What is the RNC ?
We have been full members of the RNC (Registration Numbers Club) for well over 15 years now.
The RNC is an independent nationwide club dedicated to the right to hold and transfer a cherished vehicle registration mark, a right which has been in existence since 1903.
History
The RNC was established in 1977 at a time of crisis for cherished numbers, as the licensing authorities began refusing transfers which caused misery for many, many people. Numbers which had been owned for several years, even numbers which had been passed down from previous generations were in danger of being lost forever in the hands of bureaucrats.
Fortunately, help was close at hand, Alex Jackson, a well known Yorkshire rally driver who owned several cherished plates joined forces with a small number of associates who decided that some action was required, they attracted the services of classic car enthusiast and club magazine printer Steve Waldenberg to act as Honorary Organising Secretary and before long the Registration Numbers Club was formed.
After several press announcements, a large rally was held at Harewood House near Leeds and within a short time over 2000 members had signed up, following a massive parliamentary lobby, letters to Members of Parliament and the press, the authorities relented and once again transfers of cherished numbers were allowed, as a result ome badly needed changes were incorporated into the system to prevent fraud.
The RNC today
The club has caried on since then, issuing regular newsletters to members, holding an annual rally and generally keeping an eye on the whole UK vehicle registration mark system.
The concept of cherished numbers has changed dramatically since those early days, although in reality there are few problems transferring numbers today and in many cases now the local DVLA vehicle registration offices will transfer a vehicle registration number in a matter of days rather than months.
The club is run on a voluntary basis from the RNC headquarters in Leeds. It issues a quarterly newsletter called the RNC NEWS which is the only regular publication to deal exclusively with cherished registration marks and is still produced by one of the original founders, Steve Waldenberg.
In the mid nineties long time member William Heaton, also of Leeds, became the club’s publicity officer commencing activities to gain a higher profile, unfortunately due to increased business commitments William had to stand down and Rod Lomax from Bury in Lancashire, also a long time member, took over as publicity officer in the summer of 2000.