JEC Oxfordshire Arranged A Visit To Callum Designs for 50 Members - Sunday 15th September

The JEC Oxfordshire Region organised a visit to Callum Designs in Warwickshire for 50 Club Members, Partners and Friends on Sunday 15th September. Ian Callum personally led the tour, showing us many of their projects and describing their design ethos. A real good time was had by all, especially those who won an autorgraphed copy of Nigel Thorley's 40 Years of the JEC and an Ian Callum original sketch, also autographed by him.

This report is relatively short, but a full report is scheduled to appear in the November 2024 issue of Enthusiast Magazine.

Oxfordshire Region Stole A March On The Club With This Event

Having met Callum Designs at their conversion of the C-X75 to a road-legal vehicle, it was an honour and real pleasure to be allowed this first visit to CALLUM by an Oxfordshire Region. We also included some Central West Midlands and Bucks & Herts Region Members in the 50 delegates.

Although under NDA and only allowed images that would not constitue any unintended disclosure, Ian, Tom and Aaron were very supportive, open to challenge and prepared to show us -literally in some cases - undeer the hood of their designs and contract work.

This often led to some deep debate of issue and ideas, with good exchanges between visotrs and hosts.

Img 1004
Ian With The Skye Concepts Board
Ian With An Actual Skye
Deep Discussion

It Was By No Means All About Cars or Jaguars

The breadth of projects and design work undertaken by CALLUM was impressive. Even when automotive in flavour, it was not all bout Aston Martins and Jaguars, though both featured.

There was the CALLUM Lounge Chair, Chairs for the Bridge of HMS Prince Of Wales, a Scooter, a Motability vehicle, the CALLUM Malt Whisky and the CALLUM Skye ATV.

A more satifying visit is hard to imagine.

When it came to the prize draw, both winners entirely flukely came from the Oxfordshire Region. Rob Eduljee won the autographed Nigel Thorley book and Antonella Tromans the autographed Ian Callum sketch of a Skye.

Prize Draw
Les Lindsay And The Callum Chair
Ian And Rob Landscape
Ian And Antonella Landscape

It Was A Truly Exceptional Visit

Much as the CALLUM concept is unique and fascinating, so would a visit be, and so it proved. It was well worth the time and the memories made there will take quite a while to fade. Our event organiser was gratified to subsequently be deluged with compliments and thanks that have been relayed on to CALLUM. Rob Cotterell of the Central West Midlands Region summed things up as “A fascinating, informative and enjoyable meeting”. Dave Nixon of Oxfordshire Region noted that “It is interesting and truly amazing to see what Ian Callum and his team have achieved in the 5 years that they’ve been trading”.

Rowan Berks, another Oxfordshire Region Member, astutely commented “It was very interesting to see how his design work spills out into other areas. Ian seemed to find his work effortless. I really do not think he understands what a huge impact his work has made on the world.”

Ian, in turn, kindly commented that “It was a pleasure to host this visit by JEC Members and to see such a collection of models in which I take great pride". Certainly, all those present would recommend other JEC Regions to include a visit to CALLUM in their programmes, but please do allow the team there time to recover somewhat from the horde of enthusiasts who’ve only recently landed upon them !!