Labor of Love at the 14th Pride of Ownership Drive

The Volkswagen Beetle Owners Club have made arrangements to hold its much awaited annual event called the 'Pride of Ownership' Drive on Sunday April 7. This annual event of the Club has carried on unbroken for the past 14 years. This year's drive has been planned to the historic Ayrs Castle, perched high up on a cleared hill-side that stands lofty and alone like an Eagle on its eerie, just one hour away from the busy city of Colombo.

The Ayrs Castle is a creation of a Labor of Love built by a Planter named J F Arley Elford, who brought his bride home to Ayr Estate only to find her totally disappointed by his humble dwellings. She was apparently from a wealthy family and was not prepared to live in less than ideal conditions, as the estate bungalow did not meet her standards and returned to her native Scotland.

It then became Elford's dream to build a house worthy of her and so began the construction of this majestic bungalow. The site was chosen with great care. A vantage point of the estate afforded sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. The design is said to be modeled on the lines of a Scottish castle. What stand out are the rock-stone carved blocks that hold this magnificent "labor of Love" together. Old timers on the estate relate stories of how elephants were used to haul the massive stones up the hillside. They stand today as testament to the determination and vision of this lonely man.

Yet all his labor was in vain for when the house was built, he found that she got tired of waiting and had gone off with another. The story that follows gets even worse as Elford's employers was not in approval of his ambitious construction and dismissed him from his job.

Ayrs Castle in all its glory stands tall as the Labor of Love of the bygone era and continues to live on with the many who visit the Castle to spend a quiet holiday which is just an hour away from the busy City of Colombo.

In comparison to the background of the Ayrs Castle, seemed the fitting image to the Diminutive Bug that has provided its Labor of Love to the many owners who have travelled many miles throughout the years and continues to stand tall whilst serving the generations of ownership.

This is a very spectacular year for the VW as they mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Beetle that was introduced to Ceylon way back in 1953, with an initial import of a consignment of Double-Glass Beetles that set the stage for Volkswagen in Lanka.

The VW Beetle Owners' Club will organize many events in keeping to the "Diamond Jubilee" and the Pride of Ownership Drive will be the first of the many events planned throughout the year.

The Club wishes to extend a kind invitation to the owners of VW Beetles both New and Old to join this unique event whilst celebrating a sixty year heritage of Bugs in Lanka. Please contact the Club Secretary Nalin S Perera on 0770333444 for further information.