Bruce Sanderson
It is with great sadness we advise of the passing of Bruce Sanderson, who died unexpectedly on 17th August 2025.
Bruce was made a Life Member of our club at the 60th Anniversary Event, 2024 for his services rendered. He was a quiet hard working member of our club, always doing his duty.
Bruce joined the club on 1st July 1977. In the early days he along with Bob Lyon set up the Long Boat Account, our spare parts side of the club, which has been hugely important in keeping our cars on the road.
Bruce held many Club positions over the years. He held the positions of President or Vice President on 10 occasions as well as “normal” committee member and Viking Torque Editor. So many positions and so much work.
He was always very kind helping members get their cars going again, using his connections where he could. He worked quietly in the background, ringing members, checking they were ok, sourcing parts and communicating with contacts in the UK. He was our resident expert on the modern Rover 75/MGZT vehicles.
He was a regular contributor to Viking Torque magazine up to his death, submitting many Technical articles over the years. He was a caring and lovely member of our club that we shall all miss very much.
Our condolences go to Mavis, his family and friends.
Bruce was a true gentleman. Some photos of Bruce and his beloved Rover 75 Connoisseur SE.
Bill Allen
We acknowledge the passing of Bill Allen in 2024. Bill was a long time RCCA member holding RCCA Membership Number 25, only a few other current members joined before Bill. Bill was a car club “junkie”, being a founder member of the P4 Drivers Guild of Australia, as well as a member of the All British Classics Car Club where he was instrumental in organising the Great Australia Rally to Mornington over many years. He also had an interest in big American Fords, in addition to his Rovers.
Peter Bligh
It is with great sadness we have to acknowledge the passing in July 2024 of another of our Members, Peter Bligh. For many years, Peter was the main man behind our club rooms public address system and he had served on the committee. The club benefited from his earlier association with one of Melbourne’s major electronic parts businesses. He was their equipment repairer and he was able to use his acquired skills when developing and building the club’s P. A. system. Peter for many years set up the microphones, connecting Amplifier and speakers for each meeting. He was still involved with the sound system until Parkinson’s disease robbed him of that commitment and laterly the ability to attend club meetings.
Peter owned a number of vehicles from the Rover stable. Peter inherited his late father’s Rover P6 but regretted having sold it and sought out another, purchasing a very good example of a Series 2 2000 TC from a club member. He spent a lot of time upgrading the car, for example Stainless steel exhaust and changed steering box for lighter steering and he spent a lot of time tuning the twin carb and became an expert in rebuilding the same. To keep it in the family he also had a number of Land Rovers as well finishing with a Discovery.
He was a gentle man who with firm friends in the club made his contribution in a quiet way.
