Clerk’s notes November 2025

Planes, trains and automobiles: A film about being together at important times of the year.

As we approach Christmas and our Carol Service on 11th December, I thought for this month’s Clerk’s notes I would focus on family and togetherness.

For centuries, the Coachmakers has celebrated the art of travel – not merely as a matter of engineering and craftsmanship, but as a symbol of connection, fellowship, and the human desire to be together at life’s most important moments. From the elegance of horse-drawn coaches to the innovation of modern automobiles and aerospace, the Company’s story is one of resilience and adaptation, always in service of bringing people closer.

It is in this spirit that John Hughes’s 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles finds its enduring relevance. Though set in the late 20th century, the film’s chaotic journey home for Thanksgiving mirrors the timeless truth that travel, in all its forms, is ultimately about reaching family and community. The planes, cars, trains, and buses that populate the film are not just vehicles – they are metaphors for perseverance and companionship. And just as the Coachmakers honours the legacy of mobility, the film reminds us that the true destination is not a place, but the people waiting at the end of the road.

Few films capture the chaos, comedy, and poignancy of holiday travel quite like Planes, Trains and Automobiles. On the surface, it is a slapstick odyssey of two mismatched men trying to get home for Thanksgiving. Beneath the laughter, however, lies a profound meditation on the importance of being with family at significant times of the year. For organizations steeped in tradition and community – such as our Company – the film resonates as a parable about resilience, companionship, and the enduring human need to gather together. Hopefully this will spur more Coachmakers on to attend our Christmas Carol Service in December.

The plot of the film follows Neal Page (Steve Martin), a highly-strung advertising executive desperate to return to Chicago for Thanksgiving dinner with his family. His journey is derailed by snowstorms, cancellations, and a series of misadventures. Along the way, he is reluctantly paired with Del Griffith (John Candy), a jovial shower curtain ring salesman whose optimism and eccentricity clash with Neal’s uptight demeanour.

Their three-day odyssey – planes diverted, trains breaking down, buses overcrowded, cars catching fire – becomes a metaphor for life’s unpredictability. Yet through shared hardship, Neal learns empathy, and Del’s loneliness is revealed in a moving finale. Neal invites Del to join his family, transforming the story from comedy into a meditation on compassion and belonging.

I am sure this will be of interest to many Coachmakers based in the aerospace sector that the aircraft featured in the film are authentic to 1980s’ American aviation:

• McDonnell Douglas DC-9 (American Airlines)
• McDonnell Douglas DC-10
• Boeing 727

The same for our automotive audience, unsurprisingly cars play a central role in the film’s humour and symbolism:

• Checker Marathon New York taxi
• The most iconic car in the film is a 1986 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country convertible

The soundtrack is eclectic, mixing R&B, country, synth-pop, and rock. Each track enhances the comedy or deepens the emotional resonance:

• Mess around by Ray Charles plays during Del’s reckless driving scene, contrasting Neal’s horror with Del’s carefree joy.
• Six days on the road by Steve Earle & John Mandoukos, a trucking anthem underscoring the endless grind of travel.
• Modigliani (Lost in your eyes) by Book of Love – dreamy synth-pop which plays during the train ride, reflecting Neal’s fleeting hope.
• Power to believe by The Dream Academy is used when Neal lashes out at Del, highlighting the emotional tension beneath the comedy.
• Back in baby’s arms by Emmylou Harris – a tender country ballad, ironically played during the awkward motel bed scene.
• Lost again by Yello, quirky electronic music during the bed-sharing sequence, amplifying the absurdity.
• Every time you go away – Blue Room (a cover of Daryl Hall’s song) is the film’s most iconic song, played during the final scene when Neal realizes Del is alone. Its poignant lyrics transform the film from slapstick comedy into a heartfelt meditation on loneliness and human connection.

Furthermore, the soundtrack is not incidental – it is narrative glue. Many composers and film directors use music to enhance the ‘comedy through contrast’ principle and emotional undercurrents – songs such as Power to believe and Every time you go away provide tonal shifts, reminding viewers that beneath the slapstick lies a story of empathy.

Although some may argue the relevance, to the Coachmakers, a livery company with centuries of tradition in mobility and craftsmanship, Planes, Trains and Automobiles offers a modern parable.

• Legacy of travel – just as the Company’s heritage lies in coachmaking and harness making, the film explores the evolution of travel – from horse-drawn carriages to planes, trains, and automobiles. Each mode of transport reflects humanity’s ingenuity and determination to connect.
• Community and companionship – The Company’s ethos of fellowship and service resonates with the film’s central theme: that journeys are not defined by vehicles alone, but by the bonds forged along the way.
• Family and tradition – the film’s emphasis on reaching family during important times mirrors the Company’s ceremonial role in honouring heritage and gathering community.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is more than a comedy – it is a cultural snapshot of 1980s’ travel and a timeless reminder of the importance of being with family at significant times of the year.

For the Coachmakers, the film resonates as a modern allegory: travel may evolve, but the purpose remains the same – to bring people together, honour tradition, and celebrate the enduring bonds of community.

If you have not seen the film, I urge you to do so, it is a real heart-warmer and feel-good movie that will make you smile a lot!

A link to the title song can be found here: Every time you go away

Coachmakers’ events

This leads me nicely onto a reminder that there are still tickets available for Christmas with The Coachmakers – Thursday 11th December 2025 from 6.30pm.

A carol celebration to warm the soul.

Step into the heart of Christmas with the Coachmakers’ Carol Service at St James Garlickhythe – a magical evening of music, joy, and festive cheer.

Thursday 11th December 2025, from 6:30pm at our historic and beautifully adorned church.

Join us and the Worshipful Company of Educators beneath twinkling lights and soaring arches for a jubilant celebration of the season. Raise your voice in beloved carols, soak in the sounds of live festive music with a professional choir and let the spirit of Christmas wrap around you like a warm winter coat.

Once we have enjoyed rousing choruses and heartwarming harmonies the Coachmakers will move to the Little Ship Club and have mulled wine, steaming and spiced to perfection, a full Christmas supper with trimmings encased in a generous Yorkshire pudding and other festive treats to delight every palate. After last year’s success we are also planning to have some Christmas fun to boot!

Whether you’re a seasoned singer or simply love the glow of candlelight, fellowship and community, this will be an evening to remember. Bring friends, family, and your best festive spirit – let’s make this Christmas sparkle together.

A celebration of joy, tradition, community and fellowship awaits.

Tickets £85 and can be purchased at this link: https://www.coachmakers.co.uk/event/carol-service-and-supper-2025/

We will also have the Christmas John Pearl 100 Club and cash prize draw on the night but, more importantly, there will be the opportunity to place gifts around the tree for those less fortunate.

Dress: Christmas smart, jacket and tie, ladies’ equivalent.

John Pearl 100 Club

Members are invited to apply to join the John Pearl 100 Club. We currently have two vacant tickets available and we are accepting applications for one or both of the tickets.

Members are invited to contribute £10 per month per ticket, with 50% of all subscriptions returned to members as prizes and the other 50% transferred to the charitable fund. Each ticket is allocated a number which is entered in the quarterly draw, with a super bonus draw in the fourth quarter.

The normal quarterly draw has a first prize of £800 and a second prize of £400, with the fourth quarter (Christmas) draw offering a first prize of £1,600 and second prize of £800.

Please contact the Clerk with your interest.