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A CAMPSITE WITH A DIFFERENCE... SECURECOVID

LeoBay is quite unique as it is a campsite with fitting facilities, so if there’s that little something you need doing from replacing a bulb to a complete conversion we do it all. Our experience goes back 40 years. Our core experience is in auto electrics and vehicle security as well as vehicle diagnostics, we use factory diagnostic software to solve your problems. Trained in both vehicle and mains voltages we can also inspect and test your mains hook up too! Gas that’s no problem either! Now there’s a service that makes life simple, so next time you need help, come and stay at LeoBay, a nice cuppa on arrival, we will sort your problems while you relax on our 1st class site. There’s even a courtesy vehicle to use during your stay at LeoBay!

LeoBay is a site in a million, completely built by us and independent, so all are welcome whether you’re a club member or not. We have drawn on our 25 years as motorhomers, collating all the best bits from the many sites we have visited over the years. The pitches are all wide hardstanding, with a 10amp hook up and your own grass area to spread out on, the site sits up on a hill over looking the sea with amazing views. On site facilities include a unique summer kitchen, where everyone can chat, relax and eat under cover, there’s a barbeque and pizza oven for you to use, or sit and relax by the open fire with a bottle or two. We like to make sure you’re warm and comfortable so the shower block is heated, with two large rooms, and to top it off the gardens are just splendid. Pets are welcome; the dog walks along the shore are great, there’s plenty of wildlife to watch. So as you can see it’s well worth a visit at just £25 per night all in.

For more info or to book call us on 07899 927467 visit the website www.leobay.co.uk or email steve.leobay@gmail.com hosts Tina, John and David were most welcoming in the shelters in the evening, even though some of the quizzes were brain taxing! The bridge picture quiz was more my level.

The following afternoon a boules tournament had everyone engrossed, the finals having to be played the following day and the packet of sweets went to Sharon and Paul, well earned. Pete

Upcoming rallies: 10-13 August at Home Farm, Stoke Bruerne, NN12 7SD. 24-28 August at Aston & Cote Village Hall, OX18 2DU. 1-3 September at Cottesloe School, LU7 0NY, Bookable.

East Midlands

Reward cards: As reported last month, the reward cards will no longer be stamped at our rallies. The cards can be redeemed up until 30th September. If a card is partly filled an amount per stamp will be applied.

Bookable Rallies: Coppice Steam Rally – bookings for this rally will be taken from 1st August by Yvonne Burridge yvonne@systems-up.co.uk. For all other bookings contact Anne Taylor, text or email anneeastmidlands@gmail.com.

Brownhills, Springfields Dinner/Dance, Waddington

Christmas Party and Ingoldmells New Year. Bookings will be taken after 1st August 2023. There will be a specific booking form for the Dinner/Dance and New Year rallies and full payment will be required when booking. All other bookings require a £10 non-refundable deposit.

Beckingham. Glorious weather added the extra touch to a highly enjoyable and relaxing rally. Paul, Jane, Kev and Kate made everyone feel welcome and organised a number of activities to amuse us and tax our quiz brains – all in the name of having fun. Thank you.

Cromford Charity Rally: 63 vans attended this most popular rally. There were visitors from Severn Valley, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Sussex and NWM&NW. It was glorious sunshine which continued for all the weekend. On Friday evening bingo was played. Members sat and chatted with old friends and new.

Saturday was coffee morning with bacon cobs. Free day to visit the beautiful surroundings or Arkwright Mill where a beer festival was being held, so some of the members thought it was rude not to sample the drinks on offer! In the evening members were treated to an open-air concert by a fantastic singer, Rebecca Daniels. During the night various events took place to raise money for the Smile Train Charity.

Sunday coffee and cake before the boules competition took place, won this year by John and Joan. Well done! A table top sale and cream tea then followed. In the evening Scattergories was won by Jane and the karaoke was compared by Kelly. Thanks to Nancy for the hamper which was won by Robin and Barbara.

Monday coffee morning when members said goodbye to some members. Free day then, evening was quiz time. Thanks to the stewards Bill, Dot, Dave and Champa for making it a very enjoyable rally.

Yvonne

Upcoming rallies: 4-8 August at Bakewell Showground,

Agricultural Way, Bakewell, DE45 1AH. 25-29 August at Grange Farm Camp Site, Wainfleet St Mary PE24 4EU. 8-11 September at Coppice Steam Rally, Cossall Road, Nr Ilkeston, NG9 3PG (bookable). 22-24 September at Welbourne Village Hall, Beck Street, Welbourne, Lincs. LN5 0LZ.

East Wessex

Hello there. A total of 17 vans turned out to the Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley Abbey at the end of May; along with 10 from our group, Mary and Graham welcomed visitors from Sussex, Anglia, Chiltern, Kent, SWP and West Wessex. It was lovely to see more children than we normally have at rallies, but the beautiful weather probably had a lot to do with it, as there was lots for everyone to see and do without having to travel beyond the park. Some wanted to explore a little more widely and spent the day on the Isle of Wight. Sitting together in the hot sun until late evening when midges eventually appeared, we played card bingo and pulled the raffle, whilst enjoying a drink.

The knee-high grass in the rally field took us by surprise; it seems the County Council had deliberately not cut it to encourage diversity, so boules was out of the question!

Sadly, we had to bid farewell to long standing East Wessex members Eddie and Pauline Bentley as they have come to the end of their motorhoming days. We will all miss them.

Mary and Graham saved the day by volunteering to host the next rally at Hare Farm, near Winchester, a new venue for us. Unfortunately, just five vans turned out and the rally was cut short for lack of support. This is a disappointing outcome for our rally officer who works so hard to find new venues and for hosts volunteering to do reception. Cancellation of a rally is something we have rarely done and would prefer not to have to start doing, so please, members, do come along, we’d love to see more of you.

Upcoming rallies: 25-30 August at Hayling College, Church Road, Hayling Island PO11 0NU. 5 night field rally. £12 pupn, (£11 singles). Arrivals from 1pm. 15 -17 September at Ringwood Junior School, Hightown Road, Ringwood BH24 1NH. Carnival Rally. Hardstanding with use of hall. £14 pupn, (£13 singles). Arrivals from 5pm. 28 September-2 October at St Cross Cricket Ground, St Cross, Winchester SO23 9RX. 4 night field rally. £14 pupn all units. Arrivals from 1pm. See our website: eastwessex.uk or our facebook page @eastwessexMCC for any updates. Booking not required unless stated.

Essex

9-11 June we were at Homestead Lakes, Weeley. Hosts were Bob and Carol. This was a nice quiet relaxing weekend, with people chilling in the sunshine or going to the local areas. We had a good turnout with members from far and wide including two new members for the Essex Group: Mark and Denise, Paul and Gillian. Also one first time visitor from Anglia Group Ian and Ameline.

Tea/coffee was available Friday and Saturday but members seemed to either be out and about or chilling by their vans. We had a small gathering for bingo, free of charge to win a box of sweets. Fishing was available; I myself went fishing with my 6 year old grandson on Saturday, the only thing caught were two eels.

Quite a few members made use of the discount system at the camping shop and onsite cafe.

We celebrated my birthday with my daughter coming down with Sam and grandson Ethan, she made two special birthday cakes. By the time you're reading this I would have hopefully completed my walk at Battersea Park for Prostate Cancer and to date raised £252 with £53 of this in a bucket raised this weekend. Thank you to everyone who donated.

Newsflash: Museum of Power has been cancelled due to building works. Replacement rally now at Battlesbridge Antiques on 18-20 August.

White Roding, 30 June-2 July. This was a new venue for Essex, lovely flat field short grass, and a very nice hall. We had a good turn out, with visitors from Anglia, Sussex, and Northern counties. Friday evening we had background music, bingo, raffle and a meet up with friends.

Saturday daytime some ventured out on the bus to Harlow and Chelmsford. We had a lovely meal at Brett’s country restaurant which was close by. Saturday evening we had a themed 70s and 80s disco by Nick, lots of people wore fantastic outfits and the dancefloor was packed.

Sunday morning we met up for a chat before saying goodbye till next time. This rally was hosted by Nick and Sue Rogers. Bob

Upcoming rallies: 4-6 August at Weeley CO16 9JN. Starts: 1pm. 10-14 August at Allhallows Scout (Invite from Anglia). 18-20 August at Battlesbridge SS11 7RF (replacement for Museum of Power). Starts: 1pm.

Isle Of Wight

A successful rally was held at GGs in June which is a new venue for us this year and was well attended. The weather was glorious, as were the views. The horses in the surrounding paddocks were very interested in us. We had a nice meal in the bar/restaurant which had many choices for vegetarians and gluten free dishes. Some of us had a jolly good breakfast in the bar/restaurant on Sunday morning. The ladies almost whitewashed the men’s team at boules but they did manage to rack up one point. Due to the weather we were able to socialise outside until late evening.

Upcoming rallies: 4-6 August at Calbourne Water Mill. 18-20 August at Whippance Farm. (Rallies are bookable due to limited capacity on the Isle of Wight.) Please contact our Rally Officer Andrew Clapp. Email cherylclapp@hotmail. co.uk Further details are available on our website www. mcciow.com.

Kent

After an interesting journey through narrow lanes, we arrived at Solleys Farm for the weekend of Friday 2nd to 4th June. This site was new to the Kent Group and it was agreed that we had truly found a gem! It had a new bar and cafe serving excellent all-day breakfasts, light lunches and of course ice creams. The site also had a small campsite and all campers as well as day visitors were welcome to use these facilities.

When we arrived, the weather was overcast but we were assured that it would improve. Thankfully yes, the sun came out but unfortunately a cold breeze continued throughout the weekend. There were fabulous walks nearby and the scenery was fantastic.

Our hosts Jenny, Andye, Michael and Sue did a fabulous job of providing savoury nibbles of sandwiches, sausage rolls and a variety of cakes, all very well received. We had eleven vans, 10 from Kent and one from Lancashire.

We had a very successful and enjoyable weekend from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th June at Dane Court school in Broadstairs with 21 vans attending the rally. Fourteen were from Kent group, four from Essex, two from Sussex and one from Anglia. On Saturday members were able to experience the sights and sounds of the Dickens Festival which included a parade of characters from the Dickens period of which two of our members took part in. There was musical entertainment at the band stand and a variety of stalls. Mike's highlight was a guillotine demonstration.

On Saturday evening we gathered together to enjoy a glass or two of summer punch and members were able to

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