost 1,000 miles, or enough cumulative mileage to drive from Matfen to Zilina in Slovakia, or 0.4% of the way to the Moon. One of our newest members, George Loveridge, managed the most drives at eight — deposing six-time drive day leader Alan Domville!

The AGM and accompanying ordinary meeting — in the Hall’s orangery — was one of the longest we could recall, and very well attended with 19 members present.

Combined, the two meetings were also laregly productive, with members making decisions on upcoming events, admitting new members, and thrashing out details on functions like our Car of the Year award as well as changes to the Group’s officers.

That just left enough time for the traditional evening dinner to round out the evening in the company of the Kia press team. Dan Sayles would also announce that Kia had made a generous donation to Cancer Research UK in honour of Derrick Grocock, whose partner Dianne was able to join us for the evening.