Love for ‘Minis’ has no barriers or boundaries

Pix and Story by Berty Mendis

Graham and Lilian along with Darren and Lucie enjoying the company of the Mighty Minis.

The English foursome poses with the some of the Minis on show

First it was Scott Anderson who once stumbled upon the Mighty Mini show and its elegance in Colombo. Back home in Australia, Anderson wrote in an Australian Motor Magazine - 'The Mini Experience' about what he saw in this tiny island. If not the Australians only know Sri Lanka for their passion for cricket and the skillful manner they play it.

Graham Hatfield is British. But, now he lives in his adopted home in Australia. Besides his love for his Wife Lillian, Graham has another love. This love has no barriers or boundaries. His second love is the love he has developed for Mini's which comes from his homeland in England.

In Australia Graham loves to read anything that is said about minis. So much so if some one wants part with his old mini, Graham promptly buys it and restores it. Now the Hatfield couple are the owners of twenty two glittering minis. One day Graham was reading this article on the Sri Lankan Mini Minors and the group of enthusiasts who are preserving them. So he made up his mind to have a first hand experience about it.

Last week Graham and Lillian finally made their dream of seeing Sri Lankan minis true. Joining Graham was another couple - his brother Darren and his wife Lucie. The foursome on Sunday met the members of the Mighty Mini club at the Marine Drive where they had 22 cars on show.