Motor Caravanner August 2023

Mark Shreeve T: 01502 725839

E: mark.shreeve@micropress.co.uk

Advertising: Danny Lewis T: 01502 725862

E: danny.lewis@micropress.co.uk

Sinead Taylor T: 01502 725865

E: sinead.taylor@micropress.co.uk

From the Chair

August and the rally season is going strong and reading posts on Facebook and the Group News in the magazine, members seem to be enjoying themselves.

Also going strong are the trade shows where our stand is manned by volunteers busy recruiting into the Club. If you meet one of these new members at a rally then please make them welcome and encourage them to join in. This is a time for making new friends so make the most of it.

There is one more Members Casual Campsite yet to occur this year at Shrewsbury, see page 14 and the Handbook for more details. And finally take care and enjoy the use of your motorhome and the company you meet along the way.

Kate Jones Club Chairman

CL SITES

Please be aware that the information about any of the sites listed in the Handbook is correct at the time of printing. This is especially true of site fees, which are subject to change due to the rise in running costs being incurred by site owners. We do print CL updates in the monthly magazine – but only if we have been made aware of them by the site. To be absolutely sure that you have the latest up-to-date information about any site we strongly advise you to check with the site before booking.

Club Contacts

www.themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT

Chairman:

Kate Jones (07747 000587 or 01935 863815)

Vice Chairman:

Jacci Durkee (07931 527691)

Members:

Carol Biggs (01473 620933)

Derek Clarke (07931 733656)

Graham Durkee (07931 527691)

Les Kendrick (07860 286561)

Selma McMullan (07752 678454)

Sue Pilkiw (07562 324325)

Keith Poole (07736 544490)

Anne Taylor (07414 852497)

Steve Wynn (07916 131892)

MCC Sec & Administrator: Ron Harris

Wood Farm Estate, Marlbank Road, Welland, Malvern WR13 6NA T: 01684 311677

E: info@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Office opening: Mon-Thu 9-5pm Fri 9-2pm

MCC Office Administration: Julie Stanbridge

CoM WITH REPONSIBILITIES

CL & Night Stops: Carol Biggs (01473 620933)

Disability Advisor: Keith Poole (07736 544490)

keithp@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Exhibition Team: Jacci & Graham Durkee (07931 527 691) grahamd@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Head Show Marshal: Sue Pilkiw (07562 324325)

suep@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Homecraft Coordinator: tbc

Magazine/Handbook : Sue Pilkiw (07562 324325)

suep@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Health & Safety Officer: Keith Poole (07736 544490) keithp@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

GROUP SECRETARIES CONTACT LIST

As

Publisher/Editor: Mark Shreeve

E: mark.shreeve@micropress.co.uk

T: 01502 725839

Contributors: Jack Bancroft, Kavanagh

Deville, Frances & Michael Howorth

Advertising: Danny Lewis

E: danny.lewis@micropress.co.uk

T: 01502 725862

CLUB OFFICIALS

Casual Campsites: Ann Bond (07805 795549)

Financial Officer: Paul Maguire (07973 827506)

Insignia: Marion Brooks (0208 6412283) insignia@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Junior Leaders: Maria Hill & Gill Crosby juniors@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

National Rally Site Manager & Head Show Marshal: Mick Pilkiw Webmaster: TBC Haven Liaison: Pet Heal (01454 320924)

To email a member of the Council of Management please use first name & first letter of surname followed by @ themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk ie katej@ themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Please note that Secretary details August have changed due to AGMs.

All opinions expressed in these pages are those of the Editor and his contributors and do not necessarily represent official Club policy. All Material copyright. The Motor Caravanners’ Club Ltd 2023. All Rights reserved. While every care is taken when accepting advertisements neither the Club nor the Publisher can accept responsibility for unsatisfactory transactions which arise. Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd. The opinions, advice and information contained in this publication are offered solely to inform members as to matters which will be of assistance to them.

The Motor Caravanners’ Club and Countrywide Publications accepts no responsibility for any opinion, advice or information expressed by any person in any article contained herein and members should seek their own counsel on matters before acting or relying on any opinion, advice or information.

Club News

FROM IRELAND TO MALVERN

Irene Hewitt visits the National Rally to find out what it's all about

As Secretary of the N. Ireland and Ireland Groups, I had never experienced the Club's National Rally, so, eager to find out more we booked our place.

Twelve vans from our Group, including our own Chairman David Kyle-Ewing, travelled to England. On arriving at the Malvern Showground we were greeted by the Marshalls, who directed us to our pitches where our own Group Marshals, Agnes and Tom Adair, were waiting expectantly.

After getting settled we took a walk to get our bearings. We were lucky enough to be parked close to the venue which provided excellent entertainment every evening; from bands to a ventriloquist, and even a man dressed in Lederhosen who had us all singing along.

During the day, for those who had not booked trips, there were craft classes, dog shows and craft fairs. Our Tombola stall raised £103 for the Chairman’s Charity.

Ruth Ross, Dessie Ross and Agnes did us all proud with their Homecraft competition entries. Ruth won first prize for her scones and

OBITUARIES

MORRISS OUTEN

Long-standing member of the Kent Group, Morriss Outen, died in hospital after a short and unexpected illness on Saturday 11 February. I am his wife Jean, and I'm trying to continue camping

At the start of the rally our well dressed team paraded our new banner, and again at the end when the song 'best of friends' was sung; good

with the Club. He leaves a son, a daughter and two grandsons. Needless to say we are all devastated.

Jean Oüten

DAVE HAMBLETON

It is with sadness we announce the passing of very long standing member, Dave Hambleton, of the Essex Group. We are sending

friendships were made and those no longer with us remembered.

Afterwards our Group had a leaving BBQ, which I was told was a tradition – the craic was great!

My first National over, we took our leave the next morning, to all go our separate ways. I'm sure this will not be our last National and I would certainly encourage other members to go. A great experience and great memories!

thoughts to his family and friends.

Bob Thorne, Essex Chairman

CORRECTION

In the July magazine under Obituaries I put one in for Janet Hill. This should have read Janet Scott. I apologise to Paul and the family for this error.

Derek, Anglia group

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TOGETHER WE’RE GOING PLACES

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING

The Motor Caravanners’ Club are holding a Macmillan Coffee Morning at the Recruitment Stand during The Motorhome & Campervan Show Season Finale at the Lincolnshire Showground on Friday 22nd September at 10am.

CL SITES UPDATES

AMENDMENTS

YORKSHIRE

BONNIE BANKS (CL94440)

Price now £15 pupn, reductions for stays of more than 2 days.

LEICESTERSHIRE

BREEDON PRIORY (CL94271)

New email address: clujeans@ googlemail.com

WARWICKSHIRE

KENILWORTH RUGBY CLUB (CL94300)

There is now a height bar installed. Book by email for access instructions.at camping@ kenilworthrugby.co.uk

NEW SITES

KENT

UPPER FOWLE HALL FARM (CL94487)

Willow Ln, Paddock Wood TN12 6PF

Justin Warrior: 01892 832402 / 07703 039938

Please support this event, we would welcome donations of ‘wrapped’ cakes and biscuits to go with tea and coffee on the day or you can donate using the QR code if you cannot attend.

Teresa Guyver, Recruitment Team

(bookings 9am-5pm

Email: autobahnvw@hotmail.com

cost: £16 plus EHU open: March-October

access: 15 feet. Can take 30 ft plus units flat grass.

directions: From Maidstone Rd head towards Paddock Wood ,turn L into Lucks Lane at the bottom turn L into Green Street, then R into Willow Lane.

facilities: Water, hard standing, Elsan tip, toilet facilities, dogs allowed. places of interest: Hop Farm Showground.

YORKSHIRE

LILLING HALL FARM (CL94489)

Moor Lane, Nr. Flaxton, York YO60 6RL

Gary & Lynn Sanderson: 07950 622402 / 07775 871325 (9am-5pm)

cost: £28 with hook-up open: March-October

access: 10 foot gate; 20ft. max length

directions: A64 turn off to Flaxton drive through over train lines ¼ mile

on turn R to Bulmer. Site on R. facilities: Water; rubbish; chemical disposal; shower; toilets. No dogs. places of interest: The Highwayman Pub in Sheriff Hutton. Castle Howard 3 miles, York 10 miles and Scarborough 22 miles.

WORCESTERSHIRE

LOWER FIELD FARM (CL94490)

Willersey Fields, Broadway

WR11 7HF

Gareth & Sue Atkinson: 01386 858273 / 07599 111898 (bookings on landline 10am-9pm)

Email: info@northcotswolds.site

cost: TBC

open: March-October

access: 5m gate. Any size van.

directions: From A46 take B4632 to Willersey. At bottom of main street take Badsey lane which is SP Willersey Industrial Estate go under railway bridge for ¾ mile & entrance is on R.

facilities: Water; rubbish; dogs allowed; easy walk to village. Two pubs serving food. Broadway only 2.5miles; Evesham 5 miles.

Club website

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REINE, WEIN UND WASSERFALL

After all members had successfully crossed the English Channel by various routes, our first rendezvous site on the Northern Counties Germany rally was Remagen, on the banks of the River Rhine, where the meteorological gods were extremely kind to us. After the necessary “house keeping” rendezvous we concentrated our efforts on getting to know everyone, and the sampling of some German refreshments helped! The adjacent swimming pool was a great attraction, with ralliers returning with glowing reports, particularly as the early morning dip attracted a huge discount on the entry fee!

The museum at the remains of the Bridge at Remagen was also visited and found to be very informative of its history. The customary “Northern Counties ramble”, with promises of

ice cream and a little surprise, had folk crossing the Rhine by ferry to the picturesque town of Linz.

Our second site was on the banks of the Lahn with excellent facilities and a lovely on-site restaurant. The sun splitting the sky saw the emergence of the infamous paddle boards. Some viewed this sporting vision with delight while others had a feeling of ensuing trepidation. Those more experienced paddlers called the virgin paddlers' bluff, and not to be upstaged they took to the paddle boards like fish up a tree, followed by an impending splash in the river. However, all admitted it was great entertainment and just had to be repeated before we left.

Scottish Group member Sandy Campbell joins up with the Northern Counties Group on their German rally

Aerial view of Rudesheim

Aliaksandr Antanovich/shutterstock

Visits to the nearby spa town of Bad Ems (1km away) were undertaken with everyone enthusing the beauty of the town. That evening the new ralliers were initiated into the intricacies of a “Chinese Raffle”, havoc prevailed with the laughter monitors going off the Richter Scale! The following morning a “short”cycle ride was organised and a large turnout of cyclists appeared and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of cycling so close to the river bank. I was starting to realise that this rallying lark was hard work as the following afternoon a wine tasting event was held. Thanks to all who helped explain the various wines to an enthusiastic audience.

For those who still had an interest in assessing their levels of exhaustion, a walk to the railway station saw them enjoying a 30 minute train journey to Koblenz. Everyone seemed to enjoy the sights of the city and for those passing up the chance to visit the metropolis a day on the paddle boards ensued. The paddle boarders who had practised the art of swimming earlier in the week managed the finer intricacies of staying upright and dry!

Our third rally site was Rudesheim on the banks of the Rhine. A boat trip to the pretty town

of Bacharach had been arranged and all met somewhat bleary eyed at the jetty at 08:30am! After a gentle cruise, the boat decanted us all onto dry land, with the disappointment of many shops in the town being closed in the morning. For those shopaholics, all was not lost as, on their return to Rudesheim, all shops suddenly enjoyed a brisk trade. A bratwurst BBQ was enjoyed the next evening with a €10 ball game, bought by a member in the local supermarket. This turned out to be very competitive but also great fun for all with the winner duly parading his beer stein trophy! The game proved so popular that several made the early morning trip to the store to discover that it was sold out!

A cable car ride to Berg und Talfahrt (a big hill and monument above Rudesheim) was enjoyed by all those who had a head for heights. Others took the ferry to Bingen, some took to the sights and shops in Rudesheim, some to restaurants serving lunch and others to ice cream shops. In late afternoon, for those men who still had the stamina, a visit to a getränke (off-licence) was on the itinerary. The site at Rudesheim also benefitted from a swimming pool (this time an early evening visit by some attracted the anticipated

continued on p13

Castle Square in Linz

Sina Ettmer Photography/shutterstock

The Kurhaus (Spa town) of Bad Ems

Harald Lueder/shutterstock

"The sun splitting the sky saw the emergence of the infamous paddle boards"

continued from p11

discount). Our last full day there saw some intrepid souls disappear into the horizon for a cycle ride along the river bank. Again all returned safely fortified by ice cream and a refreshing beer.

The final stop on the rally was at Saarburg, a lovely town near Trier. Unfortunately our good weather decided to abandon our motley crew. That Thursday afternoon will be remembered by many who quickly jumped into action to rescue canopies from the strong wind and torrential rain! Thanks to all who saved the day!

Visitations to the charming local town were rewarded by the delights of the town’s wasserfall, the chairlift and numerous bars and restaurants; all of which provided excellent fare. The high speed toboggan

run was the thrill of the day for those adventurous souls, with one member receiving her marching orders from management for going too fast on the children’s run!

Our Scottish contingent had organised an event to celebrate the life of William Topaz McGonagall, who we all now know is the world’s worst poet. The supper commenced with the vote of thanks and concluded with the grace. A few sore heads were denied the next morning but all knew that the Scottish event had been a resounding success and “will be remembered for a very, very long time”.

The next evening saw the customary farewell gathering, a genteel quiz and a drawing game ensued to the relief of many following the exertions of the previous night!

Our final day saw us enjoy a traditional MCC coffee morning. Everyone was sad to be leaving the group the following day to either make their way back to the UK or extend their adventures further into Europe. In the true spirit of the MCC, lots of new friendships were well and truly cemented during this rally with many vowing to keep in touch with everyone.

This rally would not have been such a memorable success without the pre-planning and organisational skills of Neil and Jo Huggon with the valued and much appreciated assistance of Bill and Ellen Hanby. Well done again and sincere thanks for all their efforts. Finally, thanks to all the ralliers who made the trip such a memorable occasion, the German rally of 2023 will “be remembered for a very, very long time”.

"The high speed toboggan run was the thrill of the day for those adventurous souls"

faleevaphoto/shutterstock

View of the waterfall in the city centre of Saarburg.

JOIN US IN SHROPSHIRE

Our final campsite of the year takes us to Shropshire and The West Midlands Showground, Berwick Road, Shrewsbury SY1 2PF from 4-18 September.

This is a great place for a CCS, having plenty of space for pitches and an easy stroll into Shrewsbury town along the roads but, also, it’s on the river where, if available, there is a ferry to take you into town.

second week 11-18 September. Awnings and pop-ups permitted within your pitch area. Two pets maximum.

For booking

Please email Ann Bond (annbond83@gmail.com) with your details, full names, Club membership number, vehicle reg, mobile and, dates of stay required.

Last Casual Campsite of the year

Services_Layout 1 13/12/2013 15:33 Page 1

Price per pitch without hook-up will be £13 or £20 pupn including hook-up. Full facilities include toilet and showers and use of a room at all times during our stay.

Booking is now open. Two week stay from 4-18 September; First week 4-11 September and

As requested by the site being visited, bookings will be required. This ensures members will have a pitch on arrival, also keeping to the terms of contracts, which is paramount. All CCS are full payment in cash to the MCC hosts on arrival. The site's T&Cs must also be observed during our stay.

Shrewsbury

'RADICAL' RODIAQ LOOKS READY TO ROLL

Gentleman Jack reports on a Škoda Concept Campervan…

Actually, it is more of an incremental development than a radical new vehicle, despite what the PR folk said at its unveiling. Sensible really; why bother to re-invent the wheel…and everything else mechanical that goes with it? The base which the students from Škoda’s Vocational Vehicle School used for their Rodiaq is the extremely-capable cutting-edge Enyaq 80x Sportline.

Exterior

Although the base vehicle’s length (4.65m) and width (1.88m) has remained the same, the interior has been made significantly more spacious by removing the standard

roof crown and replacing it with a higher and longer moulded pod. The standard Enyak cab remains, but further aft the usual seating arrangement has been replaced with a campervan/mobile office interior which uses completely recyclable materials for the cabinetwork and soft furnishing fabrics. It is a fully functional one-

berth campervan and a highlyintegrated digital mobile-office with permanent internet connection.

Mechanicals

Its fully electric drive train is powered by a mega lithium-ion high-voltage battery and features a synchronous 150kW (202bhp) motor mounted over the rear axle

Interior looks functional and practical. All materials and fabrics are 100% recyclable

Talented students at Škoda’s Vocational School have designed and produced the Rodiaq… a campervan and mobile office conversion. Look familiar? At first glance it looks a bit like SsangYong’s brilliant-but-unloved Rodius, plus of course, the idea of adding a campervan pod isn’t new. The author remembers the Ginetta on a Ford Zodiac and more recently, the Hitch-Hiker. Far left: Cockpit, main superstructure and mechanicals are based on Škoda’s Enyak SUV.

offering 163Nm (120ft.lb) of torque and an 80kw (107bhp) mounted over the front axle, combining to offer mind-blowingly powerful allwheel drive, plus a WLTP range of a shade under 310 miles…mightily impressive.

FAQ’s

Is it practical? Yes very, though it would benefit from including a method of turning the long inwardfacing settee into two designated travel seats…mounting folding forward-facing Aguti travel seats under the squab would be a good solution.

Will it make it to production?

Who knows? Rodiaq is more likely to than most concept vehicles. It’s worth noting that I first saw VW’s ID-Buzz as just such a concept vehicle. Not only did it make it into production undiluted from the original design, such is the demand, VW can’t build `em quick enough. Has Skoda been involved with

‘Behind the Iron Curtain', Škoda’s 1203 (above left) was one of the most popular base vehicles on which to base a campervan or motorhome conversion. More recently in a detailed design exercise, the iconic 1203 campervan was reinvented as a modern vehicle (above right).

campervans and motorhomes before? They most certainly have. Prior to the breaking-up of the former communist Eastern Bloc, the Czechoslovakian S1203 achieved legendary status behind the Iron Curtain, where it was converted into pop-top campervans and also into high-top and coachbuilt motorhomes in really significant numbers. A surprising number

survive, both in preservation and in regular use. More recently, and as reported in Motor Caravanner magazine, the 1203 was ‘reborn’ in a detailed design exercise. This resulted in a thoroughly modern vehicle, but retained some design signatures and DNA of the original. Mock-ups were made and sources suggest that development hasn’t been abandoned, just postponed.

take kids the Whereto

Before writing any article, professional writers like us start researching the subject. So, as we start composing this feature, we are ignoring one reaction to our question, “Where do you take the kids in the campervan?” Somehow, the response “to the council tip” didn’t quite fit the narrative or coincide with the rest of the helpful advice we received.

For some, the kids in the title are their own children. For others

by Frances & Michael Howorth

Summer

they are grandchildren and we must not forget those who care for children who have no parents or grandparents. It is important that we make campervan adventures unforgettable for kids. We must remember that every child we see riding in a motor caravan is the future of our industry. If the young of today do not enjoy camping, chances are they will shun it in the future.

So, let’s make it fun for the kids to go motor caravanning. Having been there, done that, here is our own list of personal recommendations, in no particular order.

Petting Farms

Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon. Micro-pigs have been bred here as pets since 1992. Pennywell minipigs have gained a reputation for being the UK's most trusted breed. Take the kids to the farm and spend time cuddling the sweet

snub-nosed piglets. The whole family will enjoy a good half a day of entertainment, appreciating the many fun filled activities this attraction has to offer.

Monk Park Farm, Thirsk, Yorkshire

A petting zoo with a wide variety of child friendly activities and animals. Frequently featured in The Yorkshire Vet, this visitor attraction, set in 84 acres of the North Yorkshire countryside is home to hundreds of friendly, cute, and touchable animals, from guinea pigs and rabbits, to lambs and goats. You can also get up close to wallabies, deer, and llamas by taking a tractor ride through their fields!

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire

Rare breed pigs along with donkeys, golden Guernsey goats and a Clydesdale horse are just some of the attractions at this petting zoo. Buy a combined ticket to view the mansion, and 50-acre Japanese gardens, and entry to the working rare breed farm is then free.

Monk Park Farm

Birds of Prey

Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre, Thirsk, Yorkshire. An inspiring and uplifting place to visit, the Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre is yet another location frequently used for filming The Yorkshire Vet. The centre has been established for more than 30 years and is home to one of the largest collections of flying birds of prey in the North of England. Housing over 100 birds, from 50 different species, it organises daily flying demonstrations that are

nothing short of spectacular. Owls, vultures, eagles, and kites all fly in every display and range from the impressive Stellers Sea Eagle, weighing in at 7.5 kilos, to the tiny half kilo African Pygmy Falcon, along with a few more unusual birds as well. Keep an eye out for the cheeky kookaburra, naughty caracaras and the graceful white storks as they swoop over your head, whilst a passionate and knowledgeable display team provide lighthearted and informative commentaries.

Alnwick Castle, Northumberland. The seat of the 12th Duke of Northumberland, built following the

Norman conquest and renovated and remodelled a number of times, the fairytale Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in the UK. Children love its falconry and the fact that the castle was regularly used as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter

Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent. Burrowing owls and Russian Steppe Eagles are just two of the inhabitants of the castle’s Birds of Prey Centre in Kent. It is enthralling to say the least. When you are done with that, try finding your way around the hedge maze. It is so challenging that there is an escape route through the grotto and an attendant to offer directions if you need some help. Kids love the new man-made beach on the edge of the Great Water Lake. Remember to take your bucket and spade. >>

Alnwick Castle

Picton Castle Gardens, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. There are 25 species of owls in the grounds of this 13th century castle. To keep little ones busy, there are adventures to be had around every corner. The bamboozalem maze and playground are just two. Then they can hunt for fairy doors in Peach House Wood, or climb the branches of a huge, western red cedar. That is, after you’ve solved the Mansion of Mystery escape rooms, located in the castle’s dungeons!

Elsewhere, the British Bird of Prey Centre, based in Carmarthenshire, is really cool while the International Centre for Birds of Prey in Gloucester, is nothing short of awesome!

WORTH A STAY

Blakemere Holiday Park , Cheshire

Set in the heart of the Cheshire countryside and with many Blakemere tourist attractions nearby, this site makes the perfect family get-away. Offering a warm, friendly welcome alongside amazing facilities, simply sit back, spend time together and make lasting memories, in beautiful surroundings. Open 7 days a week, all year round. Awarded the Best Site for Families in the Practical Caravan Top 100 Sites 2023.

www.stayatblakemere.co.uk

Stately Homes

Sudbury Hall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. The National Trust Museum of Childhood is housed in the 19thcentury servants' wing of Sudbury Hall, billed as a property for young historians. Explore, picnic and play while connecting with nature. Meet a Dalek, take a lesson in a Victorian classroom, hunt for giant grasshoppers, or build a den in the gardens. Children can get involved in so many activities, including a Second World War escape room experience and giant 3D jigsaw. Osborne, East Cowes, Isle of Wight was Queen Victoria’s holiday house, which has an enticing private sandy beach on secluded Osborne Bay, just across the water from Portsmouth. Inside the house, children can experience how their regal counterparts of yesteryear lived. Hidden in the woods, well away from the main house, is a little Alpine-style chalet with its own gardens and fossil museum. This was where the royal children played at being adults, learning the skills that Prince Albert believed would make them better rulers. Take a stroll

through the garden terraces, taking in the stunning views across the Solent and see why they reminded Prince Albert of the Bay of Naples.

Other family-friendly historic houses include: Hampton Court Palace, Knebworth House and Gardens, Harewood House, Holkham Walled Garden, and the Wimpole Estate.

Zoos & Safari Parks

Walton Hall and Gardens, Warrington, Cheshire. A children’s zoo, with red squirrels having their own fun run, along with rabbits, potbellied pigs, Herdwick sheep, African pygmy goats, guinea pigs and a colourful, eclectic mix of birds. This includes a large, and sometimes noisy, ostentation of peacocks. The best bit is it's free to enter.

Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire. Take a drive-through safari and imagine you are in Africa. Hop on the boat to meet the resident hippo and view the gorilla colony. Back on shore there is a mini railway, a castle with a three-storey slide and a hedge maze, said to be the largest in Britain.

Other zoos can be found at Whipsnade, Marwell, Edinburgh, Colchester and of course Regents Park in London.

Adventure Playgrounds and Theme Parks

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Always entertaining, the new zip line, ropes and climbing frames are becoming firm favourites with families who come to the Palace for the day. Stunning walks,

The lions of Longleat enjoying a peaceful afternoon

Shutterstock/DaveSmith1965

Osborne House Gardens

Shutterstock/ErhanInga

Feeding goats at London Zoo

a yew-hedge maze and the butterfly house are all wonderful but don’t forget to tour the palace and its everchanging exhibits.

Ice-cream Farm, Tattenhall, Cheshire. Who knew that Britain has the largest ice-cream parlour in the world? Besides getting to choose and eat ice cream made on the farm, you can take the children to enjoy the free to enter fun park. Not your thing? Never mind, the farm has one of the few drive-thru ice-cream shops we know of. What’s more, it is campervan friendly without any height restrictions. Our choice of flavours would include honeycomb and clotted cream ice cream.

Woldies, Malton, Yorkshire. Woldies is the new name for the Wolds Way Lavender Farm. Recently relaunched as a family day out location by the Hall family. They have turned a disused piggery into a delightful and highly productive

lavender farm. There is enough here to keep a family entertained for a whole day. Stroll around the lavender beds, get involved in the nature trails,

ma ke me Esca pe, unwind, Winning Park

lose yourself in the maze and learn how their onsite lavender distillery produces oil from their own grown lavender.

Quince Honey Farm, South Moulton, Devon. At first glance the attraction gives the impression it is a play centre or theme park. It is neither, yet in a perverse way, it is both! Quince Honey Farm is a family owned

make me a pe, unwind, Award Winning Park

SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL ULLSWATER VALLEY just above the pretty lakeside village of Pooley Bridge, Hillcroft Park offers year-round and seasonal holiday accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets. Family owned and operated with excellent facilities, Hillcroft is a place to escape, make memories and enjoy precious family time.

t s . Fa mily owned a nd op er ated w it h e xcel lent f acil i t ies , Hil lcrof t is a pl ace to e sc a p e, ma ke memor ie s a nd enjoy pre cious f a mily t ime.

Fa mily bathroom a nd ba by cha nge

Bathrooms to hire

E AUTIFUL ULL SWATER VA LLE Y jus t a bove t he pre t t y l a keside v il l

Fully equipped l a undr y a nd dr ying room

Blenheim Palace

Quince Honey Farm

New motorhome park located on Ireland's Ancient East, boasting spectacular sea-views of both sites of the Norman invasion of Ireland. Fall asleep to the sound of the waves and awaken, refreshed, to the sun rising over the Saltee Islands. Open all year.

and operated honey farm that is part honey factory, part education centre and part entertainment venue. We marvelled at the opportunity to witness inside working beehives, we learned so much from the bee education team and were able to unleash our inner creativity when it came to making candles from beeswax. All in all, a great day out for the whole family.

Other top days out with the kids include a visit to Thomas the Tank Engine at Drayton Manor or Peppa Pig World near Southampton. Britain’s biggest theme park is at Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, between Chertsey and Staines, claims to be the most thrilling. Harry Potter World is in Watford, while Legoland is not far from Windsor. Always value, when it comes to family days out, are the historic dockyards at Chatham in Kent, Portsmouth in Hampshire and Devonport near Plymouth. For

WORTH A STAY

Hillcroft Park, Lake District Award-winning Hillcroft Park, set in the beautiful Ullswater Valley, offers more than just good service, great amenities and a wonderful setting, They have created a peaceful and relaxed environment where you can focus on making memories, sharing stories and enjoying precious family time. Here, life takes on a slower pace – a throw back to those carefree, childhood holidays. www.hillcroftpark.co.uk

consider hopping on a ferry from Dover and heading to Disneyland Paris.

Water Attractions

Kayaking and stand up paddleboarding are trends catching on among motorcaravanners. Park overnight at Bewl Water near Tunbridge Wells and sign the kids up at the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre for both sailing and windsurfing. Salterns Sailing is a club for children, run by children, in Lymington, Hampshire close to some terrific campsites in the New Forest. Rockley Point, founded in 1976, is based in Poole harbour on the Dorset coast. Thousands of children have learned to sail here in some of the UK's safest and most idyllic sailing waters. On the River Thames, Bisham Abby in Buckinghamshire

offers good child-friendly facilities, as does the River Wye in Herefordshire. In the North West of England, the Mersey Canoe Trail was the first ever National Canoe Trail in the UK. Running 27km from Stockport to Carrington, there is an easy child friendly 5.5km section running from Heaton Mersey to Northenden in Manchester. In the Lake District, Derwentwater is a popular and safe spot to learn water sports skills. In Wales, there is the Beacons Water Trail and on Alderney, in the Channel Islands, Longis Bay is the place to be. What child does not like beaches? We know of very few, but equally we know of far too many gorgeous stretches of golden sand to list them all here. Go find your own!

Caves and Gorges

Stump Cross Caverns, Nidderdale, North Yorkshire. Deep underground, below the hills and valleys, the Yorkshire Dales conceal an incredible secret. Below the surface lies a vast network of caves, hidden from human eyes for hundreds of thousands of years. Stump Cross Caverns offers the chance to step back in time and unlock a trove of prehistoric marvels, twisting caverns, unspoilt rock formations, and mysterious nooks and crannies. All frozen in time and all with stories to tell.

Kents Caverns, Torquay, Devon. An extensive labyrinth of caves with spectacular natural formations, widely used by prehistoric people. Human prehistoric remains discovered in the caves are the most

Michael in Stump Cross Caverns (left). Alain our guide at Kents cavern with a replica of a skull of a Neanderthal (right).

Harry Potter World Shutterstock/chettarin

The

ancient found in Britain. The most significant artefact is a 41,000-yearold human jawbone, Europe’s oldest human fossil. Tours of the cavern are best booked online and are led by entertaining guides who offer an invaluable opportunity to understand an ancient and fascinating part of our human history.

Other caves include the Hellfire Caves in the Chiltern hills, Fingal’s Cave on the Isle of Staffa, Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Snowdonia, Avon Gorge in Bristol, Peak Cavern in the Peak District. Do not forget Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole in Somerset, both featured in Out and About elsewhere in this issue.

Practicalities

If children are not regular passengers in your motorcaravan, then preparations for a kid’s trip are going to be the first of many considerations. Ask yourself, has the

van got enough bedding and towels? We have a grandson who seems to have an unstoppable affiliation with water. If he can fall in, he does! So, we know how important it is to have lots of extra towels and spare clothes. Make sure you carry lots of each! Children often have different choices of foodstuffs and toiletries than grown-ups do, so be sure to find a little extra space to load up their favourites. Don’t forget to pack games, bikes and paddleboards and always allow space for board and card games in case it rains. If your motorcaravan does not have

www.littlebodieve.co.uk

Tel: 01208 815547

Bodieve Road, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 6EG

Static Caravans • Motorhomes

Tents • Tourers

A family site within a short walking distance of Wadebridge town.

Come and explore beautiful Poldark country, only 10 mins drive from the fishing village Port Isaac, of Doc Martin fame, Rock and Padstow with many restaurants, including the famous Rick Stein. We are only a few minutes cycle ride down into town where you can join the Camel trail either along the estuary to Padstow or inland towards Bodmin moor – both are very scenic.

enough beds, you will need to allow space for tents, ground sheets and mattresses. An easier and more space saving alternative is Cabbunk, a fold away bed or two-tier bunk system, that converts the van’s cab into a children’s bedroom.

Finally, if you are not the children’s parent or legal guardian, make sure you carry written permissions for them to travel with you. Occasionally, campsites and visitor attractions insist on seeing such a document, but ferry companies and border control officers always want to see them. For more information visit www.gov.uk before travelling.

Mostly, carrying kids in campervans is a joyous experience but on a very few occasions, it can seem that time is standing still. Remind yourself it’s not forever and if that fails, revert to the opening paragraph of this feature!

Touring,

and

in the heart of the South

Where grown ups rule

If the thought of campsites during the summer holidays fill you with dread, or you just want a more serene break away from your own parenting responsibilities, look no further than adult-only campsites. Here we list a few reasons to consider these pockets of peace:

1. Quiet as a whisper

Hear that? Ahh, the sounds of birds singing and trees gently rustling in the breeze. At adultonly campsites there’ll be no disturbances from rambunctious children or tantruming toddlers, so you can truly enjoy the great outdoors.

2. Serene socialising

Picture yourself relaxing in the sunshine outside your ‘van, glass of wine in hand, chatting with like-minded campers. Adult-only campsites are great places to make new friends or simply have

uninterrupted catch-ups with old ones!

3. Beauty sleep guaranteed

Forget about packing earplugs and sleep masks. At adult-only campsites, you're assured of a good night's rest and, most importantly, a lay-in, with no littles raring to start the day at the crack of dawn.

4. Entertainment tailored to you

Embrace your inner adventurer without worrying about suitable activities for kids. Take part in lengthy walks, wine tastings, stargazing, fishing and more –because adults can have fun too (just in more luxurious ways!)

5. Freedom and flexibility

Many adult-only campsites are open all year round and don’t

need to work around the school holidays, so you can visit whenever you like without the threat of crowds. Those with dogs will be pleased to hear that adult campsites are often welcoming to those who wish to bring their fourlegged friends too.

6. Couple's paradise

For couples seeking a romantic getaway or a chance to reconnect away from the hustle and bustle of family life, adult-only campsites are a great choice. Enjoy candlelit meals, drinks at the pub and campfire chats while able to give each other your full attention.

So, if you're yearning for a carefree camping experience that will fully recharge your batteries, allow you to soak up the surroundings and create memories without the chaos (and luggage!) that children can bring, consider booking your next getaway at an adult-only site.

AWNINGS

VANGO AIRAWAY GALLI TALL DRIVEAWAY AWNING. with ground sheet.

Carpet. Bedroom tent. Excellent condition. £750. – Tel: 07885 079981 (Peak District)

ISABELLA COMMODORE SEED 1009

X 300 AWNING, Carbon X poles, Good Condition plus Annex (Metal Poles), Curtains, Inner Tent, Groundsheet, £850. Tel: 07704 124237. Somerset)

CARAVANS

■ AVONDALE DART 2 BERTH 2007 FullService history, motor mover, winter cover, many extras, fully equipped.£6000 Tel

awning, motor mover, 1 owner, £17,000. –Tel: 07742 790786 (Yorkshire)

■ SWIFT CHALLENGER 480 SR, 2 Berth, full and porch Awnings,

4-Berth,

GROUP NEWS & DIARIES

AUGUST 2023

ANGLIA

Group news coordinator: Jade Soanes

T: 01502 725840 E: groupnews@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Post: Motor Caravanner magazine, Countrywide Publications, Reydon Business Park, Reydon, Suffolk IP18 6DH

Deadline: 5th of the month for inclusion in the following month's magazine

Important notices: 1. At the 2022 AGM both Derek and Carol announced that they would not stand at the 2023 AGM and as a result the group will require a new secretary and treasurer for 2024. To date (3rd July 2023) no one has come forward or expressed an interest in these positions despite 8 months since the announcement. If anyone is interested in either of these posts please contact Derek Clarke, the Group Secretary. 2. It has been decided that from 31st July 2023 the voucher scheme for rallies will be discontinued. All existing vouchers will be honoured and further details will be in the August group news.

We had 25 vans at Sea Palling, a new venue for us, and the weather was glorious. During the rally we celebrated our Chairman’s birthday and most sat out in the sun or went to the local pub. A karaoke session held in there one evening was well supported by our members. A good beach but little else made a change just to sit around.

Saturday evening most members gathered round Keith’s van in a circle just like old times. A come again site.

Thirty-one vans at Heacham enjoyed good weather and with an excellent bus service trips out along the coast or of course for retail therapy to Hunstanton or Kings Lynn. Friday night was bingo in the village hall and Anglia members got some money out of it! The club house was well supported and many of us went and ate there as well as having Sunday roast before leaving on Sunday. A group of members set off for the beach, some on electric scooters, and they eventually found it.

Thanks to our stewards Mal, Janet, Sandra and Len for a good rally and two brain teasers to get us thinking. Once again good company with good weather what more could you ask for?

Thirty-two vans, including two first timers, at Bury St. Edmunds British Sugar Social Club had a mixed bag of

weather but still enjoyed a good weekend. On Friday morning all members were treated to bacon and egg rolls cooked by Ben and Keith to celebrate Caz’s birthday which was very much appreciated. Most went into the town which is downhill going in but very uphill coming back and the local taxis did well over the days we were there.

Saturday evening as usual there was a group playing in the clubhouse and the club was full. There was a raffle which is put on by the Social club and Anglia members won several prizes, even Derek got one! There was a Sunday roast available which was well attended and a good weekend was had by all. Thanks to the stewards Rose and Ken, Keith and Teresa. Scribe Derek

Upcoming rallies: 10-14 August at Hallowtree Scout Camp, Ipswich IP10 0JP. Start 1pm. Invitation to Essex. Not bookable. 24-29 August at Hunstanton Community Centre, PE36 5BW. Bookable to Teresa 07739 463321 or teresa. poole50@virginmedia.com.

AVON

Despite the lack of bottles, cans and glasses at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at the National, a total of eleven vans at the Avon table were not suddenly tee-totallers. Their drinks were cunningly disguised in the china teapots and cups! Congratulations to Yvonne for her prize-winning scones. Twenty-nine Avon and visitors’ vans enjoyed a full weekend in good weather at Brecon CC. Pat, Allan, Mark, Sue and helpers offered games, a quiz, food and background music. Hotly contested Jenga was won by Chris with Rowena as runner-up. Steve and Trish, members from New Zealand, undoubtedly won any prize for the furthest travelled. Red Kites soaring, canal-side strolls, Brecon for a food market and choirs and the almost obligatory pub lunches ensured a successful rally.

The Strawberry Rally at Cheddar, with 16 attendees, went ahead with the usual enjoyment.

Thanks to Ceri, John, Mai, Grai, Callum (11) and Alfie (7), three generations of the Jones family, for stepping in to

run the Beehive rally. It was very nearly cancelled. Please, if you can, host (or help host) a rally. It’s more enjoyable than you might think, not difficult, and help is always on hand if needed. Their cheerful poster promised lots to keep members occupied, and those that went were not disappointed. Fourteen vans included visitors from far afield, and members took part in a tricky quiz and skittles. Well done Callum and Alfie, who were excellent ball-boys. Lots of laughter and dry weather, with just the wind to keep everyone on their toes. Thank you again, your hosting skills were greatly appreciated.

4-8 August everyone is welcome to the Pre-Balloon rally at Walcot RC situated north of Bath. A normal weekend extended to the Wednesday allowing members to travel direct to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta Rally opening on 8 August. The clubhouse will offer some meals on a pre-booked basis (book with the hosts) plus the usual raffle, and a quiz and/or game or two. Table-top sale, so bring anything you want to sell. Park & Ride is just across the road for easy trips into Bath for the museums, shops and eateries or just soaking up the atmosphere.

The Balloon Fiesta itself is a big event in Avon’s calendar. www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk/about/bristol-balloon-fiesta will give you all the details, mass ascents of over 100 balloons, fireworks, night-glows etc. Entrance to the Fiesta is free, straight across the road from the rally. Buses and cycle paths are adjacent too.

In September Avon will be at Burton Bradstock, then Malmesbury.The Christmas Dinner and New Year will be confirmed very soon. ACG

Upcoming rallies: Please check on www.avongroup.org.uk/ home.html before travelling. 4-9 August at Walcot RC Albert Field, Lansdown, Bath BA1 9BJ. Pre-Balloon. 9-14 August at Bristol Balloon Fiesta, Parsonage Farm, Church Lane, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS41 9LU. Please be aware there are clean air zones in Bristol and Bath. Maps are available online. 7-12 September at Manor Farm, Barr Lane, Burton Bradstock, Bridport, DT6 4PX. 29 September-1 October at Burton Hill CP, Malmesbury SN16 9LS.

CHILTERN

Basingstoke Canal Centre, Mytchett. After some time away from attending a Chiltern rally it was a breath of fresh air to turn up and see so many familiar faces. The venue was terrific. The weather was very kind to us, in fact slightly too much, a bit sticky for sleeping but who are we to complain, it happens rarely enough.

Our hosts Dave and Jane proved to be excellent in their organisation providing us with quizzes every evening and coming up with it seemed like an inexhaustible supply of sweets for prizes. My wife, an ex nurse, was gainfully employed attending to a couple of elbows that had become slightly damaged, plasters aplenty, no serious damage.

Saturday afternoon a golf game was provided, Sharon becoming the winner scoring over 200 points and receiving yet more sweets. Talking of Sharon and Paul, they turned out to be the champion quizzers, their haul of goodies has become considerable. A boot fair just down the road provided an added attraction on the Saturday morning; in the opposite direction the Army medical museum was among various things to do plus walks along the canal path. The cafe on site proved to be popular providing much appreciated ice cream and bacon sandwiches et al. A very noisy crib match seemed to consume considerable time in the afternoons, winners uncertain.

There were a total of 19 ‘vans , 17 of which were Chiltern. Thanks yet again to Dave and Jane for their considerable good humoured running of the rally. I think he was in his element doing the quizzes. Pete & Hazel

Long Wittenham Athletic Club. What a scorcher! We mustered 16 Chiltern vans and one (first time) visitor from Severn Valley. This new-to-Chiltern site provided a spacious field and a comfortable – and very welcoming – clubhouse, which was opened for us on Friday and Saturday evening. The club even provided us with cheese and biscuits, samosas and strawberries on Friday evening, and offered to put on a quiz on Saturday.

Some energetic members took walks around the village and reported some rewarding views. On Saturday, lots of us visited Pendon Museum – railway layouts and very detailed 20s and 30s village and countryside 3D schemes. Well worth the visit. In the afternoon, cakes and games laid on by Shirley and Pete. In the evening, the club set us into teams of four and tested us with a four-round quiz. A local team came 3rd, a Chiltern team was 2nd, and a mixed Chiltern/ visitor team carried off 1st prize. Well done, Paul and Sharon, Adam and Mandy.

Our raffle and goodbye on Sunday was a little early, so that we could visit the Club’s car boot sale. Some bargains were secured. We definitely want a return visit to Long Wittenham! Jane & David

Mount Farm Park – From scorching sunshine last week to blustery winds. Twelve vans inc one visitor and one first time rallier attended this luxuriously spaced rally field complete with attractive views. A picturesque village lying in a sheltered valley is the crossroads of many long distance paths, made use of by some of those that attended. Our

Avon group –

Steve & Trish, members from New Zealand

LeoBay Campsite LeoBay Campsite

Highfield, Rushenden, Alsager Avenue, Queenborough, Kent ME11 5LA

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

Isle of Wight group

Camping Los Gallardos

Since

Camping Los Gallardos offers 125 camping pitches in a friendly, relaxed and peaceful setting. The site is divided up into a series of terraces with plenty of trees, shrubs and hedges to provide privacy for campers. We have an onsite laundry as well as a well-stocked shop, which is open daily. Free WiFi is available in our restaurant to guests, and a WiFi network is available over the whole site for a small fee. Special nights are a regular occurrence in the Bar Restaurant Miraflores during the winter, and on Tuesdays we run a free shuttle bus to the weekly Los Gallardos market. Special short term memberships to the Almeria Lawn Bowling Club are available. Park homes available for short term lets. See our website for a price list.

put forward their pet hates to go into 'Room 101'. All the suggestions provoked lots of discussion and many were the cause of much amusement. One member was extremely vocal over his dislike of Morris dancers. The winner was Daphne. Her pet hate is people who hang poo bags in trees!

4-6 August at Sissinghurst Cricket Club, Sissinghurst Rd, Cranbrook, TN17 2JA. A relaxing weekend to explore the surrounding countryside with several opportunities for refreshments in both Sissinghurst and neighbouring Cranbrook. Cost is £12.50 pupn. Start time 14:00hrs.

11-13 August at Bow Bridge Marina, Bow Hill, Wateringbury, Maidstone, ME18 5ED. Situated in the grounds of the marina overlooking the River Medway. Why not visit the county town of Maidstone via a short train ride from Wateringbury station? Bookings must be made for this rally, please contact Jan: kent@motorcaravannersclub.co.uk.

24-28 August at Rye Rugby Club, New Road, Rye, TN31 7LS (by kind permission of Sussex Group). Ideally situated for a brief walk in to Rye town with its historic buildings and quaint charm. The Pitch Side Cafe and Club bar will be available to campers throughout the weekend. There will be at least one professional band playing in the clubhouse over the Bank Holiday weekend. Cost is £12.50 pupn. Start time 12:00hrs. A Silent Auction will be happening at this rally, so start rummaging through your bits and pieces to see what you could put up for auction. All items in a good state of repair are welcome, not just camping related ones, however any unsold items will need to be taken home by the seller.

For rallies later in the year see the Kent MCC Website at kentgroupmcc.weebly.com with latest updates being

communicated via our Facebook page - Kent Group of the Motor Caravanners’ Club.

LANCASHIRE

The first rally in June was an outside event at Cononley, near Skipton. We arrived in strong sunshine but the wind was cold when the sun went down. Lisa opened the rally with information about the site and welcomed new members and visitors on both Thursday and Friday. There were 21 Lancashire ‘vans, one Anglia, one Yorkshire and two NWM&NW. Thursday night was mainly spent chatting and listening to Dean's music and we had a quiz from Carole.

Friday some went by train or bus to Skipton for shopping. Others did some exploring in the local area. In the evening Brian called bingo and we had another quiz which was won by my team after a tie-break.

Saturday it was very hot. Some did more shopping but had difficulty getting around as many streets were closed because it was carnival day. In the afternoon many played Molkky on the field, whilst others kept cool in the shade. In the evening Brian and Mel presented Take Your Pick and there was a music quiz. The evening ended with music and dancing.

Sunday coffee morning and people lucky on Bonus Ball and free rally raffle were paid out and Lisa thanked hosts Carole, Jimmy, Sandra and Mel, as well as Brian for bingo and Take Your Pick, and everyone else who helped. She wished all a safe onward journey.

Our second rally in June was at Kirkby Lonsdale a beautiful but hilly venue. The weather started a little disappointing as it turned rather wet on Friday after the hot spell. Then by Saturday lunch the sun came out again and we saw the rain no more.

We chose to use the marquee which was surprisingly large and had a concrete floor and tables and chairs were brought in from the club, for our use. Friday night, Chairperson Lisa welcomed 18 ‘vans, including one from NWM&NW. She warned us about the uneven patches of land and the need for torches after dark. We played bingo and some practised a new line dance and Dean played music both nights. Brian gave us a quiz mainly about Lancashire and we had some high scores and lots of banter.

Saturday started quite warm but dull and then the sun came out but as many had walked into town we didn’t bother playing games and it was so nice to just relax. Some disappeared to decorate the marquee with balloons with a special number and later a few went to prepare trays of food for each table for people to share to mark the special birthday of Lisa! Lisa also provided a selection of drinks and a piece of her cake for all. We enjoyed a happy night with Take your Pick and Lisa’s easy quiz, lots of line dances and Best of Friends. All in all a lovely night for a lovely lady!

Sunday coffee morning and Lisa thanked the hosts and Dean and all the helpers over the weekend. Winners of the bonus ball were paid as were the three lucky people who won their rally fee back (well almost!). Scribe Alma

Lancashire group –Birthday girl, Lisa

Motorcycle group

Upcoming rallies: 18-20 August at Bay View Bolton-leSands LA5 9TN. Own drinks – outside event.

MOTORCYCLE

Well, what a fantastic five days and nights at the Malvern National. We’ve had fantastic weather, great ride outs, brilliant entertainment, met up with old friends and spent most of the time together. The WhatsApp group worked really well especially as we all joined in two months before with the planning of our table layout. It was amazing to hear what everyone was bringing or making for the Pirate night which included skeletons, treasure chests, treasure, cannons and much more. Then when we all appeared out of our vans dressed as pirates for our group photo there were smiles and laughter all round.

Great big thank you to all the MCG members that came to the National and made it special again. And we won the trophy for the best dressed table (well done pirates).

Upcoming rallies: 20-25 August at Bala Rugby Club, LL23 7DZ. Start time 1pm. 25-29 August at Llangollen Pavilion, LL20 8SW. Start time 12:00. Invite from NWM&NW. Check out our website for details http://motorcyclegroupmcc.co.uk.

NENE VALLEY

Our rally in June was attended by a total of 50 vans. Members from NWW & WM, East Mids, Anglia, Avon, Kent, Wessex, Essex and SWW joined Nene Valley at Exmouth Rugby Club. The weather got hotter and hotter as members travelled far and wide, by bike, boat, bus and train to many destinations in this beautiful part of our country. The site is so convenient, near the railway and bus stations, and with many shops, pubs, clubs, eateries and entertainment within easy walking distance. We had a get-together for games of bingo and a magnificent raffle, a big thank you to all who donated prizes. The biggest thanks to stewards – Denis and Jane, Paul and Pat, and relief stewards John and Margaret and Peggy and Alan for making the rally a success. With a week’s break to catch up on washing etc., we were looking forward to our next seaside rally at Reydon, Southwold.

Important announcement – notification of a venue change This years AGM Meet will now be held at the Cogenhoe Bowls Club, on the weekend October 13-15 2023. At this meet, new committee members will be required The time to consider this is NOW. Do not leave things until the time of the AGM. By making a decision now, you can talk to/help Committee members, and get to know what the position entails, ensuring a seamless changeover at the AGM. Please remember that not enough Committee members means NO GROUP. The future of this Group is in the Member's hands. Please think about it as the future of the Group depends on you.

Upcoming rallies: 4-6 August at White's Farm Shop, Clay Lane. Earls Barton NN6 0EP. Cost £11.50 pupn. 18-20 August at Naseby Village Hall, Newlands, Haselbech Rd., Naseby NN6 6DE. Cost £12.00 pupn. 7-11 September at

Home Farm Rally Field, Bridge Rd., Stoke Bruerne NN12 7SY. Cost £12.00 pupn.

NORTHERN COUNTIES

Hello everyone, we’ve been a little bit out of touch as we have been away touring northern France since leaving the National! However we can report on the last four rallies, starting with Stanhope Showground, 1-5 June hosted by Stu and Sue Collingwood – 27 units with visitors from Yorkshire and West Sussex (Barry and Robbin who were first timers). The weather was quite hot and quizzes and games were enjoyed by all.

Next we were at Kays Barn, 9-12 June, for an invitation rally hosted by the Yorkshire Group. We then went to Windermere 23-27 June where we had 23 units with visitors from Chiltern, Lancs, Scotland and West Wessex. A great venue, close to the town centre. The weather was kind and they had a get-together on the Saturday evening with a music lyrics quiz and chatting until dusk.

We had a follow-on rally at Grasmere Sports and Showfield until 1st July, hosted by Allan and Kim McKelvie. We had 18 units with visitors from Chiltern, Lancs, Scotland and East Mids. Just on the outskirts of the lovely Grasmere Village and the weather was not so kind with typical Lake District weather although the sun did shine occasionally. A relaxing rally with use of the room for evening get-togethers. Very many thanks to everyone who hosted and also to our many visitors.

Our upcoming rallies for August are: Redcar Rugby Club 3-7 August. Durham Rugby Club 17-21 August. Thirsk Racecourse 25-28 August. We have an invitation out to all MCC Members to join us for 10 days in the North East, starting at Bents Park, South Shields, right on the sea front, 1-6 September and following on to Alnwick Rugby Club (Harry Potter Castle) 6-10 September. No booking required for either of these rallies. For those who don’t look at Facebook or our website a quick reminder of the revised date and venue for our AGM weekend: 29 September to 1st October at Redcar Racecourse. All details can be found on our website. We hope to see you at a rally soon.

Paula & Tony Edwards

NORTHERN IRELAND

At our fun-filled Limavady rally 16-18 June, our experienced hosts Hugh and Moria Harvey, assisted by Victor and Eleanor McFadden, not forgetting the ever helpful Robbie Hewitt, had all 41 vans quickly and expertly parked up. Despite a poor weather forecast the sun shone throughout and the only rain (heavy) occurred during the sleeping hours of Friday night. The Friday evening saw a well-attended “last man standing” game, which was won by the ever lucky Andy Clarke, who very nearly won the second prize as well, as he had purchased multi numbers. This was followed by Robbie’s favourite tunes and I believe that it was after midnight before the hall was emptied.

Good weather on Saturday meant most members took the opportunity to support the local shops and hostelries! Saturday evening, we were treated by lively live music from The Kovers, who had the dance floor crowded with all the usual great movers, however Debbie Tinsley put all to shame by giving an impromptu perfect cartwheel across the dancefloor, something many of us had never witnessed before!

At the coffee morning on Sunday morning, our hard working secretary Irene pasted on greetings from the chairman, who is at present enjoying touring France. A very warm welcome was given to Heather and Jim Fleming, Ronnie and Denise Massey and Geoff and Jean Hill, who were all attending their first rally. Congratulations were expressed to Maurice McIlhagga celebrating his 75th birthday. As Robert and Iris McEwan were celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary, there was some private discussions as to which one deserved a medal! Congratulations to Iris and Bob, a very popular couple. The number plate draw was won by Agnes Adair, the weekend quiz in the form of Sudoku was won by Andy Clarke (would you believe how lucky one man could be after his big money win on Friday).

The morning ended with our H&S Officer bringing to our attention a new, small but very effective fire extinguisher that unlike all others, can tackle all types/classes of fires and does not require yearly service and the good news is that there is a 10% off code for online sales.

Our Secretary, having asked the committee members present, put forward her suggestion to take fees in on a Friday on entry in an envelope marked with name and number plate, as it would be more convenient and leave Saturday free. The room showed their approval by a round of applause. She thanked them and wished them a safe journey home and hoped to see them at the next rally in Londonderry. Sam

Arlow

NWM&NW

Eighteen vans travelled to the National at Malvern. This included new members Mike and Kate Halliday and Kevin and Gail Chadwick with Oliver. The weather was fine, sunny

and dry so everyone had the chance to be out and about round the showground area meeting old friends and making new ones. New members, Mike and Katie, carried the banner at the opening ceremony and George and Joan, long serving members, carried it for the closing ceremony.

Our party night theme was "Summer Holiday". Thank you to everyone for entering into the spirit of the theme contributing items with a holiday theme and wearing holiday clothes. It was a great night with wonderful entertainment from the Ultimate Alternatives. Many were on the dance floor for most of the night.

On Sunday some went by bus to the shopping centre and then continued partying in the evening. A fantastic novelty act, ventriloquist Paul Dumas, took to the stage for part of the night and had us all laughing with his variety of voices and accents, not mention his fabulous singing.

At short notice Mike and Katie together with Margaret and Keith did a valiant job for the group in the Inter Group quiz. A big thank you to them. In the children's homecraft and Junior sessions run by Gill and Maria, Oliver came away with a collection of medals. He had a wonderful time and wants to go again. Raffle winners were Gail Blackwell (an air fryer) and Eileen Bridle (a television).

Our 60th Anniversary Rally was held at Cockshutt Millennium Hall. Oh what a weekend! It all began with a welcome tea/coffee time to collect gift bags on Friday afternoon and continued with a sherry reception followed by a tasty cold buffet. Irena then set the evening moving with a wide range of music from the different decades.

Saturday was fairly quiet giving members chance to explore the area or take bus journeys to Ellesmere or Shrewsbury. Games were available during the afternoon tea/coffee. In the evening when all were gathered in the hall Linda had a few announcements and welcomed Sue Pilkiw from Council before the hot buffet was served. Jon proposed a toast to absent friends and then to King Charles III as it was his first official birthday. Gareth and Hayley, a brother and sister duo, got the dancing going with some well known 60s hits and the floor was full for the evening. Sue presented the Group with 60th Anniversary Plaque. The commemorative cake was cut by long time members Ken and Margaret Worrall and then shared with everyone.

On Sunday following coffee morning and raffle draw most relaxed in the sunshine before a wine and cheese evening and the traditional bingo games. We had visitors from Lancashire, East Midlands, Severn Valley and Essex. A most enjoyable and memorable rally. Many thanks to all who worked hard to make it happen including the wonderful washing up teams. A special thank you to George Woolnough who put together a fabulous collection of photographs from many past rallies bringing back lots of fond memories.

Details for booking rallies or if you think you can host or help with rallies contact the rally officers, Jon and Elaine: email nwmnwrally@hotmail.com or mobile 07525 851394.

Upcoming rallies: 11-14 August at The Hollies, Park Lane, Hatherton, Nantwich CW5 7QX. 25-29 August Bank

NWM&NW group 60th anniversary cake

Holiday at Llangollen Pavillion, Abby Road, Llangollen, LL20 8SW. 22 August-3 September Salford Children's Holiday Camp, 86 Victoria Road, Prestatyn LL19 7AG.

SCOTTISH

Hello members, one rally to report on this month, the delayed 60th Anniversary rally at Montrose. Twenty-five vans attended, 17 from Scottish group, including first timers Malcolm and Maria Tudgay, six from Northern Counties, one West Wessex, and one from Lancashire who was a former Scottish Group chairman, John Hunter and his wife Barbara.

Thursday evening was chairman’s chitchat with drinks and biscuits followed by a very competitive game of Viking Kubrick. Friday was a chill day with a barbecue in the evening followed by a quiz.

Saturday saw a very enjoyable and interesting trip to the RAF Air Museum. Snail races in the evening where a consortium from our Northern Counties visitors backed the winning snail and won the £60 jackpot.

Sunday a vintage coach took people to Bridge of Dun station for a steam train ride into Brechin and back. The coach then took people to the House of Dun for a tour of the house. The day was finished with fish and chips in the evening. A rally to remember thanks to the hard work by the committee. JanB

Next rally is 10-14 August at The Clink rally field, Auchtermuchty. Booking is essential only 15 spaces are available. Beautiful views over the countryside.

SEVERN VALLEY

We held a rally at The Halfpenny Vineyard which is near Bobbington Airport. This was a new venue for Severn Valley and we were all pleasantly surprised and pleased with this new addition to our Rally Diary. This was a ‘booking only’ rally and vans were limited with 22 vans, 20 vans from

Severn Valley, one from NWM&NW and one from East Midlands. The weather stayed mainly fine for the weekend though rain threatened at times. The Vineyard had a dog friendly café and a selection of craft shops which were varied and novel which enticed many of us into making purchases. We all agreed that we wanted Halfpenny Vineyard added to our Rally Diary for next year.

Our rallies in August are Newlands Meadow on 14-18 August which is prior to the Western Motorhome Show at Malvern on 18-20 August

We were sorry to hear of the resignation of our Chairman Dave Blisset through ill health. We thank him for his time as Chairman and wish him a full and speedy recovery. Chris Windmill has now taken on the role of Chairman.

We would like to thank everyone who supported the Prostate Cancer Fundraiser at our Hereford Rally in May. Derek Booth from SWP informed us that we had raised £39 from the sale of books and forwarded a letter from Prostate Cancer thanking everyone.

SWP

Welcome to this August newsletter. Our first June rally was with Shirley, Linda and Michael hosting and Shirley says: ‘We all arrived at our rally in Bossiney near Tintagel on the North Cornwall coast to beautiful sunshine and stunning scenery. The sunshine continued throughout the weekend, making a relaxing rally for everyone. We had 15 vans, two West Country, one Severn Valley and 12 SWPG. On Friday we had a Meet and Greet where everyone met up for nibbles and drinks in the evening sunshine. During the day on Saturday, most of the more energetic among us ventured out on the buses, cycling or walking in the beautiful surrounding countryside. In the afternoon we met up for a D-Day Tea listening to wartime tunes followed by prize bingo with a twist. At Coffee morning on Sunday we announced the quiz winners and held the raffle.’

Our second June rally was at the new venue of Home Farm Camping, Marazion. Mel and Pete Maddocks found this fabulous site with views across the sea looking left to St Michael’s Mount and towards the right the outline of Penzance, where the annual 10-day Golowan Festival of Arts, Performances and Cultures culminated with Mazey Day celebrations over this weekend.

Twenty-four vans (19 SWP, including two first-timers; three Yorkshire; one East Wessex; one Avon) pitched up in wall-to-wall sunshine for four days. Thursday there was a Meet & Greet evening, Friday 5pm Pimms get-together, followed by a fantastic firework display at 10.45pm from Penzance Harbour; Saturday 6pm it was ‘Sausage Sizzle’ time – and a welcome unwind and relax after the hustle and bustle of all that was happening in Penzance Town centre.

Sunday 10.30am was the traditional Coffee Morning with raffle and news of what is going on in the Group. Everyone thanked Mel and Pete and it was agreed to return here for next year’s Mazey Day event. The perfect weather also meant everyone had a chance to top up their tans, plus

Scottish group

cycling, walking, swimming in the warm sea, touring this coastline in the open-top buses and making good use of their bbqs. Thanks to Mel for all the photos she took and has put onto our SWP Facebook page. The complimentary comments say it all!

Chairman’s footnote: These are two superb new(ish) venues, both well attended. These along with all rallies in our area will be no more without replacement secretary and treasurer – something to bear in mind; the nomination sheet it out, put your name down!

Upcoming rallies: 4-7 August at Mount Edgcumbe, PL10 1HZ. 16-20 August at Stithians Showground, TR3 7HL.

8-13 September at Carlyon Bay Holiday Park, PL25 3RE. 28

September-3 October at Porth Beach Holiday Park, TR7 3NH. 12-17 October at Woodlands Leisure Park, TQ9 5DQ. 10-13 November at Wooda Farm, Bude, EX23 9HU (AGM).

S&W WALES

Hello everyone, as I write this report the heatwave has ended but I am still praying for rain for the garden – us gardeners are never satisfied!

22-26 June at Chepstow Rugby Club. Our hosts, Peter and Kath Thomas with Andrew Milward, welcomed 35 vans to

this new venue including Mike and Rosie Sinclair (IOW), Celia and Colin Orsley (Avon), Mr and Mrs Connel (Nene Valley), and Matt and Liv Lloyd (Severn Valley).

The Rugby Club was ideal with a convenient bus to Chepstow town centre or Bristol and there was even a stunning view of the illuminated old Severn Bridge at night. Some parts of the site experienced road noise so any future rallies here would be on a different pitch.

On Friday evening there was bingo and the lucky couple, Michaela and Martin, won three houses! This was followed by a 50s quiz; I wonder why every team had a high score? Thanks to Keith for organising the evening.

The weather continued to be very hot all weekend and many caught the bus to the historic town of Chepstow with its castle, museum, shops and cafes. On Saturday evening Keith had arranged entertainment in the club; it was a return of ‘Spider’ the guitarist and singer. During the evening he welcomed our own John Davies, plus his guitar, to the stage and we really enjoyed them performing together.

On Sunday morning most of us went to the club for a ‘full English breakfast’ which we really enjoyed; this was followed by our usual Coffee Morning. Sue Howard, our Vice Chair, gave our Chair, Betty Bishop’s apologies – Betty and Glyn had broken down on their way to the rally from a holiday in Cornwall but are now home safely. She updated everyone on future rallies, there was the usual raffle and Sue and Keith won the lucky van prize.

This report would not be complete without telling you about the real star of the weekend; Andrew’s new dog Bess, an eight month old tiny Italian Greyhound who was so loveable that everyone wanted a play or a cuddle. Thank you Andrew for sharing her.

Upcoming rallies: 10-14 August at Brecon Sports Club, LD3 7HH. Brecon Jazz Festival Weekend. Starts 12pm. 24-29 August at Greenhill School, Tenby, SA70 8BN. Starts 12pm. 22-25 September at Pembrey Country Park, SA16 0EJ. Steam fair weekend. Starts 12pm. 6-9 October at Tycroes Rugby Club, SA18 3NY. New venue – starts 12pm. For all bookable rallies please contact our rally officer 07791 524227 or keithjhoward17@gmail.com – note corrected phone number.

SUSSEX

I hope you are enjoying the summer season in your vans, getting out and about, exploring near and far.

The Findon rally went well, with fine weather. As well as our own members, we welcomed visitors from Kent and Yorkshire. Many attempted an overgrown path to the nearby village, and pub! There was a nearby wellness event on the site, entertaining us with lively drumbeats. The evenings were spent in cheerful company around a fire pit, with cheese fondue adding to the relaxed atmosphere. Our loyalty scheme got off to a good start, with the first three vouchers presented to Trevor, Marilyn and Dave and Anne.

The next rally was at Loxwood, incorporating Anne and Kim’s 60 years in the MCC. This is an old favourite venue, as

Sussex group

S&W Wales group

shown by some of Anne’s photographs from the 60s and 70s from the same hall! Although the weather was unkind for a few hours, it was mostly hot and dry, with lots of sitting out for chats and drinks. As part of the celebrations, Anne and Kim provided wine and cheese for all, with Mel, the pocket rocket, entertaining the lively crowd and encouraging everyone onto the dance floor on Saturday night. Peter and Theresa led everyone with card bingo on Friday and Sunday evening.

During the daylight hours, some members went into the village, where a local fete was being held, with Jackie and Jim winning a bottle of wine. Well done! We welcomed many visitors, including first timers from Anglia, as well as family members of Kim attending the Saturday night extravaganza. Another three qualified for loyalty scheme vouchers, which were given out to be used at future rallies with Sussex. The scheme is open to all MCC members who come to Sussex rallies and is a nice thank you for your continued support.

Bookings are open for the November rally at Selsey (via Carole Bennett) and New Year (via Marilyn Harris), see website for details.

Upcoming rallies: 18-20 August at South Harting, GU31 5LN, hosted by Carole and Gordon, with the annual village Horticultural and Craft Show, start time 2pm. 20-23 August at Petworth Primary School, GU28 0EE, hosted by Ted and Trevor. Check the Facebook page or website for more information.

Anyone willing to volunteer to join our committee, or requiring details, please contact any committee member. We urgently need your support in order to keep the group going. It’s not as hard you think and is a worthwhile effort.

WEST COUNTRY

Bundu, 7-11 June. We had 14 vans attend our Bundu rally: 10 West Country, one Avon, one East Wessex, one West Wessex, one SWP. We started the rally with a meet and greet out on the grass in the sunshine where we met old friends and new, and we were introduced to our hosts Sam and Tim who did a great job and went through what was happening during our stay.

On Wednesday a few more vans arrived and a few of us ventured out and about on bikes or went for a walk along the trails. In the evening we went to Pump and Pedal who

kindly opened up just for us, where we had a music quiz and afterwards had a few games of bingo.

On Thursday once again some of us ventured out and took a bus into Tavistock or Okehampton or relaxed on site as the weather was good to us, then in the evening we were back at Pump and Pedal where some of us enjoyed a pizza or a pasty, then we all had a few laughs with the general knowledge quiz then followed a few games of bingo before heading back to our vans for the night.

On Friday afternoon some of us enjoyed a game of Boules then the rest of the day was ours to do as we wished, the Pump and Pedal was open to all in the evening so a few went up for a drink.

On Saturday some went into Tavistock for the market, then in the afternoon we held our raffle and then the rest of the day was ours to enjoy. Then before we knew it it was Sunday and time to pack away and make our way home. We hope that you all enjoyed your stay with us and that you will join us again.

We had 33 vans attend our first rally at Topsham Rugby Club: 22 West Country, five Avon, two SWP, two East Wessex, one West Wessex ,one Kent. What a fab 5 nights we all had and we also had some great weather to go with it. Our hosts were Jim and Jenny and once again they did a great job. The rally started with a meet and greet in the evening where old friends met up and new friends made.

On Wednesday some of us ventured into Topsham and to the quay, in the evening we had a few games of bingo.

On Thursday a game of boules was played in the afternoon then in the evening we enjoyed a Chinese or fish and chips which were delivered to the club house, then afterwards there was a quiz followed by card bingo.

Friday was ours to do as we wished like take a bike ride, walk the dogs or take a stroll. Saturday evening we had a few games of bingo, half way through we had our raffle then we finished our games of bingo and afterwards had background music while we chatted and had another drink.

Before we knew it it was Sunday morning and time to pack away, but there was no rush to leave the site as we had to wait for all the cyclists to leave as they had their annual charity bike ride. We hope that you all enjoyed your stay with us and hope to see you at another of our rallies.

Upcoming rallies: 8-13 August at Newton Abbott Rugby Club. 24-29 August at Bude Rugby Club. 12-17 September at Lady’s Mile Holiday Park.

West Wessex group

West Country group

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WEST WESSEX

June was a brilliant month for rallies! The sun shone brightly on 17 of the 18 days we enjoyed away. Bridport Rugby Club, a new site for us, provided opportunities to walk into town, to West Bay or Symondsbury. Buses and cars took campers further afield and the nearby garden centre also proved popular. The clubhouse was open every evening for darts, skittles, pool and music from our own DJ, Stephen.

Weymouth Rugby Club was equally blessed with sunshine, which allowed us to gather together outside on several evenings to chat, indulge in drinks and nibbles, hotdogs, games of bowls and boules. This was an ideal spot for walks, cycle rides, shopping or just relaxing.

Because of unforeseen circumstances our next meet was changed at incredibly short notice. 29 motorhomes diverted to The Holme Bush at Corfe Mullen and were very happy with this new venue. The pub served food throughout our stay, with live music and a bbq on Saturday afternoon. Huge breakfasts, fish and chips on Friday, and Sunday lunches were enjoyed by most of us.

We gathered every evening to enjoy good company, with a buffet at “Meet and Greet”, bingo, raffle and meringues, strawberries and cream. Every gathering was punctuated with lots of laughter and a really good time was had by all! There were 18 motorhomes from West Wessex, four from Avon, one from West Country, S&W Wales, Severn Valley, Essex, Kent, SWP and Chiltern.

On 9-14 August we are at Corsham Rugby Club, SN13 9QG. Water and Elsan emptying point available on this grass field. The bar will be open and food may be available. £15.50 pupn, hosts are Pat and Bill (07770 454550) assisted by Chris and Margaret. It is a 15 minute walk into town and buses will take you to Bath/Trowbridge.

On the 24-29 August we will be at The Three Magpies Pub near Devises, SN12 6RN. Cost is £17.50 pupn. The field behind the pub has water, Elsan, a toilet. A few electric hook-ups may be available. The canal path is at the end of the lane and buses run in both directions. Please see website or rally book for detailed directions. Hosts, Judy and Roy (07831 420815) assisted by Alison and Michael.

YORKSHIRE

Well what a busy month, we have had four rallies in June. We kicked off at Kay’s Barn with 34 vans (21 Yorks, eight N. Counties, one Lancs, one East Mids, one Anglia, two West Wessex (first time rally as well). Due to good weather we were able to have a game of Kings. We had entertainment both Saturday and Sunday which went down well. Saturday's group was without a drummer due to illness, but Pete (a member) stepped in and played for the night. Great feedback from all who attended.

Our second rally was at Bilton Park Village Farm, Harrogate a new venue to us this year. A quieter, smaller rally with 12 vans in attendance (11 Yorkshire, one

Anglia). A lovely flat site, some of the ralliers walked in to Knaresborough, others just relaxed in the sun (until it rained). The rain soon passed and we spent the evenings gathered round having a good old “chin wag”.

Our third rally was at Pickering Recreation Club (another new venue to us). We had a good attendance of 34 vans: 26 Yorks, three N. Counties, one N. Ireland, one NWM&NW, and three Sussex (first time with Yorkshire). We had great weather for most of the weekend and a game of Kings was arranged as well as a Boules knock-out competition. Some of us braved the heat and decided to wander into the town to explore and take advantage of the local hostelries.

Friday night most of us ventured into the bar for a game of bingo and social evening. Saturday, the hosts (Mark and Sarah) decided to have a social gathering outside in the evening (due to the heat), this was well attended by the ralliers and we enjoyed another bingo session and quiz before dispersing to our beds. Sunday saw some of the ralliers leaving for home, whilst the rest of us lucky ones stayed and battened down the hatches ready for the thunderstorm which was on its way. A brilliant weekend, so good we have rebooked for August to do it all over again.

Rally four was at Langlands Garden Centre (our third new venue this month). 19 vans attended the rally; 15 Yorkshire, two Sussex (one first timer), one Lancs (first timer), one Severn Valley (first timer). The ralliers explored the area and enjoyed visiting the garden centre and café. Social gatherings outside Friday and Saturday with a game of bingo (a bit windy though!)

Phew, well that’s it for June. Only two rallies next month. Happy motorhoming everyone, regards Jacqui

Upcoming rallies: 3-8 August at Whitby RUFC YO21 3PB (dog spaces are bookable). 17-20 August at Derwent Arms, Osbaldwick Nr York YO10 3NP. New addition 24-29 August at Pickering Recreation Club YO18 7DB.

RALLY AMENDS

ISLE OF WIGHT Calbourne Water Mill Heights which was due to take place 7-9 July has moved to 4-6 August.

NORTHERN COUNTIES revised date and venue for our AGM weekend: 29 September to 1 October at Redcar Racecourse.

SWP 16-20 August at Stithians Showground, TR3 7HL.£12 pupn. Entry to steam rally £5 per person per day (special entry price for MCC members). No booking required.

S&W WALES 6-9 October at Tycroes Rugby Club, SA18 3NY. New venue, starts 12pm.

YORKSHIRE New addition 24-29 August at Pickering Recreation Club YO18 7DB.

GORGING in the FARM of ENGLAND

Frances & Michael Howorth tour Somerset, a land of legend, history, and beauty

Somerset, the land of legend, history and beauty has something for everyone, with plenty to do, see, eat and drink. We hunted for scrumpy, gorged ourselves on cheddar cheese, saw splendid caves and enjoyed wonderful walks and cycle rides. Along the way we found campsites full of fun for all the family and some of the prettiest and most historic villages to be found anywhere. Many of them chocolate box, picture-perfect and unspoiled.

At the heart of every good English village is a pub and in Somerset that statement is alive and well. We deliberately chose to eat out

often on this, our first motorcaravan tour of the county, because of the reputation for excellence. Stand-out eateries included the Luttrell Arms in Dunster, the Lamb at Axbridge, The Swan at Wedmore and the White Hart in Somerton, each one of them offering a warm welcome, a local beer and attentive customer service.

For many motorcaravan owners, the M5 motorway provides the perfect conduit from the middle of the country into Somerset. It offers a quick, clean getaway route into rural tranquillity. Just 7 miles off this arterial highway is Brean, quite possibly the camping capital of the world. Never have we encountered

quite so many campsites in such a concentration. Warren Farm was our choice from among these large and accommodating behemoths and the cheery greeting we received from the ladies at check-in was a good omen, suggesting we had chosen well. Seven miles of sandy beach lie just across the road and it offers easy access to the Brean Down way, an exciting cycle path and walking trail. Fishing in well stocked lakes is just one of a plethora of alternative amenities the site has to offer. Its proximity to the town of Cheddar, home of gorge, cheese and caves, is another good reason to use Warren Farm as a base.

In Cheddar there is plenty to do and easy to access car parks without height restrictions makes taking your van into town a breeze. Once there, head for the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company and book a tour. Their all-day ticket allows you to pop in and out of the factory so that you can watch each of the procedures that turns 250 litres of fresh, raw milk (from a single herd of cows) into a 28-kilo cheese. It is the only cheese still made in town and could, as such, be classed as the real deal. Walk through town and up to the caves to visit the fascinating caverns. In one of them there is a substantial storage cage where cheese, made just yards

away, is stored and matured. If you still feel energetic, climb the 274 steps of Jacob's Ladder and again, up yet more stairs to the top of a look-out that commands spectacular views across Cheddar Gorge. The climb is well worth the effort. You’ll be rewarded with magnificent views of the Mendips and beyond. To the

south you will see the flat, lush water meadows of the Somerset Levels and to the north the windswept plateau that runs for over 22 miles east to west!

Dinner that first night was enjoyed at The Lamb, a traditional oak-beamed coaching inn with open fireplaces dating back to 1480. It is in the heart of Axbridge, an historic medieval village where locals have brought their history to light by adorning key buildings with interesting blue plaques. The pub’s menu is crammed with tasty pub classics and hearty seasonal dishes, while the bar is well stocked with Butcombe beer, local cider and ales.

We stayed our next night outside Minehead at St Audries Holiday Camp, now under new ownership. This pleasant campsite, with its >>

Jacob's Ladder track in Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company

Footpath running through Gough's cave in Cheddar.

TomMeaker/shutterstock

At the heart of every good English village is a pub, and in Somerset, that statement is alive and well.

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renovation. 15 motorcaravan touring sites are all gathered in their own, self-contained cluster, yet they have access to all the facilities the holiday camp has to offer. If the onsite restaurant is closed, which it was when we stopped over, allow us to recommend the delightfully different and totally delicious menu at the Luttrell Arms in the medieval village of Dunster. Located within the Exmoor National Park, the village is a delight. Complete with its own

has a wealth of other listed buildings and hidden treasures.

Porlock Weir is another of those very special Somerset villages. It has been owned by the Braithwaite family for the past 400 years and their stewardship has ensured it has retained its charm. With its whitewashed cottages, ancient inn and stone quay, Porlock Weir is postcard pretty. Although the tidal harbour now provides shelter only for pleasure craft, in the past cargoes including limestone, coal, timber and produce, were shipped to and from here to South Wales and beyond. Porlock Weir oysters have

been grown and eaten here since 1836 and we were keen to eat some just yards from the beds where they had been reared. Ian Kershaw of the Porlock Weir Oyster Company was keen to let us try, so gladly, and rather expertly, he shucked some for us to sample. Served with an interesting array of unusual garnishes, they were delicious.

The harbour in the historic town of Watchet, is now a pleasure boat marina. The harbourside car park has two bays reserved for the exclusive use of motorcaravans

Voyager at St Audries Bay Holiday Park

Guinea fowl kiev at Luttrell Arms

Dinner at the Lamb in the Medieval village of Axbridge

which is both nice to see and easy to use. We parked there to visit East Quay, a two-year-old community-run enterprise, that has fast become a tourist attraction. The centre is the initiative of five young mums, who thought they could improve their town, create jobs, be inventive and have fun while doing so. They have succeeded and now you can eat great Mediterranean style foods in their café, admire art hanging in galleries and watch artists create it.

The Swan at Wedmore was that night’s gourmet dinner delight. It is a bustling village pub with an outstanding kitchen led by executive chef Tom Blake from River Cottage, alongside head chef Sam Sperring-Trendl. The menu changes regularly and uses all the best local ingredients.

We arrived at our next campsite just in time to see them packing up a hot air balloon that had landed beside our pitch while we had been away at the pub! The delightfully peaceful Bucklegrove Holiday Park

is owned by the Wookey Hole group and has stunning views over the flat plains of the Somerset levels. It has two touring and camping fields: “Strawberry Field” and “The Grove”. They are beautifully landscaped areas with mature native trees and flowering shrubs. Each has a facility block and individually marked and numbered pitches.

Set on the western slopes of the Mendip Hills is the medieval city of Wells. It has been a sacred site set beside freshwater springs for over a thousand years. There is plenty for families to do here, including spending a day exploring the market, the many independent shops and the historic Wells Cathedral, its Bishop's Palace and gardens. We arrived early and managed to park our campervan easily. The 12th century cathedral is both beautiful

and historic. It remains a centre of Christianity, having attracted pilgrims and tourists alike over the centuries. Guided tours of the gardens and Bishop’s Palace take place three times a day and are included in the admission. We loved hearing the stories about dragons and a family of mute swans that has lived here for over 200 years.

A tour of the cathedral is a must. The original church dates from 705, but the present one mostly dates back to the 1200s and contains one of the world’s only two chained libraries. Perhaps our favourite feature was the Wells clock. Installed circa 1390, it has one of the oldest medieval clockfaces in the world and on the quarter-hour you should pause to watch jousting knights appear in tournament. Better still, wait until noon and get the full show! >>

Porlock Weir

A crate of oysters at Porlock Bay Oysters

Making paper at Two Rivers Papermill, East Quay at Watchet

Bucklegrove Holiday Park

With its whitewashed cottages, ancient inn and stone quay, Porlock Weir is postcard pretty.

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Culmhead, Taunton, Somerset TA3 7EA

The cathedral has an excellent café in the loft which is rightly famous for its fish chowder and cheese scones. It is the best way to take a break during a wonderful tour of a fascinating city full of history. Space is far too short to explain what fun Wells truly is, so it pays to check the website (www.wellssomerset. com) and plan your visit accordingly.

The internationally famous garden at East Lambrook Manor is home to a quintessential English cottage garden. Its creator, Margery Fish, a novice gardener when she came to live here, went on to become a renowned plants woman and gardening writer. She made the cottage garden style fashionable and today the garden remains a place of great beauty and charm. The garden has a rustic feel and is lovingly cared for by the owner, Mike Werkmeister, who keeps it much like Margery Fish left it.

On Burrow Hill in Kingsbury Episcopi, the Somerset Cider Brandy company has been making cider since the 1970s and brandy since 1987. Julian Timperley, together with his daughter, Matilda, has been reviving and refining the ancient art of cider brandy production. In 1989, this pioneering spirit led to HM Customs granting the company the UK's first ever full cider-distilling licence. Somerset Cider Brandy is now found in some of the finest restaurants in the world, evoking all the magic and mystery of the West Country's proud cider-making and apple-growing traditions. Just don’t mention the word Calvados! Visit and take a tasting tour; if you don't like alcohol, try the apple juice, it's divine.

Somerton is mentioned in the Domesday Book. This ancient hilltop town has maintained its historic charm and boasts a 17th century Market Square and an octagonal Market Cross as its focal point. The White Hart is the village’s 16thcentury pub. It has exposed stone walls, parquet floors and an eclectic, slightly bohemian feel about it. The restaurant, where we ate dinner, is

run by Tom Blake, a former head chef at River Cottage and his chargrilled chicken salad and wood-roasted pork belly are dishes of choice!

“Park anywhere you like,” says a smiling Sally England when we arrived at Thorney Lakes Campsite. “We don’t do regimented lines or formalised pitches here,” she adds helpfully. Sally and her family started this delightful site with its stunning fishing lakes 30 years ago and it is often full. If you like camping without clothes on, Thorney Lakes hosts the annual Nude Fest each July. It is the biggest nude camping experience for Naturists anywhere in the UK.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton is devoted to the history of British naval aviation. It has an extensive collection of military and civilian aircraft, aero engines, models of aircraft and Royal Navy ships, and paintings and drawings related

Somerset Cider Brandy Company

Wells Cathedral from Bishop's Palace gardens

Mike Werkmeister owner of East Lambrook Manor with Michael

In the heart of Exmoor National Park

BURROWHAYES FARM

CARAVAN & CAMPING SITE AND RIDING STABLES

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Select family site in a delightful National Trust setting, just 2 miles from the coast. Surroundings moors & woods provide a walkers paradise and children play & explore safely. Pony trekking from the site. Good little shop. Heated shower & disabled facilities, laundrette & pot wash. Touring, Camping & Motorhome pitches. Fully serviced hardstandings available. Caravan Holiday Homes for hire.

Popular family site in a delightful National Trust setting, just 2 miles from the coast Surroundings moors & woods provide a walkers paradise and children play & explore safely. Stables offer pony trekking for all abilities

Heated shower block with disabled and baby changing facilities, laundrette & pot wash Sites for Tourers, tents and motorhomes with hook-ups. Caravan holiday homes for hire.

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Tel: 01643 862463

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Halse Farm

Caravan Park & Campsite

Spectacular views & walks • WiFi

Clean, heated toilet block • 10 amp electric hook-ups • Chemical disposal point • Disabled facilities

Laundrette • Children’s play area

Gas exchange • Dogs welcome

T: 01643 851259 mcc@halsefarm.co.uk

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Golden Square Caravan & Camping Park

Nr Helmsley, York, YO62 5YQ

Award-winning 5 Star family park nestled on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors. Enjoy panoramic views and two heated, luxury stone-built toilet/shower blocks.

01439 788 269 www.goldensquarecaravanpark.com reception@goldensquarecaravanpark.com

Looe Country Park

to naval aviation. It has significant importance to our family in that it displays a replica of Short Improved S.27, an aircraft that seems to have been made from string and canvas. The original machine was flown by Frances’s grandfather, Charles Rumney Samson.

Not far away, and like the

museum just off the A303, Nick and Ash Signfield have opened a farm shop that provides a true taste of Somerset. Named after their daughter Teal, the concept was inspired by their trans-African travels and is purposefully different in its concept. A clever mix of restaurant, café and farm shop, it is a relaxing

spot to share a meal with friends, buy exceptional, locally produced meat or top-up with groceries, freshly baked breads and pastries, heritage cheeses and thoughtful gifts. If nothing else Teals demonstrates what we have said for years, that if Kent is the garden of, then Somerset is the farm of England.

Above LtoR: Thorney Lakes Campsite. Replica of a Short S.27 at the Fleet Air Arm Museum and tasting local produce on a visit to Teals food market, shop and restaurant

A family orientated site at the gateway to the Jurassic Coast. Take a trip on the famous Swanage steam train to historical Corfe Castle, as we are only a 5 minute walk to Herston Halt station. Enjoy walks along the spectacular coastline and National Trust countryside or try bird watching, fishing, water sports or sandcastle building.

MVS Ltd, 6 Ilton Business Park, Ilton, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 9DU Tel: 01460 247200

E: info@magnummvs.co.uk www.magnummvs.co.uk

Ideally situated in front of Chesil Beach and less than two miles from Weymouth town centre.

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Stunning panoramic views

Farm walk access to Coast Path

Sea Barn Farm

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• Open all year • A large family run touring park • A collection of self catering cottages and static caravans • Seasonal, heated enclosed outdoor/indoor swimming pool • Children’s play area

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In next month's Out & About we travel to...

• Over 18s health club with gym, adult indoor pool, steam room and sauna • Coffee house • Bar and takeaway with entertainment Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6QL | 01297 560226 www.manorfarmholidaycentre.co.uk 01463 792979

Cumbria & the Lake District

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DORSET Dazzling

Brimming with natural beauty, historic landmarks and attractions for all the family, Dorset offers an enchanting escape from the hustle and bustle. Here are just a few of the county’s top sights:

Jurassic Coast

Dorset's coastline needs to be seen to be believed and the jewel in the crown is undoubtedly the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Spanning 95 miles, this awe-inspiring stretch reveals 185 million years of Earth's history through dramatic cliffs, rock formations, and fossils. A visit to Durdle Door (pictured above), a natural limestone arch jutting out of the sea, is a must. The young and young at heart will enjoy a trip to Lyme Regis, an area famous for its fossil hunting opportunities.

Corfe Castle

Step back in time with a visit to these fairytale ruins, a survivor of the English Civil War. Perched atop a hill, this iconic fortress offers spellbinding views of the surrounding Purbeck countryside. Explore the history of Corfe Castle as a royal palace and fortress at the visitor center before climbing the battlements for panoramic vistas. During the summer, the castle hosts medieval reenactments, bringing the past to life and captivating visitors of all ages.

Swanage Railway

Train enthusiasts and history lovers will enjoy a nostalgic trip aboard the Swanage Railway. This beautifully restored steam locomotive chugs its way through some of Dorset's most scenic landscapes. The journey takes you from the seaside town of Swanage to the quaint village of Corfe Castle, allowing you to experience the timeless charm of traditional railway travel.

The Cerne Abbas Giant Venture into the countryside near the village of Cerne Abbas to witness the enigmatic Cerne Abbas Giant. Carved into the chalk hillside, this colossal figure depicts a naked man wielding a club and measures an impressive 180 feet in height.

The origins and purpose of this ancient artwork remain shrouded in mystery, adding an air of intrigue to this fascinating sight.

Lulworth Cove

Another coastal gem, this pictureperfect horseshoe-shaped bay boasts turquoise waters and pebbled shores. Whether you prefer leisurely strolls along the beach or challenging coastal hikes, Lulworth Cove is the place to be, with direct access to the South West Coast Path. Low tide reveals rock pools teeming with sea creatures – great for exploring with children.

Dippy the Diplodocus

For a blend of history and paleontology, head to the Dorset County Museum in Dorchester. The main attraction here is Dippy the Diplodocus, a 70-foot-long dinosaur replica that will amaze both children and adults alike. The museum's extensive collection also

includes archaeological artifacts and geological wonders, providing a fascinating insight into Dorset's rich heritage.

Abbotsbury Swannery

Located on the Fleet Lagoon, this sanctuary for mute swans offers a unique opportunity to witness these majestic birds up close. With a history spanning over 600 years, the swannery was established by monks and provides a tranquil environment to observe these graceful creatures.

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Widdicombe Farm In the English Riviera

Riverside is a quiet, secluded countryside park. Convenient for easy access to the beautiful South Hams’ beaches, Dartmoor National Park, Cornwall and Brittany Ferries port.

T: 01752 344 122

info@riversidetouringparkplymouth.co.uk

www.riversidecaravanpark.co.uk

Family-run park overlooking Port-Eynon Bay. Pitches for motorcaravans, tourers and glamping pods, as well as self-catering bungalows. Within walking-distance of the beach. Clubhouse with licensed bar, serving meals. WiFi. Grocery shop & laundrette. Outdoor heated swimming pool. Children’s play area. Tennis court. Booking advised for bank/school holidays. Open 1st March until New Years Day. 01792 687205 www.bankfarmleisure.co.uk enquiries@bankfarmleisure.co.uk

T: 01803 558325 E: info@widdicombefarm.co.uk

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Peaceful and spacious 5 pitch site conveniently located for NC500 route stopover 07796 662 256 info@kessockcaravanpark.co.uk

• Site open all year • A large family run touring park • A collection of self catering cottages and static caravans • Seasonal, heated enclosed outdoor/indoor swimming pool • Children’s play area • State of the art over 18s health club with gym, adult indoor pool, steam room and sauna • Coffee house serving refreshments

• Bar and takeaway with entertainment

Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6QL | 01297 560226

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Superbly presented, fully serviced pitches provide the perfect base for exploring Cornwall, just a short drive from Newquay. The park offers touring pitches with hardstanding, water, electric and chemical/toilet waste outlet and parking for your tow car. If you are looking for an idyllic holiday park with fantastic countryside views and a restaurant on-site, get in touch today.

Summercourt, Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 5AF

TECH TALK with Gentleman Jack

In this series of Tech Talk we will be looking at various sub-groups of fascinating motorcaravans and at some of their design features, all from an historical perspective. This month:

So far in this series we’ve mostly looked at specific types of motorcaravans, the next few instalments will be less concerned about the type of motorcaravan and more focussed on what they were/are used for… and where.

AT WAR… Motorised homes were beginning to be utilised by the armed forces of many different European countries as long ago as the early 1900’s. Some only offered a space to sit down or sleep inbetween the loads (usually sacks of food supplies or ammunition boxes) in order to escape from inclement weather and the pervasive mud. Before the end of World War 1, several countries’ armed forces had converted the back of some lorries into proper residential field

homes and mobile HQ/command posts [1]. These boasted a full standing-height canvas tilt cover with windows and a double thickness roof, camp beds, plus paraffin fuelled stoves, heating, and lighting. This twin rear wheel model [1] was pictured in France and is a genuine original colour photograph (not a later retouch) from some time after Spring 1916, but before the end of World War 1. It offered comparative luxury for some officers, whilst the ‘cannon fodder’ were knee deep in mud all along the trenches. This pioneering type of colour photograph was named Autochrome and was invented by the French Lumiére brothers.

It wasn’t just humans that had their own mobile home in World War 1, pigeons were

similarly favoured [2] – principally because they were a vital method of communication as indicated

by their revered nickname; 'The Winged Messengers'.

Although used extensively in the Second World War, the right hand drive Czechoslovakian Praga RV [3] was actually built from 1935 for civilian use. Many ex-army motorised homes, ambulances, radio vehicles, mobile field hospitals, and troop carriers have

enjoyed a long second life as global expedition off-road motorhomes. The MAN example [4 & 5] was photographed recently whilst the occupants (a young ‘full-timing’ German family) were visiting the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon.

IN PEACE…

CND – Campaign for Nuclear

Disarmarment – a significant and influential movement for peace – had been growing ever more popular since the late 1950’s. Later some CND supporters found a natural synergy with the ‘flower power’ hippies of the 1960’s. However, most pictures of hippy busses that appear in books, magazines and on-line are of later wannabes [6]. The Summer of Love [7], ‘be sure to wear some flowers in your hair’, took place in 1967, and although global in reach, had its spiritual base in San Francisco, USA. Up until then, all VW Transporter campervans had split windscreens, as in this genuine hippy bus [8] unlike [6] which has a later bay window.

RV historians are adamant that most ‘full-timing’ hippy buses in the mid-to-late 1960’s were not VW’s, but ramshackle repurposed buses and coaches. ‘Further’, previously ‘Furthur’, [9] was a famous example that went on pharmacologically-enhanced continued on p64

continued from p63

‘trips’ (pun intended) crewed by the ‘Merry Pranksters’, led by Ken Kesey (author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest). Supplies included bottles of orange juice liberally laced with LSD. Don’t try this in your `van!

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN WAR AND PEACE

Two fascinating motorcaravans that bridge the divide. Firstly, a 1939 coachbuilt conversion by Russell and Company of Bexhill on a 1936 right hand drive 4.0-litre 6-cylinder Pontiac sedan car [10-12]. It was commissioned by Captain Francis Scrivens Dunn and Mrs Dunn* at the outbreak

of World War 2 to provide all the family with a means of evacuating to safer locations. For many years it could be seen in unrestored, but immaculate condition, at the premises of Poole-based Kampers and Kars, but is now thought to reside with a private collector in America. Captain Dunn contracted polio which resulted in mobility

difficulties; thus, his wheelchair replaced the cab passenger seat [12]. When I last viewed the Pontiac, it had covered less than 10,000 miles from new!

Finally, a wonderful creation from the pages of a 1970 club magazine. It is based upon the idea that ‘an Englishman’s home

is his castle’* and featured a modified VW Transporter [13]. It was part of a series of wacky motorcaravan creations from the pen of a talented graphic artist and used in adverts by Foley Caravans (Motorised). Their GHQ was in Hallow near Worcester, although they also had depots in Birmingham, Cannock, and Wolverhampton. They were main agents for Auto-Sleepers, CI Motorised, Car Camper, Dormobile, and Freedom. Foley was a frequent advertiser in our magazine.

Author’s footnotes: * = different times! (1) There wasn’t a mention of Mrs Dunn’s

forenames, or those of their children, in any contemporary press accounts. (2) Foley’s advertising agency would today be reflecting that; 'an English person’s home is their castle'.

Ferry Good for Al-ko

Next month… Motorcaravans for global off-road explorat

The HPC Hydraulic Levelling System is truly a step ahead for motorhome owners. Covering all requirements expected from a levelling system. it is simply and quickly operated using the on-board touch-screen controls or operated remotely from an iPhone 5 and above or an Android phone via a Bluetooth free app. Accompanied by the AS Air Suspension system, all your suspension and levelling needs are catered for. At AS Air Suspension UK Ltd, we seek to continually improve and stay ahead of our competitors. Using innovative materials to reduce the weight of the systems, without any compromise to quality.

Tea break teasers

See page 68 for solutions

Codeword

Crack the code and fill in the grid. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a number from 1-26. Two letters are given as a starter, can you decipher the rest of the code to discover all the words?

Sudoku

The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes contains the digits from 1 to 9. A cell is the smallest block in the game. A row, column and region consists of 9 cells and the whole game consists of 81 cells.

Medium Hard

Can you find the summer-related words listed below?

Allergy

Ant

BBQ Bikini

Boat

Daisy

Easy

Fair

Fan

Heat

Hike

Hot

Humid

July

June

Kite

Lawn

Crossword Puzzle

Lazy

Light Party

Patio

Punch

Rain

Sand

Sea Shade

Sun Swim

Tan

Tent Thunder Walk

Wasp

Down

2 Capital of Ontario (7)

3 Computer information (4-3)

4 Beach (6)

5 Instruction book (6)

6 Tooth-related (6)

7 Garments (5)

8 Elizabeth I was the last (5)

13 Computer memory units (5)

14 Periodical (5)

15 Dumb vessel (5)

17 Actor-singer --Novello (4)

18 Like zirconia (5)

19 Get to know (5)

20 Brooked (5)

21 Exude slowly (4)

26 Moral (7)

27 Sleep (4-3)

29 Capital of Lesotho (6)

30 Beginner (6)

31 Spliff (6)

33 Invalidate (5)

34 Embarrass (5)

Tea Break Teasers

(from pages 66 & 67)

Codeword

Bazaar

Private sale advertisements

ACCESSORIES

KAMPA MOTOR RALLY XXL PRO AIR

330 AWNING in good condition. £480 ono. Collection only from North Notts. Postcode DN10.

Tel: 07894 075218 / 07816 590653

VANGO IDRISS TALL AWNING drive away, blue, inc. pump and fittings. Used once. £200. Tel: 01952 233442 (Shropshire)

OUTDOOR REVOLUTION PORCHLITE

260 AIR AWNING 240cm depth x 260cm length. Including air pump, poles, draft skirt and carry bag. Excellent condition, as new. £180.

Tel: 07544 553915 (Ledbury)

CAR-A-TOW A FRAME as new, used four times. £150 ONO.

Tel: 01275 844159 (Bristol)

VANGO BALLETTO AIR 260 AWNING new/unused. Inc pump and carry bag. Illness forces sale. Cost £725 (2022), selling for £450. Tel: 07544 553915 (Ledbury)

FIAT DUCATO SECURITY PEDAL LOCK 2015-2023, also fits Peugeot. New unused, £50 ONO. Will be at Lincoln show, or tel: 07481 939953 (Co Durham)

VEHICLES/BIKES

ARMITAGES LOW LOADING TRANSVERSE TRAILER only used 3 times, extra loading plate and logbook. £1,400 (RRP £1,750 + £150 for plate). Cash on collection from Barnsley. Text 07973 488117 for photos.

MEMBERS'PRIVATE SALE ADVERTISEMENTS

Club members are entitled to a FREE classified lineage advertisement of up to 30 words. To be included, please send your listing along with this form to: Motor Caravanner, Countrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon, Suffolk IP18 6DH or email: bazaar@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk.

If you wish to include a photograph, please enclose a cheque for £12 inc vat payable to Countrywide Publications.

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

Postcode:

Club membership number:

Please indicate whether your item is: FOR SALE WANTED

PLEASE NOTE:

• Advertisements will be placed in the next available issue.

• Emailed listings that include photos will not be used until the cheque is received.

• Listings will not be used unless a valid membership number is provided

Are you driving illegally?

When did you last check your motorhome weight? Ministry figures suggest up to 80% of motorhomes may be operating overloaded!

Drive an overloaded motorhome and you not only risk a fine, you also risk your insurance and the safety of you and your passengers!

When looking to buy your next motorhome, insist on an accurate, up -to-date weight ticket! The brochure may state a MIRO or payload allowance, but these f igures can be out by as much as 5% (average 125kg).

This is more likely to be against you than in your favour, so it is always recommended that you visit a weighbridge to check your vehicle’s weight.

Need to uprate to carry more payload?

If you think you might have a payload issue, we can help. SvTech is able to increase/uprate the payload allowance on many makes and models.

Behind the scenes of every SvTech uprate, testing of a vehicle is carried out to create a ministry recognised test report, which is then use to cover subsequent uprates. This report and testing is vital in supporting an uprate, and is a legal requirement. Do not be fooled into thinking it’s just a paperwork exercise, as offered by others.

Reaching 70? Need to consider downrating?

SvTech can downrate your motorhome to 3500kg should you not pass, or wish to take, your medical. You must first weigh the motorhome to find out what payload you will have available at 3500kg . For further guidance on downrating please visit our website at www.svtech.co.uk/motor-home-downrates

To promote road safety, SvTech designed a free -to-use, Load Distribution Analysis (LDA) program which helps the user to know their likely laden weight and how best to position their goods about the vehicle to avoid an axle overload . Please visit our website www.svtech.co.uk/lda to find out how you can stay safely within your vehicle limits.

For any questions regarding these matters, please contact 01772 621800 or email, webenquiries@svtech.co.uk