Motor Caravanner July 2023

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

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

The National Rally is now over and I hope those who attended enjoyed the weekend and are now enjoying time with their Groups at their regular rallies or visiting other Groups. If it is your first time with a Group let your hosts know and I am sure you will be made welcome.

At these rallies, please ensure that your dogs are kept under control as not all people like dogs and other dogs can be scared by the attention.

I would like to say thank you to all hosts and committees for the planning and work that goes into these meetings. If you think you can help in any way then please contact your Group committee to offer your services.

Enjoy getting out and about in your motorhome.

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 July 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

A NATIONAL RALLY DIARY

Sunday 21st May and the working party arrived at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern ready to set up for the Club’s 60th National Rally.

By Thursday the rallying fields were ready; the cones marked out, the tables and chairs set up in the hall and the marshals hard at work as a steady line of approx. 250 Motorhomes were all parked up.

The evening was spent catching up with friends, bingo, and testing brains with a couple of quizzes.

Three coaches arrived on Friday morning; one to take 28 gentlemen and 7 ladies to the Morgan Factory for a tour, one to Hereford town and another to Ross on Wye and Hop Pocket (a small shopping village with independent shops).

Friday evening and the Banner Parade saw members proudly marching round the room with their banners, this was followed by Mr Oompah, alias Baron Von Schmidt Haus, who had everyone singing and banging on their tables.

Saturday's Silent Auction brought hundreds of items for members to bid on and this was followed be the AGM and Members’ Meeting which

was well attended.

The hall was then set-up for Party Night which saw many films being used for fancy dress – a wonderful sight providing a super atmosphere. The Ultimate Alternatives added to the party mood with songs from the 60’s and 70’s.

Members showed off their skills in the Homecraft competition on Sunday – well done to all those who took part, and congratulations to the winners, you are all so talented! The Kiddies Club entered work that they had made with a little help from Gill and Maria. The garden fete in

the afternoon proved an enormous success with many stalls being held for charities. Bromyard Windband played some lovely music in the background. The Inter group quiz also took place with Anglia Group taking 1st place. Well done guys!

Sunday evening saw the return of The Replays who again had us dancing the night away.

All too soon it was Monday and prize giving day, with trophies being given out for various categories. This was followed by the huge raffle run by Peter and Theresa. Brian named each group as they proudly paraded with their banners and we all joined hands and sang ‘Best of Friends’

The last night of our rally saw ventriloquist Paul Dumas entertain us with various dummies, my favourite was the dog, although one of our members made a wonderful dummy being worked by Paul. The Wilkinson Brothers with their guitars and songs made sure that we ended our rally on a high.

Our DJ Dean did a wonderful job providing music for line dancing, and filling in gaps during the weekend.

A big thank you from the National Committee to all who helped and attended the Rally, and hope to see you next year.

Anne Taylor , Chair of National Rally, looks back at another fun-packed event

CL SITES & NIGHT STOPS

WORCESTERSHIRE THE OLD ALLOTMENTS (CL94485)

Price is now £17.50 pupn. £20 pupn with electric.

YORKSHIRE

ASKWITH ARMS (CL94470)

Site no longer operating.

LEICESTERSHIRE

BREEDON PRIORY (CL944271)

Email address is now: clujeans@googlemail.com

TYNE AND WEAR

ANGEL VIEW HOTEL (NS54445)

Fees now: Sun to Fri £10, with EHU £20. Sat £15, with EHU £30.

NEW SITE

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

THE OLD MART (CL94484)

Nithsdale View, Thornhill, DG3 5DX. Sharon Tait 07712 645636 shaztait13@gmail.com

(Bookings 8am-9pm)

cost: £10 PUPN open: All year directions: From A76 enter Thornhill and at cross in town centre turn into East Morton St. Continue past school and golf club and under the railway bridge turn left past the sandstone houses and entrance is on the left. facilities: Fresh water, hard standing, rubbish bins, EHU. No dogs. places of interest: Thornhill village and Morton Castle 1 mile. Drumlanrig castle with walking and mountain bike trails 4 miles.

OBITUARIES

JANET HILL

Anglia Group regret to announce the death of Janet Hill on the 9th June following a short and unexpected illness. Both her and husband Paul were regular Anglia attendees, when work permitted, and we send our sympathies to Paul and also Janet’s parents, Bob and Thelma Hill who are long standing Anglia members. Derek Clarke, Anglia Group Secretary

PATRICIA WOOTTON

The Club is saddened to announce that Mrs Patricia Wootton, wife of Mr Geoffrey Wootton, sadly passed away on 30th April. While being a member of the Northern Counties Group she also enjoyed time away with the Chiltern Group. Mr Wootton has many happy memories to

carry through life of her and the Group rallies they attended together.

BRENDA MARCH

Longstanding Avon Group member, Brenda March, sadly passed away on 17th May. As well as enjoying rallies in the UK, Brenda and her husband David spent many winters in the sun in their motorhome. When he feels the time is right, we look forward to welcoming David to future rallies. We send our sincere condolences to David and the family. Christine Gautier, Avon Group Scribe

PAT HILLS

Anglia group regret to announce the death of Pat Hills in May, who, with her husband Dave, formed a popular and entertaining duo. We send belated sympathies to Dave and his family. Derek Clarke, Anglia Group Secretary

CAREFULLY CRAFTED

Thanks to Karen Porteous and Eileen Bridle's inspiration at The National in 2022, Teresa Guyver, Essex Group member, made these Tunisian Entrelac Crochet Blankets and Pillowcases. Teresa said: "These took 6 months to make, but I did get faster. I need to make another smaller blanket so that the two blankets are the same size but they look good in the motorhome." We agree, well done Teresa!

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A LOVELY TIME THE WEEKEND

What a great time the Juniors had in Malvern over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend; the weather was superb.

We met on the Friday night, to introduce ourselves and took part in the banner parade of the opening ceremony.

Rosie and Joseph were really pleased to be asked to carry the Junior banner, whilst the rest of us waved our individual flags to the clapping and chanting of the MCC members.

Saturday morning saw us meet for our first session where the children enjoyed toast and a drink before settling in, to some craft activities.

As the King's Coronation was only a few weeks earlier, we based the activities on this theme.

First of all, they were tasked with making a soldier using a wooden peg and colouring them to make them individual.

As the weather was so kind, the children followed this activity by playing games in the sunshine, before decorating a pencil pot, in the colours of the Union Jack. There was plenty of glue and sticky fingers involved.

before decorating a pencil pot, in very pleased that all the children

At the end of the session, the children were invited to come back in the afternoon, and we were both very pleased that all the children returned – so we must be doing something right.

The afternoon session was really good fun for the children. First, they had to decorate and make up a cake box before being allowed to decorate their own cup-cakes to go in their box. They were given icing,

edible crowns, sugar strands, hundreds and thousands and a coronation motif made of rice paper. It was a battle to stop them eating all the decorations and the icing, as one child smiled and her whole mouth was blue!

As the cakes and boxes were to be judged the next day, we couldn’t let the children go without them decorating another cake for them to take back to their motorhomes after the session. They really enjoyed making these, knowing they would

be able to taste their creation very shortly.

Sunday morning saw the final activity to be judged and the children were tasked with making a split pin soldier. It was really good to see the care and attention that went into these and to see the detail that

continued on p13

NATIONAL RALLY, ABOVE AND BEYOND

We attended this years National Rally at the Malvern Showground and we would like to thank all the COM and the National working party for all the hard work they put into making this event a great success.

Unfortunately, at 3am on the closing ceremony day, Larry had a medical incident and was advised by a 111 clinician to attend the Royal Worcester Hospital within the hour. Being unable to arrange a taxi we called the National MCC emergency

number which Kate Jones our Chairman answered, she told us not to worry and that she would get back to us. A few minutes later she called back to say that two of the working party had volunteered to take us to the hospital.

A huge thank you to Kate, and to Ali and Dawn Bartlam for their help. We very much appreciated this act of kindness, a true example of what our club about. Larry & Sheila Spiers, East Wessex

NATIONAL RAFFLE

A big thank you to all the following members and companies who kindly donated to our National Rally raffle this year: Tesco, Alan Rogers, Cheryl Oliver, Smyths, D R W Electronics, A M C Motorcaravans, Savaspace UK, Elsan, Warners, Britstops, Magnum Motorhomes, Duvalay, Ridge Monkey, Teeside Caravans, Nutt Travel, Red Funnel, Gb Motorhome Tours, Made By Caterina S.V. Tech. Ltd, P J Lane, Gloss Fireaction, MB

Campers, Bags & Covers and Roadpro. An amazing array of prizes which made for some very happy winners!

KEEP IN TOUCH

continued from p11

made them all so individual.

Again, the weather was beautiful, and they enjoyed time outside running round, playing games, with a few handstands thrown in too.

The children were asked to bring some unusual items from their vans, and we asked them to study these for a couple of minutes before being covered up for them to remember and list as many as they could. It was great to see the varied items which included, feathers, animal skull, metal parrot, cuddly toy, and rubber ducks. Well done to Logan, who was able to name the most items.

In the afternoon, they were able to see all their hard work on display. There was a table or two of red, white and blue.

One last activity was to make a small coronation confectionary box, before settling down to the Juniors cinema, when they enjoyed, popcorn, crisps, ice-cream and a drink.

The children were delighted when an unexpected guest joined us for the cinema, but we had to encourage ‘Sammy’ the pigeon to leave so that he wasn’t frightened or made a mess.

Our last session on Monday morning saw the children, collect their medals for their exhibits. The two youngest boys Joshua (aged 3) and Oliver (aged 4) were extremely shy to start with, a couple of hundred people in the room, can be quite scary but by the second, third and even fourth time they were

JUNIORS HOMECRAFT RESULTS

PEG SOLDIER

Aged 5 and under

1st Oliver, NW Mids & N Wales

2nd Joshua, N. Counties

Aged 6 -10

1st Mia, Chiltern

2nd Rosie, Lancashire

3rd Arizona, Northern Counties

Aged 11 and over

3rd Logan, N. Counties

1st Demi, Chiltern

2nd Nathaniel, Lancashire

3rd Logan, N. Counties

Aged 5 and under

1st Joshua, N. Counties

2nd Oliver, NW Mids & N Wales

Aged 6- 10

3rd Rosie, Lancashire

1st Jayden, Severn Valley

2nd Mia, Chiltern

3rd Rosie, Lancashire

Aged 11 and over

1st Demi, Chiltern

2nd Rhian, Lancashire

3rd Nathaniel, Lancashire

lapping it up, melting the hearts of the audience.

During the session we had asked the children to name the person within the Juniors who they felt had been helpful, friendly, and fun, and they chose Rosie who was deservedly

CORONATION CAKE BOX & DECORATING CUP CAKE

Aged 5 and under

1st Joshua, N. Counties

2nd Oliver, NW Mids & N Wales

Aged 6-10

1st Mia, Chiltern

2nd Arizona, N. Counties

3rd Jayden, Severn Valley

Aged 11 and over

3rd Nathaniel, Lancashire

2nd Logan, N. Counties

1st Demi, Chiltern

Aged 5 and under

1st Oliver, NW Mids & N Wales

2nd Lola, East Midlands

3rd Joshua, N. Counties

Aged 6-10

1st Arizona, N. Counties

2nd Rosie, Lancashire

3rd Jayden, Severn Valley

Aged 11 and over

3rd Nathaniel, Lancashire

2nd Noah, East Midlands

1st Demi, Chiltern

presented with the Margaret Platt Trophy for the Malvern Junior’s Junior.

We were able to fit in one last activity, which was to name the items in the bags by feeling them. There were 15 items and congratulations to Demi who was able to name all 15.

This saw the end of this year’s National, and the children again took part in the closing parade with Demi and Rhian proudly carrying the Junior banner.

For us this was another successful National for the Juniors, and we would like to thank all the Juniors who attended for making it so. We hope all those that attended enjoyed themselves and we look forward to seeing you next year.

UNION JACK PENCIL POT

SPLIT PIN SOLDIER

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.

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 and closes 6pm on 31 July. Two week stay from 4-18 September; First week 4-11 September and

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.

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.

Last Casual Campsite of the year

Shrewsbury

SAHARA CHALLENGE

Bailey has ‘history’ when proving their trailer caravans and motorhomes, and this was another epic trip – Bristol to Mhamid and return via Marrakesh, Seville, and Sagres. Rather than give a day-by-day account of their adventures, Bailey has released some reflections by two of the participants…

Andy Torbet is no stranger to extreme activities, from underwater exploration to high-altitude skydiving. Andy was asked for his thoughts on travelling from Marrakesh to the Sahara Desert in a motorhome. To provide some context, The Sahara Challenge was originally planned for March 2020 but was postponed for reasons that you can probably guess. However, in

March 2023, they finally made it to the great sand sea in Morocco.

“Despite enjoying relative luxury in a Bailey Adamo 75-4T motorhome, similar to our own Adamo 75-4DL, my wife Bex and the entire Bailey Team still had to face the daily challenges typically encountered only on the most extreme expeditions. Many of my previous trips were for documentary filming or exploration, both of which require something we often take for granted, even on campsites:

power. Whether it’s electricity to charge torches, cameras, scanning equipment, radios, or simply boiling a kettle, power is always essential. In remote locations, electricity can be provided by a generator if transportation and fuel are available, or by solar panels. However, solar panels often suffer from either being lightweight but having low output, or being too heavy.

On this trip, the need for power was just as crucial. We had to feed a large team, keep safety equipment charged, and have ample power for photography and videography

Bailey travels to Morocco…and…er…um…Essex!

Desert town of Mhamid

Marcus Leach leaving the Sahara Challenge at Ait Benhaddou

equipment. Fortunately, the Bailey vehicles were equipped with large roof-mounted solar panels as standard, and sunlight was abundant in the Sahara.

We also had to carefully consider other essential factors like water. We separated drinking water from washing or cleaning water. On trips like these, where we couldn’t

Journeys like these, with their ups and downs, challenges and successes, hardships and joys, offer us a different perspective on the world.

simply plug into a power source or take a short walk to refill our water, we became much more conscious of the environment and our place in it. We aligned our routines with the rising and setting of the sun, witnessed breath-taking sunrises and sunsets casting long shadows over the winding dunes. It made us appreciate the simple yet indispensable things in life, along with the realisation of how much we consume. Water serves as a perfect example of this. It is essential for life, yet many of us lose sight of how fortunate we are to have easy access to clean and safe drinking water, or how much we use, need, or even waste in a single day.

Journeys like these, with their ups and downs, challenges and successes, hardships and joys, offer us a different perspective on the world. They provide an opportunity to reset and re-establish our understanding of what we have, what we truly need, and what we should be grateful for. That’s why I have a deep passion for these types of expeditionary projects. While they allow us to have incredible experiences during the journey, returning home also becomes a

continued on p18

AND NOW TO ESSEX!

Bailey’s first panel van range will be called Endeavour and is to be unveiled at the NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show in October. The Bailey website www.baileyofbristol.co.uk will be updated with full product information on this new addition to their motorhome portfolio on 5th October 2023, in advance of its public launch at the forthcoming NEC show.

Bailey’s first collaboration with Ford was with the best-selling Adamo coachbuilt motorhome in 2020. Since then, the popularity of this five-model range has meant Ford quickly became their leading base vehicle provider, thus they were the natural choice of partner for the new Endeavour van conversion.

The two companies already enjoy a strong working relationship, with Bailey officially becoming a Ford Pro converter (formerly QVM) for coachbuilt motorhomes in August last year. Recently, the Bailey Product

Development Team presented their first pre-production Endeavour model to the Ford Pro Special Vehicle Team for evaluation at their UK HQ in Dunton, Essex (pictured). In addition, Bailey also updated them on the work they had been undertaking on a concept van conversion based upon the Ford E-Transit. The development of this pioneering new concept van is a central part of the company’s on-going sustainability planning as it looks to continue to reduce the environmental impact of its leisure vehicles.

Bailey Managing Director Nick Howard said, “The introduction of our first van conversion this Autumn is the next important step in the expansion of our existing motorhome portfolio. Working with our trusted partner Ford Pro on a totally new type of leisure vehicle has helped make the development process very straight-forward and we’re extremely pleased with the end results.”

continued from p17

joyous experience as we develop a greater appreciation for our homes and everything they provide.”

Following his cycle ride over the Atlas Mountains with Bailey Managing Director, Nick Howard, Marcus Leach shares his and his family's experiences travelling across Morocco in their Bailey Adamo 75-4DL.

“Daddy, why did we stop here?” Dorothy asks, curious about our unexpected pause on a desolate stretch of road. Amidst the barren landscape, a lone shepherd perched on a rock captures our attention as he patiently oversees his grazing goats and sheep. “Look over there“, I point, as a surprising sight unfolds before Dorothy and Harrison. To their astonishment, three little heads emerge from the uppermost branches of a nearby tree – a trio

GET PAID TO 'DRINK AND DRIVE'

Are you a true beer enthusiast? Then maybe you will be interested in a unique job opportunity that could see you travelling across the UK in your motorcaravan sampling different beers at hundreds of country pubs!

Yes, you read correctly – you could get paid to drink a pint of beer and park your motorcaravan overnight in a pub car park while exploring all corners of the UK.

Brit Stops, a community of over 1,100 small businesses, including pubs, breweries and vineyards, for motorhome/campervan drivers to park overnight for free, is hoping to hire the world’s first “Pint Chaser.”

This pub connoisseur extraordinaire will design the “UK’s

of goats in an unconventional habitat. “Goats!” they exclaimed simultaneously. “In a tree!”

Among the wonders we’ve encountered in Morocco, spotting these tree-climbing goats had eluded us until then. We had begun to wonder if they were mere legends. However, our decision to explore the Anti-Atlas Mountains instead of the Sahara Desert led us to this extraordinary encounter. While

many are drawn to the allure of the Sahara when venturing further south in Morocco, our path took us west from Ait Benhaddou, where lesserknown attractions awaited. Back in 1984, a Belgian artist named Jean Verame painted gigantic granite rocks in hues of blue, red, and yellow as a tribute to his late wife. This art installation stands out as both bizarre and captivating. Today, locals preserve and cherish these painted rocks appreciating their ability to attract curious travellers to their corner of the world. Visiting these rocks had long been a priority on Kim’s wish list for our journey, and as we stand in awe before them, their monumental size dwarfs us. It was the rocks that initially brought us here, but the charm and vibrancy of nearby Tafraout made us linger.

For more details go to: www.

baileyofbristol.co.uk/news

Ultimate Pub Trail”, mapping some of the 750+ pubs in the Brit Stops community. This frothy adventure will have them visiting hundreds of public houses sampling their brews.

The job requires the chosen candidate to travel across the UK and map out the best pubs. All you need for the role is a passion for beer and adventure – and of course, a driver’s licence.

The Pint Chaser will have to spend one night at each location; no drinking and driving is permitted.

To help complete the journey, Brit Stops will provide a motorhome

(or support on cost if you already own one), cover beverages at each stop, a small stipend, and a lifetime Brit Stops membership guaranteeing a future full of travel.

All UK residents over the age of 18 with a valid driver's licence and a passion for road trips are eligible to apply. To become Brit Stops' first ever Pint Chaser, applicants must share 2-3 photos or videos of them enjoying a pint of beer as well as travelling and one paragraph detailing their road trip mapping capabilities. To apply, visit: www. britstops.com/pints.

Marrakesh market

GROUP NEWS & DIARIES

JULY 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

AVON

Thirty-three vans came to Hunstanton Community Centre for a four-night rally. By and large the weather was kind to us although the Norfolk wind did blow somewhat. We had visitors from several other groups. Since we were limited in the use of the hall we only had it for Friday and Saturday but that did not stop us from having a good time.

Many members went up the road to the local Services Club on some evenings and half the site went up there for Sunday roast dinner. Friday evening we played bingo and Paul provided the music afterwards.

Many members took advantage of retail therapy either in the local shops or further afield courtesy of an excellent bus service . Saturday evening Paul put on a music quiz which was won by Derek’s table. His classical music knowledge just gained the table victory. This was followed by dancing, the Dodgy Dip and a great raffle.

Sunday a quiet day until certain members went up the road to the social club's karaoke evening where they excelled themselves in their repertoire of songs as well as duets and trios! Apparently they have been invited back when we go there again in August. Monday morning off home having had a good weekend.

National report – Jan Starsmeare got 'highly commended' for her pillar box top in the Homecraft and Anglia retained the Inter Group Quiz trophy for another year with the team of Derek, Jenny, Jan and Gary so we didn’t come away completely empty handed I am pleased to say.

Scribe

Derek

Upcoming rallies: 29 June-3 July at British Sugar, Bury St. Edmunds IP32 7BB. Starts 1pm. 14-20 July at Swaffham Rugby Club PE37 7QX. Starts 1pm. (Pre Norwich Show Rally). 26 July-2 August at Sheringham High School NR26 8ND. Starts 1pm. (Anglia’s 60th Jubilee Rally). This is fully booked with a large waiting list.

Despite a difficult start to 2023, the new committee and members now feel revitalised, and with successful rallies at Stratford, Coronation Celebrations at Brassknocker, and Castle Combe under their belts, Avon is looking forward to the rest of the year with eager anticipation.

A couple of rallies still need hosts, if you can help that would be great. Back-to-basics, or more, the choice is entirely yours. Similarly if you can help swell the committee numbers, they would be more than pleased to hear from you. In either case, contact Jacky (secretary), or a committee member.

Thirty-eight MCC members gathered for the annual Steam Festival at Castle Combe. With free continual access to the displays and stalls for the duration, this is always a popular event. There was plenty on offer, you could watch the static engine displays, buy a new tractor seat, no end of craft offerings, a variety of food and of course the vintage vehicles. If nostalgic steam and grease wasn’t your thing, you could have bought a plant or two or wandered into the village itself. It’s an annual event, if you missed it, you have another chance to get all steamed up in 2024.

There are three rallies commencing in June. Later in the year, dates for your diary are 9-14 August – The Bristol Balloon Fiesta where Avon has a prime site just outside the show, cross the road and you are there. Entrance is free, all day every day, and you can go in and out as many times as you wish to see the balloons take off early morning and evening, and the various displays and stalls. There are two night glows when the tethered balloons are illuminated to a musical accompaniment. Buses adjacent to the site go to Bristol or the seaside. Why not extend your visit to the area with the pre-Balloon rally at Walcot RC in Bath on 4-9 August, across the road from the Park and Ride. You can go into the beautiful city for sight-seeing, museums, pubs, restaurants and of course any essential shopping! On-site we have use of the clubroom with a bar and some food. We also have rallies at Weymouth, Burton Bradstock

Pinecones Caravan & Camping

Open all year

• Private bathrooms • Luxury pitches/ camping pods • Shop/launderette/ washing up • Woodland walks/cycling

• Children’s play area • Free Wi-Fi Tel: 01485 544224

www.pineconescc.co.uk

E: info@pineconescc.co.uk

Silvercraigs Caravan Park

Open all year

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

Scan here to join the Club

3 Heated showers/toilets

3 16 amp hook-ups

3 Free WiFi

3 Laundry facilities

3 Disposal point

3 Dog friendly

3 Playpark, shops, & attractions nearby

www.silvercraigs.net

Reception: 01557 337068

E: silvercraigscaravanpark@gmail.com

Silvercraigs Road, Kirkcudbright DG6 4BH

GRASMERE CARAVAN PARK

• Hard surface and grass serviced pitches

• Launderette

• Toilets/showers including disabled

• Sorry no dogs allowed

t: 01493 720382

w: www.grasmere-wentworth.co.uk

Grasmere Caravan Park, 9 Bultitudes Loke, Caister-On-Sea, Norfolk NR30 5DH

and Malmesbury. More information can be found on our website and Facebook page.

Breaking news Plans are also afoot for New Year, Avon style. ACG

Upcoming rallies: Please check on www.avongroup.org.uk/ home.html before travelling. 28 June-3 July at The Beehive Field, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1UA. Bus stop at gate to Bath/Trowbridge, canal walks, supermarket nearby, historic picturesque town centre. 4-9 August at Walcot RC Albert Field, Lansdown, Bath BA1 9BJ (Pre-Balloon). 9-14 August is the 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.

CHILTERN

Cardington 28 April-1 May, nine vans. Chris, Mike and Val welcomed us for our three-night stay at the pretty village of Cardington; Chris with her customary super punch. The Kings Arms pub, located on the pretty village green, is excellent and many members met for a Sunday lunch.

Sharon and Paul have scored on this site, lovely views, sunsets, dandelions, cowslips, calming water, kites and magnificent willows, unpolluted air and the peace. We enjoyed Sharon's clever photos of the interesting church and village. Thanks to Chris, Mike, Sharon and Paul for all their support and for not laughing when I forgot how many skittles were in the jar.

There wouldn't be a rally without you lovely Chiltern Chillers and you all contributed to the fun atmosphere. Super to see Del, our President, looking so good, thanks for making the effort Del! A big thank you to you all.

Hook Norton 12-14 May, 12 vans. One of our visitors has graciously submitted this report: Just recently two of our dearest friends asked us if we would like to join them at a rally midway between us to have a face to face catch up.

Absolutely said we, give us the details. Back came the reply, it's with the Chiltern group (we belong to Severn Valley group) for two days at a pub near Hook Norton. Our first thought was what kind of rally will it be for only two days, our second thought was, it's a pub, near a brewery, what is there not to like plus the fact that our friends say they are a smashing group of people.

Our journey had been delayed, we arrived early evening of the first day to find that the site had suffered somewhat from the recent rainfalls. No worries, under the supervision of Roy and Carole every motorhome was sited with some on the site and some on the pub car park and ourselves halfway between the two on a hardcore area. Wonderful.

From there on in the weather was quite friendly for our outdoor meetings which involved a quiz plus lovely cake. When in the pub (Friday and Saturday nights) it didn't matter what the weather was doing we had a jolly time together.

We would just like to say that our friend's description of the group is spot on and for us to have conversations whether long or short at sometime or other with everybody there, made us feel very welcome. Thank you everyone on the rally. Charles & Carolyn

National, 25-30 May. A splendid turnout from Chiltern helped the jovial mood at the National Rally and supported our members in their efforts to collect some well earned prizes. Chiltern chose "Bugsy Malone" as their theme so our members dressed up in 1920s attire with blow up tommy guns and custard pies (yellow marshmallows). It was a great evening and the entertainment every evening was fantastic.

Upcoming rallies: 13-17 July at West Oxon Steam Fair, bookable (on reserve list). 27-31 July at Esher Rugby Club, KT12 3PH. 10-13 August at Stoke Bruerne, NN12 7SD.

EAST MIDLANDS

Reward cards: At our last Committee meeting it was agreed that the reward cards would not be continued in the new financial year. This means that ralliers will no longer collect stamps after July 31 2023. 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.

Sheringham – Many thanks to the Anglia Group for their invitation to join them at Sheringham, we were made very welcome and thoroughly enjoyed another excellent rally in a lovely seaside town.

Osmaston – Unfortunately this rally was cancelled at the last minute as the stewards found the condition of the >>

Chiltern group

ground to be very poor and unsuitable for motorhomes to drive on to. Cancelling at the last minute doesn’t happen very often, and we do make every effort to keep you informed, but on this occasion the message was posted on Facebook, but not on the website or rally check line as I wasn’t aware of the cancellation until informed on Saturday. Please accept our sincere apologies if you arrived to find there was no rally. Sue

Upcoming rallies: 6-10 July at Rempstone Steam Rally, Turn Post Farm, East Road, Wymeswold, LE12 6ST. 21-23 July at Newark Rugby Club, Kelham Raod, Newark. NG24 1WN. 4-8 August at Bakewell Showground, Agricultural Way, Bakewell, DE45 1AH. 25-29 August at Grange Farm Campsite, Wainfleet St Mary PE24 4EU.

EAST WESSEX

Hello everyone; hope you’re all enjoying the summer in your vans. In May we held our first joint rally for many years at the Beehive Field in Bradford on Avon with the West Wessex Group. See the West Wessex summary in the Group News.

Thirteen East Wessex units plus two Sussex units joined us at Malvern for the National. It was pleasing to have seven first time National goers and five group members who had not rallied with us before.

In the participation events, our canine friends made a good start in the Fun Dog Show, with Bonny and Spot coming 1st and 2nd respectively. Then the pairs in the boules competition also did very well. Congratulations to Larry and David on coming 2nd, and Roy and Sally 3rd.

Then it was time for the inter group quiz where we were able to field two teams. They came back remarking how challenging the quiz had been, and although they did not come in the top teams, thank you for being brave and representing East Wessex.

Our Party Night theme was the "Ghostbusters" film with Mary taking the lead on table decorations and Larry and Sheila on costumes. It made a real impact when we all marched into the hall together. We were treated to four nights live entertainment which tempted everyone up onto the dance floor.

The tombola stall with over 65 prizes donated by members over the past year was a great success again, allowing us to cover our National expenses with money raised. A big thank you all for all who contributed. Our final get together was a cheese and wine for all who travelled up to Malvern to represent East Wessex.

If this sounds fun, it is, so why not come and try it out next year if you have not been to a National before. We will start planning as soon as we know the venue and theme for 2024. Thanks to Janet M for this report.

A volunteer has offered to help host our August bank holiday rally at Hayling Island, so that is very good news, and that one will be going ahead. On another matter though, finding entertainment for New Year is proving difficult, so if anyone can suggest someone suitable, please let us know and we will follow it up. You can reach our Treasurer on 07821 995873 or Secretary 07971 888492.

Upcoming rallies: 14-18 July at Basingstoke Canal Centre, Mytchett Place Road, Mytchett, Surrey GU16 6DD. 4 night field rally. Visitor centre, children’s adventure play area, café, boat hire, walking, cycling. £15 pupn, (£14 singles). Arrivals from 1pm. 27 July-1 August at Army Flying Museum, Middle Wallop, Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20 8FB. 5 night field rally next to the air field. On site café. Discounted entry to the museum for MCC members. £16 pupn, (£15 singles). Arrivals from 1pm. 25-30 August at Hayling College, Church Road, Hayling Island PO11 0NU. 5 night field rally. £12 pupn, (£11 singles). Arrivals from 1pm. See our website: eastwessex.uk or our facebook page @ eastwessexMCC for any updates.

ESSEX

The Essex group met up on Friday 12th May at the Mayflower school in Billericay, our hosts for the weekend were James and Marie. It was their first time as hosts, and they did a very fine job. On Friday we had a couple of games of bingo with background music provided by Pete the Hat.

On Saturday we had a walk into town, Billericay is full of shops, pubs and even has its own brewery! In the evening we had Darren James, a professional, in for three hours to sing, he was very good and had us all up dancing. We also had 'guess how many Smarties in the jar' which was won by Rex. The raffle was drawn, and Darren finished the night for us.

ISLE OF WIGHT

With the rally season in full swing, we have all returned home after a successful coronation rally. Vans and the event shelter were decorated with coronation flags, balloons and bunting. In spite of the rain a street party type event was held after members had watched the coronation in their vans. The table was groaning with food which was finished off on Sunday evening during a social event. Coronation day was finished off with a group meal in the Fighting Cocks, although we were all still pretty full after the lunch we managed to eat some more!

Some members enjoyed a Sunday lunch in the pub. The sun was out on Sunday which was a welcome change from the very wet Saturday. Members made some magnificent crowns for the best crown competition.

Some members attended the National Rally in Malvern. A great rally and the Isle of Wight Group although small came away with a 2nd in the dog show, a 1st and a 2nd in the Homecraft categories and proudly received the retention shield.

Upcoming rallies: 7-9 July at The Fighting Cocks and 21-23 July at Rodgbrook 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 at www.mcciow.com.

KENT

National Rally May 2023 – The hosts arrived on Wednesday to set up camp with the fabulous Malvern Hills as a back drop. The weather did not disappoint our fellow Kent campers as they arrived on Thursday and Friday. Nine Kent vans, Malcom and Lesley together with Brent and Elaine, first time National Ralliers, and Ken and Gillian who were brave enough to give the National a second chance. The rest of us have had many years of combined experience.

The first night saw one member win a nice little sum with one line completed in bingo and a combined effort ensured we won the flower quiz.

Although four of our dogs entered the dog show, we only had one who came away with two rosettes, well done Tim. Thankfully friends from Scotland offered to run the Petanque competition; Jill and Lee brought the winners trophy home.

Four nights of entertainment was well received. Some members took the opportunity to go on one of the bus trips, while others chose to seek out friends from the past in other groups. Theme Party night was excellent, thank you to all Kent members for helping set up the table, taking part and joining in the fun.

We also had a little soirée with wine, nibbles and a group Petanque game. The National Committee and workforce did a splendid job throughout, thank you.

Upcoming rallies: 20-23 July at Headcorn Aerodrome, Headcorn, Ashford, TN27 9HX. Plenty going on including

vintage plane flights, aerobatics, parachutes and wing walking. On-site cafe and licensed bar. Cost is £12.50 pupn. Start time TBC. 27-30 July at Hole Park, Rolvenden, TN17 4JS. Beautiful 16 acre Hole Park Gardens open to the public on the Thursday (entry fee payable). Homemade teas and light lunches available in the Coach House. Walks to Rolvenden, with its public houses and small Morgan Motor Museum. In the evening join your hosts around the camp fire. Note, this weekend starts on Thursday to allow members to visit the Gardens which are only open on a Thursday. Cost is £12.50 pupn. Start time 11am. 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 a short train ride from Wateringbury station? Bookings MUST be made for this rally, please contact Jan on kent@ motorcaravannersclub.co.uk. 4-6 August at Sissinghurst Cricket Club, Cranbrook, TN17 2JA. A relaxing weekend. Lovely walks to Cranbrook & Sissinghurst. Cost is £12.50 pupn. Start time 2pm. 24-28 August at Rye Rugby Club, Rye, TN31 7LS (by kind permission of Sussex Group). Ideally situated for a walk in to the Cinque Port of Rye, with its historic buildings. The Pitch Side Cafe and Club bar will be available to campers throughout the weekend. At least one professional band will be playing in the clubhouse over the BH weekend. Cost is £12.50 pupn. Start time 12pm. A Silent Auction will be happening at this rally, so rummage 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. Unsold items must be taken home by the seller.

Lancashire group

Motorcycle group

Isle of Wight group

LANCASHIRE

Our rally in May was held on a beautiful weekend. 29 ‘vans attended, three from Yorkshire and 26 from Lancashire. Most took the opportunity to soak up some sun. Later we met in the room to pay fees and then we bought bingo tickets and random bonus ball numbers. Chair Lisa opened welcoming all and explained domestics and safety matters. Allan presented three games of bingo, now showing each number on a big screen. There was some time for chatter and line dancing before our host Bobby presented one of his Name the Group or Artist quiz. Such a laugh!

Saturday morning was pleasantly warm therefore we had Tai Chi exercises, lead by Steve, outside. This was followed by Val‘s Krafty Crew session. We made garden decorations. After lunch there were games on the field, King Kubs and Bean Bag Challenge. There were plenty enjoying watching the competitors.

The evening started, with another game of Name the Group or Artist from Bobby, followed by Allan and Brian presenting Take Your Pick. Dean and Jack gave us music for Line Dancing. The room was then divided into teams for Bobby and Rob to present the “Do Do Do” game and the evening ended with Best of Friends.

At Sunday coffee morning the various games of chance are paid out to the winners. Lisa thanked the hosts, music men and all helpers for such a good rally and she wished all a safe onward journey.

Of course, the special event of the year is the National Rally, held this year at Three Counties Showground on the late May Bank Holiday weekend. Thirty-five Lancashire ‘vans attended and we had the best time in the best weather, winning so many prizes in the crafts that we got the Group Craft Trophy again! Also the Founders Trophy and the Juniors Junior Trophy, won by Rosie for being the most helpful and friendly junior, as voted for by the other juniors. Rocky, Rosie’s dog, got two rosettes but Brian B's dog, Tilly, won Best in Show trophy! Can we beat this next year? Scribe Alma Upcoming rallies: 7-10 July at Pinfold Camping, St Michaels on Wyre PR3 0TR. Own drinks, outside venue. 2123 July at Aspull RUFC, WN2 1PJ. Bar drinks only.

MOTORCYCLE

3-7 May at Braithwaite Memorial Hall, hosted by Northern Counties. Nine vans from MCG met and we welcomed two new members to the group. The sunny and warm weather on arrival allowed several members an extra ride out to Buttermere and surrounding area. The scenery around us was beautiful.

Our second ride out to the Wrynose Pass followed by the Hardnott Pass showed us more of the area and its heights! We travelled up into the clouds among the hilltops and then down into the green valleys. Wonderful ride out with lots of bends and gradients. We joined in the evening events organised by Northern Counties and managed to win the quizzes on two nights running, but shared our winnings with the runners up on the second night.

On the Saturday, six bikes went over to the harbour at Whitehaven. The expected rain did not appear, so we took a longer ride back around Derwent Water and up to the viewpoint at Noble Knott. The roads were very quiet as many people were watching the Coronation. That evening we gathered in the hall for our Coronation celebrations. We had a great time together with everyone (see photo). Thanks go to the hosts for making it so enjoyable.

7-11 May – On Sunday morning we moved on to the next rally organised by Northern Counties at Spital Farm, Kendal and as the weather was so good six bikes headed to Ambleside. We went around Lake Coniston with a refreshments stop at Hawkshead. After parking up, we walked into the town and found a lovely tearoom where we were able to sit outside with our pasties, pies and cakes. Then we rode to the Bowness-on-Windermere Ferry to cross the lake and return back to site.

Our time away in the Lake District had been warm and dry but finally the rain did catch up with us on Bank holiday Monday. On Tuesday, seven bikes went for a 65 mile circular ride out. We stopped first at the Devils Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale, a medieval bridge over the river Lune. It was a well known crossing area in that time and still attracts many tourists. We had the bridge to ourselves when we took a group photo. Our next photo stop was at the Ribblehead Viaduct and then onto the Wensleydale Cheese factory for lunch.

Our final rideout on Wednesday took us to the Bobs-In Cafe, at Arnside, overlooking Grange-Over-Sands for tea and cake. Yum!

Upcoming rallies: Our Scotland Holiday Tour continues with the final rally on 5-10 July at Lothian Bridge Caravan Park, Newtongrange, Midlothian, EH22 4TP. Bookable with MCG. Start time 2pm. For further information and updates visit our website: motorcyclegroupmcc.co.uk

NENE VALLEY

Quorn Railway rally. Well we do have to remember that it is a working railway, and if the rake of wagons stationed on a siding for the maintenance gang to work on, just happened to block out our view of the trains from where the vans were told to park, then we had to accept that. One of our members had to move his van so the maintenance team could get their scaffolding erected, enabling them to replace the roofing on one of the wagons, and the smoke from the firing up of the traction engines opposite all helped with the overall atmosphere!

It was cool on Saturday, but a lot sunnier and warmer on Sunday, with plenty of vintage cars and assorted vehicles arriving on both days, so there was plenty to see and it became "spot my first car" for some of us. Many members visited the cafe on site, and they let us have the use of the function tent in the evenings. With several members taking trips on the railway, it all made for a pleasant weekend, with great company. Tony

Upcoming rallies: 26 June-3 July at THS Reydon Sports & Community Centre, Wangford Road, Reydon, Southwold

IP18. Cost £10.50. 3-8 July at THS Keith's Farm, Clink Lane, Sea Palling, Norfolk NR12 0UL. Cost £10.50. 4-6 August at White's Farm Shop, Clay Lane, Earls Barton NN6 0EP. Cost £11.50.

NORTHERN COUNTIES

Hello everyone, the year is marching on and we are now writing the July newsletter and enjoying the sun which has suddenly made an appearance.

Following on from the Coronation Rally at Braithwaite – very well done to Mark and Sue Lang and helpers for a very enjoyable and successful rally – the Group moved on to Spittal Farm, Kendal for the final part of this Lakes Tour. We had 31 units including visitors from various groups and seven from the Motorcycle Group, unfortunately the weather wasn’t kind but a good time was had by all.

Corbridge weekend, 19-22 May, was blessed with wall to wall sunshine after torrential rain very early on the Friday morning! This rally was hosted by Tony and Paula Edwards. We had 30 units with visitors from Yorkshire and Lancashire and we had one new member attending for their first ever rally – welcome to Ray and Mags. We had the use of the bar on the Friday and Saturday evenings where Tony and Paula set some devilish quizzes (well, we thought they were easy!) and we even organised Mr Whippy to come on site on the Saturday afternoon. During the days many members took the opportunity to walk up to the lovely market town of Corbridge. On the Sunday afternoon there was a display by a Fire Wall Team so those who were staying over had a very good view of this on the opposite field.

A full report on the Tall Ships Extravaganza will be in the August newsletter. We hope to see you at a rally soon.

Paula & Tony Edwards

Upcoming rallies: 14-18 July at Bedale Caping & Caravanning Park. 25-29 July at Great Ayton Cricket Club, which follows on to 29 July-3 August at Stokesley Showground. We have a revised date and venue for our AGM weekend: 29 September-1 October at Redcar Racecourse. All details can be found on our website.

NORTHERN IRELAND

MCCNI NW200 weekend at Portrush, 12-14 May. Rally hosts were Irene & Robbie Hewitt with Vic & Eleanor McFadden. A big turnout of 89 units were welcomed to Portrush Primary School for the very popular NW200 weekend. The weather was kind with good weather during the days and the rain confined to the early hours of the morning. Friday night started off with a well attended game of bingo organised and run by Ann Grant, Iris McEwan and Ann Tarbotton with music afterwards provided by Robbie Hewitt.

This always popular meet was enjoyed by everyone and many members were able to get an up close view of the motorcycle races on Saturday as we were not far from Metropole Corner. Others were able to make good use of their time in the shops and restaurants and other premises of the ‘Port’.

Saturday evening saw a number of BBQs fired up before we congregated in the hall where we started the evening off with a great game of ‘Last Man Standing’ organised and run by Mary Collier, ably assisted by several lady members. Once again the music was provided by the actual Last Man Standing, Robbie Hewitt. and many members were able to enjoy a dance.

Sunday morning saw us all in the hall for coffee morning and Number Plate Draw of which there were three winners.

Neil Tarbotton, who is travelling to the FICC in Croatia in June with his wife Ann, made an appeal for any material relevant to our two groups, 24 & 42 to take with them to promote our lovely country.

We also welcomed several new members to their first rally: Roy and Lesley Porter; Gemma Black and Colin Tate; Elizabeth and Declan Yorke; and Jonathan Rea.

The rally was then closed and we all departed looking forward to our next gathering. Bob McEwan

Arrived in Hillsborough to a very warm welcome from the hosts. Ivan parked us up and we enjoyed a lovely dinner in Hillside bar downtown. Returned to hall for Pimms reception by hosts, bingo, music and song. Alex with assistance from Alison called the bingo numbers very clearly and wittingly with many lucky prize winners. Overseas visitors from Sussex Alan and Mary, along with William from MCCNI, played music, sang and had everyone up dancing all night. Ivan then continued the music into the small hours.

Many early risers Saturday morning went for beautiful walk around lake in Hillsborough before the heatwave. Plenty of sunshine all day and members enjoyed visiting the local shops, some barbecued and more enjoyed the wonderful Tropic pamper afternoon session hosted by Alex with prosecco provided by Alison and the impromptu music afternoon session in the hall. Back to the hall for 9pm music and dancing with Dalbro Dan. Plenty of lucky prize winners in the raffle and lucky square draw for Tropic products generously donated by Alex.

Sunny Sunday coffee morning and entry draw for the 43 motorhomers in attendance. Newcomers and overseas visitors welcomed by hosts and Honorary President Selma. Winners of entry draw were Brian Warnock and Mrs Bloomfield from England. Winner of quiz was Sharon Scott. First time hosts did a wonderful job running rally and encouraged others to do likewise going forward as it is very rewarding. Terrific weekend, great time had by all. Happy campers reluctantly set off home.

Mary Collier

NWM&NW

What a fabulous rally we had at Bramblewood Caravan Park. This is a new venue and well worth doing a return. Our hosts were Geoff and Brenda Balshaw. The site was lovely with showers and electric hook up and a small barn room for socials. On Friday was the usual bingo with a good selection of winners.

Saturday was glorious. Many were sitting around the vans chatting and enjoying the weather. One group walked the two miles into Whitchurch whilst others wandered round

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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.

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the nature reserve next door or discovered the "chef in the woods" with his delicious sausage rolls and pies. I was assured there were other items on offer too. Ice creams were well received after a walk. Geoff and Brenda lead a walk in the woods. In the evening after fish and chips delivered to the site for some we had an "easy"? quiz thanks to Geoff. It contained some obscure questions. Did you know the study of mushrooms is -- mycology? Jon, Elaine, Shirley and Darren won. Well done to them.

Many thanks to Geoff and Brenda for organising everything, especially the sunshine. A great rally enjoyed by everyone. There was a total of 27 vans with visitors from S&W Wales, Severn Valley and two new members Rosemary and Andy Horne and Alan and Caroline Hackett.

Hosts are still needed for 2023 rallies, so please speak to a committee member if you think you can help. Contact details for the rally officers, Jon and Elaine: email nwmnwrally@hotmail.com or mobile 07525 851394

Upcoming rallies: 8-13 July at Porthmadog Football Club Y Traeth, Porthmadog, LL49 9PP. Book with the Rally Officers. 13-18 July at Bala Rugby Club, Tegid Street, off Station Road LL23 7DZ. 27-30 July at Eccleshall Castle, Newport Road, Eccleshall, Staffs, ST21 6LS.

SCOTTISH

Hello everyone from a sunny and warm Scotland – finally warm weather is here. Two rallies took place in May, both in Aberdeenshire, one country and one coast. First rally was a fully booked 2 night rally at beautiful Knockdhu Distillery, all 20 places were taken with a wait list of about ten – did the word “distillery” affect this. We had 20 vans attending, 17 from Scotland and three visitors, one each from Anglia, Lancashire and Nene Valley.

Friday evening started with the first one-hour distillery tour and tasting while the rest of us sat outside socialising. The

smiles of the tour group nearly two hours later highlighted the interesting tour and the generosity of the tastings.

Saturday morning brought the sunshine and warmer weather plus two more distillery tours – both taking a lot longer than the original hour. Judging by the amount of whisky and gin bought members must have liked what they tasted. Saturday afternoon brought tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits for all in the sunshine. Saturday evening was a social in the old cooperage, Keith’s unusual quiz kept us all amused. Overnight rain brought very soft ground for leaving on Sunday but every van managed to get out without bogging down.

The rally following on from this one was at Rosehearty parked up at the Community Boat Club with views over the North Sea. Always a popular venue there were 18 vans, 15 Scottish, one Anglia, one North West Midlands and one who was West Wessex but is now definitely a Scottish member.

Sunday evening everyone gathered in the hall for two quizzes, one general knowledge and one music.

Monday morning was coffee and chat, in the afternoon there was the first half of a Boules knockout competition. Monday evening back in the hall for a Name that Tune quiz.

Tuesday afternoon we had the final of the Boules competition between Stuart and Brian, Bill and Ian with Stuart and Brian walking away with the prize. Tuesday evening 21 members went for a meal in the villages Davron Hotel, the remainder getting fish suppers from a local van.

Wednesday afternoon members enjoyed sitting in the sun watching a (mostly) friendly game of Viking Kubb and eating pizzas from a local van. Wednesday evening back in the hall for the quiz results and a quick medical quiz that kept everyone unusually quiet.

7-10 July brings a rally at Bridge of Allan near Sterling, in fact you have views of the National Wallace Monument from Strathallan Games Park where we are camping. There is plenty of room there so no limit on numbers, if you

Scottish group

haven’t booked there will be plenty of space for you. Lovely town with wide variety of cafes and restaurants plus a short bus ride from Stirling Castle. JanB

SEVERN VALLEY

Our rally on 8-11 June was held at Wilmcote Holding Stables which is lovely and peaceful location in the village of Wilmcote just outside Stratford on Avon. Despite the glorious weather and scorching temperatures only 10 vans attended with nine from Severn Valley group and one from Yorkshire group.

A big thank you to Beryl and Ritchie for hosting the rally, despite Beryl being 86 years young and only recently undergoing surgery they both made everyone feel welcome.

Upcoming rallies: 7-9 July at Raphaels Evesham (River Festival Weekend) WR11 4BP. 21-23 July at Upton on Severn (Upton Blues Festival) WR8 0EN. 27-30 July at Welland Steam Fair WR13 6LN.

SWP

Welcome to this July newsletter, especially to any new SWP and other MCC members. Sally and Ian hosted the May rally, returning to a favourite site. Here is Sally’s report:

On arrival to set up for the Little Winnick rally, Ian and I were greeted with flooded hardstanding pitches due to the torrential rain. We were assured by the wardens they would drain quickly and sure enough by the next day, thank goodness, as ralliers arrived, the site was drying out! The weather continued to improve by the hour and we had a fantastic five days of sun and blue skies.

We welcomed 30 vans: five West Country; one Avon; two Severn Valley; one Chiltern; 21 SWP. The site is very well positioned for walking (humans and dogs!), cycling and on a bus route, so it was great to see so many people enjoying all the area has to offer. Mevagissey, The Lost Gardens of Heligan and Fowey firm favourites, as was Pentewan with a great pub serving home-cooked meals.

Friday evening Ian collected pasties from a local pasty shop and a majority of us enjoyed a pasty in the sun with a piece of Ian’s birthday cake and a drink or two! A bottle of pink gin was the prize in the Spin The Bottle game, well done Roz!

Late Saturday afternoon we had three BBQs manned by Ian, Les and Pete cooking our sausages for the Sausage Sizzle with Sal and Shirley assisting (!) whilst listening to a really talented local singer/musician, George Brown.

After coffee morning, raffle and quiz results on Sunday, some vans began moving off but we were left with 10 vans for our final night.

From the feedback received, we think the Little Winnick rally was a great success – the beautiful blue skies and sunshine were such a bonus. Thank you so much to all those who joined us and hopefully we’ll see you next year, as we’ve rebooked!.

Important announcement from your chair: Following a Committee Meeting held in May, four members are either

standing down or leaving the committee, including both the essential roles of secretary and treasurer; the group will fold without these roles being filled, along with all the wonderful rally venues in this part of Cornwall and south Devon. If anyone is interested and not sure what is entailed please get in touch with any committee member. Thank you.

Upcoming rallies: June 30-5 July at Watergate Bay Touring Park, TR8 4AD. 27-30 July at Boconnoc Steam rally, PL22 0RG. 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 Sept-3 October at Porth Beach Holiday Park, TR7 3NH.

S&W WALES

Hello everyone. Wow, at last summer arrived and, as I write, I am praying for rain for my garden; no rain here for over a month! I suspect that when it starts it will not know how to stop, but at least it will be warm.

25-30 May – National Rally at Malvern. What a lovely setting for the National Rally with the showground nestling in the beautiful Malvern Hills, especially when the sun shines every day. There were 12 vans from our area and it was great to see new members Kevin and Catherine from Llanelli, John and Mary from Caerphilly and Mark and Jo from Ystradmynach alongside the National regulars. There was a bit of a mix up with the parking allocation but we managed, wrapped around our lovely Scottish friends. Unfortunately, both Mark and John became unwell and we hope they have now made a full recovery; certainly they were well looked after by Jo and Mary and we hope to see them again soon. The evening entertainment was appreciated by everyone, especially the ‘Baron’ and the ventriloquist, and there was much dancing, especially by Ray and Joy, Derek and Sue.

31 May-6 June – Aberystwyth Rugby Club. What an amazing rally with brilliant sunshine every day and that does not happen very often. The hosts Pauline, Peter, Philippa, Sabi and Glyn parked up 61 vans. They included one NWM&NW, four Severn Valley, one Essex and David, Christine, Andy and Sam from the Northern Ireland group and all were made very welcome.

On Thursday afternoon we enjoyed a game of ‘Skuttle’ which was won by Eifion and I bet he celebrated by visiting Weatherspoons! On Friday afternoon everyone enjoyed an afternoon concert with singer Jeff Clinton Jones singing Motown in the first half and 60s, 70s and 80s music in the second half. There was a free raffle in the interval with many great prizes; a big thank you to Lyn Davies who gave his prize to young Callum. It was an excellent afternoon thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

Saturday afternoon the amazing ‘Cooking Crew’ were in action, Tom, Eleri, Michaela, Martin, Hywel, Moira, Colin, Betty and Jane worked hard at the BBQ on a very hot afternoon – a special thank you is due to them all. At the Sunday Coffee Morning it was time to congratulate Colin Rees on his retirement (he has been counting the Sunday dinners to his retirement for ages!) and wish Tom a very Happy Birthday. Everyone really enjoyed this rally and

Large or small, we welcome all

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special thanks were given to the hosts by the Northern Ireland visitors. Thanks to Muriel Butt for help with the Aberystwyth report.

Upcoming rallies: 6-11 July at St. David’s Rugby Club, SA62 6BP. New rally site. Bookable, a few places left. UK smallest city in stunning area. Starts 2pm. 27-31 July at Ysgol Cymraeg, Caerphilly, CF83 3HG. Starts 12noon. 10-14 August at Brecon Sports Club, LD3 7HH. Starts 12noon. 24-29 August at Greenhill School, Tenby, SA70 8BN. Starts 12noon. 22-25 September at Pembrey Country Park, SA16 0EJ. Steam fair. Starts 12noon. For bookable rallies please contact our rally officer on 07791 524227 or keithjhoward17@gmail.com – note corrected phone number.

SUSSEX

The summer has finally arrived and I hope you are all enjoying getting out and about.

Although there were not as many attendees at the National at Malvern as previous years, those that did go had a great time; the theme of Blue Hawaii was a popular choice and fitted in well with all the other groups.

Check the website for details of future rallies and don’t forget our loyalty scheme, six attendances will earn a £10 voucher, redeemable at Sussex rallies. This scheme is open to ALL members. Some have already qualified!

Don’t forget, our chairman and secretary, the brilliant and hard working Gordon and Carole Bennett, will be standing down at the AGM in October, after many years of dedicated service. Please consider joining the committee,

whether in specific or general roles, to keep the club running, ensuring the enjoyment of all our members. It’s our club, let’s keep it going.

Upcoming rallies: 13-16 July will be at Merriment Lane, Hurst Green, TN19 7RA. This is a new venue for Sussex, just off the A21, with a garden centre and small cafe opposite. Jan and Chris are our hosts. Nearby, in Hurst Green is Caravan Tech, with a comprehensive accessory shop. Start time 2pm.

WEST COUNTRY

Warcombe Farm, 16-21 May – On Tuesday most arrived and pitched up and set up. At the meet up members met up with old friends and said hello to other members. Some even started their drawings representing their Song Title that they were given on arrival attached to their welcome letter; when finished they had to display it in their van window to be seen by everyone.

On Wednesday we had our meet and greet in the marquee followed by a game of bingo, then Ken sang some songs which everyone joined in and sang along to. We also held our grand charity raffle, which raised a marvellous £339 for our Children’s Charity. This was thanks to Ken for going round Ilfracombe and getting all the donated prizes.

Thursday saw most members catch a bus to either Ilfracombe, Woolacombe or Mortehoe Village, a couple even went to Lee Bay. In the evening we had a great game of skittles followed by a fun game of putting and the winner of both was Steve White and he was presented with a gnome.

Friday saw members going to catch a bus to go and use their raffle prizes. In the evening we had a lovely cream tea, thanks to Ken for collecting it. Followed by a game of bingo, then we had Name The Musical Quiz. Following this Ken then sang some Elvis songs which had been requested and we all sang along.

On Saturday we had the results of The Name The Song Drawings and would just like to say that all the drawings were great. Then we had a bowls competition followed by motorhome racing (and no we were not racing up and down the road, these motorhomes were on string and you had to wind them up to win) very, very funny.

Then before we knew it, it was Sunday morning and it was packing away and going home and get ready for our next rally. We would like to thank our hosts Ken and Rhona also with help from Jim and Jenny for a great rally. We hope to see you all once again at our next rallies which are: Home Farm Touring on 6-11 July.

WEST WESSEX

The joint West Wessex and East Wessex Rally at The Beehive Field, Bradford-On-Avon, was enjoyed by 35 motorhomes over the five sunny days. There were 18 from West Wessex, seven from East Wessex, three from Kent, two from South & West Wales, and one from West Country, Severn Valley, Essex, Sussex and NWM&NW. Many were happy to walk along the towpaths and explore Bradford, Hilperton and

West Country group

West Wessex group

beyond. Some ventured further afield on the bus, some doing a walking tour of the city of Bath. On Saturday afternoon we gathered for cream tea and cakes and were entertained by a talented young singer and musician. Ruby, just 16, played the bagpipes, guitar and several other instruments and sang some familiar songs and some of her own compositions. The ice cream man drove around the site every afternoon to make my day complete!

Several members left this rally to head off for the National Rally at Malvern. Twenty-two motorhomes from West Wessex attended and had a wonderful time. They looked very smart for party night as they dressed for ‘Casino Royale’. Thank you, Sue, Chum, Bett and Mike, who were our Marshalls again this year and as usual, did a brilliant job. Thanks also to Ali and Dawn, for all that they did as members of the working party.

There are two rallies in July. The holiday meet at Kings Down Tail Farm C&C Park, Salcombe Regis EX10 0PD is from 9-16 July. This is a full facility site, with a shop and cafe. The bus stop is outside the main gate. Booking is required – contact Gill on 07746 058606. Cost £22.50 pupn. The second is from 19-24 July at Salisbury Rugby Club, Castle Road, SP1 3SA. This is our Charity Auction weekend with Hog Roast and the brilliant live band, Poppickers, who entertained us last year. This is a superb weekend with walks around Old Sarum Castle or along the river into town as well as the clubhouse, bar, showers and toilets available to us. Hosts Andy, Gill and Maria (077460 58606). August sees us at Corsham Rugby Club and The Three Magpies at Devizes Please see the West Wessex website or our Facebook page for full details and directions to these and all future rallies, which are now bookable. We still need co-hosts for rallies this year so please consider volunteering to assist a host.

YORKSHIRE

Unfortunately we had to cancel our one and only rally in May. A few of us decided to go to the temporary holiday site at Victoria Park, Southport for a few days. As it turned out, when we arrived, there were already four vans from the Yorkshire group parked up and another member turned up a day later making a total of nine vans that we were aware of, so we had a “friendly”. The weather was kind to us and we had a wander around Southport and sampled the wares of the local hostelries. Later on in the week three of us moved on to join a Lancashire rally at Aspull RUFC and we were made to feel very welcome. We enjoyed the evening entertainment, especially when various members of the Yorkshire group won the bingo three times! Saturday afternoon saw another win by Yorkshire in one of the games, a good time was had.

1st June arrived for our rally in Malton. We had 34 vans – 31 Yorkshire, one N Counties, one N Ireland and one NWM&NW. Thursday saw a good attendance of vans, the weather was cloudy and cool. In the evening we gathered in the room for a catch up, with background music provided by Mark and we had a quiz and bingo (called by Dave) to get us in the mood for the weekend. For the rest of the weekend

the sun shone relentlessly (not that we complained). Some of us ventured into town whilst the rest just sat back and relaxed (some even fell asleep!).

On Friday we had a game or two of Play Your Cards Right (dealt by our dolly dealer Sarah), whiskey bottle for £1, bingo and quizzes. Saturday afternoon was our “Sports Day” which included: Welly Throwing, Hoopla, Blindfold Tin Can Alley, Pie rolling, Kings and 5 a side walking football (too hot and old to run). A lot of fun and laughter was had by all the participants and audience. Live entertainment had been booked for Saturday night, Stretch – a Neil Diamond Tribute act for the first half and then he entertained us with various renditions for the rest of the evening. Excellent performance, he even managed to get some of us up on the dance floor. The raffle was drawn during the interval with lots of prizes to be won. A good time was had by all.

Upcoming rallies: 30 June-2 July at Langlands Garden Centre YO43 3PN (Bookable). 14-16 July at Thornensians RUFC , Thorne DN8 5BU. 21-23 July at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, Doncaster DN4 7FB (Bookable).

RALLY AMENDS

ISLE OF WIGHT The rally at The Fighting Cocks which was due to take place 4th-6th August has moved to 7th-9th July. Calbourne Water Mill Heights which was due to take place 7th-9th July has moved to 4th-6th August.

NWM&NW The rally at Eccleshall Castle starts on Thursday 27th July and not on Friday as shown in the rally guide. Could you please make payment in cash as this is the end of our financial year.

SWP 27-30 July at Boconnoc Steam Rally, PL22 0RG, bookings commence 12th June and close 10th July (special Group Price negotiated for MCC members). 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.

Northern Counties Group invite all MCC members to join us at for 10 days in the North East! No booking required. mccnortherncounties.co.uk

Bents Park Rally

Sea Road, South Shields NE33 2NL

1-6 September. Right on the sea front, with regular buses and Metros to Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland. Also you can visit the Metro Centre or local tourist sites! Marquee with live entertainment, more info to follow. 24hr toilets available.

Following on to Alnwick Rally

Alnwick Rugby Club, Northumberland NE66 1BG

6-10 September. Within walking distance of Alnwick (Harry Potter) Castle, and the fantastic Alnwick Gardens. Pay bar in the rugby club in evenings. 24hr showers and toilets available.

You want to be able to take everything you need with you when you go away in your ‘van. However, will this overload the rear suspension? Using MAD suspension helper spring kits or semi air conversions from Ekollon will help your ‘van drive more level so it will be:

• Safer

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• Better stability

• And save your jockey wheel

Ulwell, Swanage, Dorset BH19 3DG

Ulwell Cottage Caravan Park is situated in the lovely “Isle of Purbeck” and nestles under the Purbeck Hills. The beautiful coastline is easily accessible, and the park is on the main bus route from Swanage to Bournemouth via the Sandbanks Chain Ferry. Corfe Castle and village are just some 5 miles by road Poole is an easy drive away. The park has a friendly Village Inn serving excellent meals, an indoor heated swimming pool and a general shop, open in main season. There are hard standings with electric, water and drainage hook-ups. Booking for these pitches is essential at all school holiday periods. There is a modern toilet and shower block and disabled facilities. There are wash-up areas, chemical toilet disposal and launderettes.

Wash off the cobwebs, pump up the tyres and make sure you have enough charcoal for the BBQ. That’s because summer is here, and it is time for sunshine camping to begin! But before you go, it might pay to look at more than just tyre pressures and making an inventory of charcoal stocks. Motorcaravans that have sat dormant during the winter months, need a little coaxing to get them back into happy home mode. A spot of summertime maintenance at the very start of the season is both prudent and important. Get it right and it could save shedloads of trouble when you least want it.

But where to start? Washing off the cobwebs is not a bad beginning! After all, as you do so, you might notice something that needs sorting.

Rubber seals on windows or doors that have not been used might be sticking or need attention. Some of the tasks are easy and can be self-addressed but others that might need expert attention are best found out sooner rather than later. When it comes to maintenance and system checking, we prefer to departmentalise issues, dividing chores into five separate headings. Our vehicle headings include the issues that are common to any road traveling van. These include engine, gearbox, tyres, exhaust system, air conditioning, and cab contents. Our hotel or home department takes in everything from bedsheets, to wooden spoons and includes staple foodstuffs. Our habitation section revolves around cooking, heating, lighting and water supply, both

for bathroom and kitchen use. Our external checklist looks at doors, windows, roof hatches and even takes in awnings, exterior tables, chairs and the all-important BBQ. Our fifth and final check involves safety and security and here we include fire extinguishers and smoke alarms.

1. Vehicle and engine checks

Perhaps the most important of tasks, after leaving a van in winter storage, is to check tyres. After a month or two in storage, tyres lose air pressure and will need re-inflating. Driving on underinflated tyres tends to cause uneven handling and in more serious cases, can cause a blow out or a serious accident. While checking the pressure, make a visual inspection checking for worn tread, bumps, lumps, or cracks in the side walls. Remove any trapped debris, and

Here comes Summer

Tips

by Frances & Michael Howorth

for a super safe and fun filled summer season

make sure all wheel nuts are secure. If the vehicle has been standing for some time, be sure to move it forwards or backwards slightly, so the underside of the wheel also gets a visual checked.

Flat spots can occur when a tyre remains in one position with the weight of the vehicle on it. Some tyres have memory and continue to remember the position in which they were last parked after they are driven on again and this can make a ride uncomfortable and in extreme situations, dangerous. When storing a motorcaravan for more than a few weeks, it is best to put it up on 'blocks' at the storage location. This takes the load off the tyres and reduces the risk of flat-spotting.

Most owners are scrupulous in ensuring their motorcaravan holds an MOT and is serviced when due, but unless they take place immediately before the season starts, there is a chance that something might get overlooked. So,

make your own pre-season checklist.

Start by checking fluid levels of engine oil, brakes, power steering, transmission, engine coolant and windscreen washer fluid. Top them up if levels are low. Start the engine and check the dashboard for any warnings lights and ensure lights and windscreen wipers are all working. If you sometimes carry a bike rack or tow a trailer, then make sure the electrical connector for their lighting systems is also working correctly.

Modern batteries seem to work well right up until the moment they fail. Seldom do they show signs of degradation but watch out for any signs, just in case they do. Over winter leave batteries on trickle charge or boost charge them once or twice during the off season. Now that summer is here, those good practises will have paid dividends, but if batteries are not functioning fully after a pre-season charge boost, then maybe they need the attention of an expert.

2. External inspection

While it might be tempting to use a car wash to clean away the winter grime, we believe hand washing the exterior is by far the best way to get you summer ready. Hand washing allows you to spot any dents, scratches, leaks, cracks, loose panels or paintwork problems.

It is extremely unlikely that a motorcaravan will stay completely watertight over its lifetime. But taking a close look at seams and weatherstripping around windows, rooflights, and hull fittings, will put that time off somewhat.

Check all four corners of the vehicle. Ensure wing mirrors are clean and undamaged and fold correctly.

When windows, hatches and air vents have not been used for a while, they can sometimes be difficult to open and close properly. Open them up, fully and clean around the rubber seals and, if necessary, apply dry polymer spray to the struts that hold them open. Spare a little time to >>

sort out any squeaks, rattles, or loose fittings.

Take a moment to check equipment that you are likely to take away with you. Are the tyres on the bikes pumped up? Is the fishing rod, reel and tackle ready for the task? Pump up and wash down the standup paddle boards and do not forget to load on board swimming kit and goggles. You want the summer season to be fun, so pack outdoor games like frisbee, cricket, football, and boules.

3. Hotel

Check carpets, curtains and upholstery for damp patches or signs of external damage. Stains could indicate a potential damp problem.

Start by having a good spring clean and a clear out as well. We remove everything, sorting through and inspecting each and every item to decide whether it truly deserves a place in our inventory. Everything takes up space and adds weight. Our general rule of thumb is, if we cannot remember when we last used an item, we off load it and place it into a cupboard at home.

Cassette window and hatch blinds are prone to problems and can lose their tension over winter months. Operate them all carefully and ensure that any foreign objects, that may have dropped into them, are removed.

Being prepared for all eventualities is an important part of any successful trip. We carry dry and tinned foods in a locker, for use in case we cannot find fresh local produce. Often, we find we do not use it, so we always check the sell by dates and restock if necessary. We adopt the same principles with the first aid kit and medicines.

We sort through items

that we carry such as antihistamines, antiseptic creams, insect repellents, Imodium and paracetamol tablets, rehydration sachets, waterproof plasters, wet wipes, surgical tape and bandages. We always throw away any of last year's sunscreen and invest in new stocks.

Holidays would not be complete without visiting attractions and camping in favourite spots. So do not forget to check up on club memberships and tourist attraction passes. Whether it is membership of the National Trust or the Motor Caravanners' Club, a forgotten card or missed renewal date are easily solved.

4. Habitation

Checking the gas and water systems, are the top priorities for us, when it comes to getting the habitation side of the van ready. Make sure that gas bottles, their spares and all gas appliances are still securely installed and working properly. Make sure that gas hoses have not perished, are in date and that all the connections at each end are tight. Then, and only then, light the burners and check that the flames are burning evenly.

While it might be tempting to use a car wash to clean away the winter grime, we believe hand washing the exterior of your motorhome is by far the best way to get you summer ready.

If you have any doubts, or find a problem, immediately arrange to have the installation checked by a professional Gas Safe Register engineer. Some refrigerators run on gas, battery and mains power, so check that the fridge is working in each mode. Likewise, some heating systems run on diesel, gas and electricity. They too should be tested in all modes.

However, no matter how diligent you were when you cleaned out the fresh and wastewater tanks at the end of the last season, chances are that over the winter months those tanks will have become contaminated with bacteria or algae. Tanks, as well as toilet and washing facilities, need to be sterilised and flushed thoroughly to make them fresh and safe. The number of times this has happened to us has been dramatically reduced, since we installed a water filter between our tanks and our appliances. That said, we still thoroughly sanitise our water system, having first removed the filter element prior to changing it for a new one. First, we close all drains

and install drain plugs. Then we add a water sterilizer, in the correct proportions, to the tank.

We fill the tank with clean water, turn on the water pump and open all taps for a minute or so. Then we turn off the taps, and let the solution sit, for up to twelve hours in the system. We then empty the tank using the onboard taps, so that our wastewater tank is filled. We leave that for a further twelve hours, so that it too, gets a good cleansing. We then empty the waste and refill the freshwater tank. We flush the system, by turning on the water pump and opening all taps allowing the water to run, until the fresh tank is empty and the wastewater is full. Finally, we empty the waste, fill the fresh and we are ready to go! Make sure that all the hoses and connectors needed to fill up away from home are looking clean and have also been flushed through. When the freshwater tank is full, we check for leaks and listen carefully to see if the water pump kicks in when the taps are closed. If it does, it is a sure sign that there is a leak or a

weakness somewhere. Checking the plumbing system for any leaks could save you distress later on.

5. Safety and Security

Insurance can cover stolen items and compensate for loss from either fire or theft, but prevention is always the better course of action.

Never compromise when it comes to safety! Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire blankets and fire extinguishers are all there to fulfil a vital role of fire prevention. Check that they are all operating properly and whether batteries need replacing. Learn how to recognise the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to prevent it.

Finally check your insurance policy. Is your motorhome well enough protected at home, on the road and at the campsite? Is there anything you could install, to make it less appealing to opportunistic thieves? Consider wheel clamps, steering wheel locks and pedal locks. Visual devices that show a thief you are theft protected are one of the best forms of deterrent. Then add in some high tech into the mix. GPS trackers, immobilisers or Deadman’s switches are all worth investigating.

Stock up your motorcaravan make it clean, tidy and super safe and have a fun-filled summer season.

A spot of summertime maintenance at the very start of the season is both prudent and important. Get it right and it could save shedloads of trouble when you least want it.

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AVON

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CAMBS

PIONEER CARAVANS LIMITED

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CHESHIRE

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ESSEX

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NEWENT AUTO CENTRE

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HAMPSHIRE

CS&R Ltd

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E: csrcaravanserviceandrepairs@gmail.com

W: www.repairscaravan.co.uk

YEW TREE WORKSHOPS

Fawley, Southampton, SO45 1BX.

T: 02380 010029

E: yewtreeworkshopsltd@outlook.com

W: www.badminstongroup.co.uk

KENT

MOTORHOMES REPAIRED

Unit 26, Lamberhurst Farm, Dargate, Nr Faversham, ME13 9EP

T: 01227 751300

E: info@motorhomesrepaired.com

W: www.motorhomesrepaired.com

LEICESTERSHIRE

FOX COUNTY MOBILE & MOTORHOME

SERVICING (OFFICE ONLY)

Unit G, Armstrong Farm Business Park, Broughton Rd, Cosby, LE9 1RD

T: 07701 019574

E: info@foxcounty.co.uk

MERSEYSIDE SPENCER & GILBERT

3 St. Luke’s Rd, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0SH

T: 01704 531398

E: spencerandgilbert@gmail.com

NORFOLK CROWN GARAGE

Newton St. Faith, Norwich, NR10 3LG

T: 01603 898253

E: enquir y@thecrowngarage.com

W: www.thecrowngarage.com

SIMPSONS GARAGE (GT YARMOUTH) LTD

Suffolk Rd, Gt Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 0LN

E: service@simpsons-skoda.com

W: www.simpsonsmotorhomes.co.uk

NORTHERN IRELAND THOMPSON LEISURE SERVICE CENTRE

62c Drumnabreeze Road, Magheralin, Co. Armagh, BT67 0RH

T: 028 9269 3999

E: info@thompsonleisure.com

W: www.thompsonleisure.com

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ROCKINGHAM CARS FIAT

Cockerell Rd, Phoenix Parkway, Corby, NN17 5DU

T: 01536 268991

E: phil@rockinghamcars.co.uk

W: www.rockinghamcars.co.uk

DIRECTORY IN ASSOCIATION WITH

WHITE ARCHES MOTORHOMES

A45, Higham Rd, Little Irchester, Wellingborough, Northants, NN8 2DU.

T: 01933 277303

E: info@white-arches.co.uk

SCOTLAND

TURRIFF CARAVAN CENTRE (TCC)

Premium Partners for E&P Hydraulics and VB Airsuspension. Your local specialists for habitation services, conversions & more! Greengate Lodge, Delgaty, Turriff, AB53 5TA

T: 01888 562186

E: sales@turriffcaravans.co.uk

W: www.turriffcaravans.co.uk

CULLODEN SERVICE STATION LTD

Barn Church Rd, Inverness, Inverness-shire, Scotland, IV2 7WB

T: 01463 792979

E: cullodenservicestation@gmail.com

DONALD MACKENZIE LTD

Authorised Fiat dealer. 62 Seafield Rd, Inverness, Inverness-shire, IV1 1SG

T: 01463 235777

E: dmaftersales@dmmotorgroup.co.uk

MOTORHOME CENTRE

253 Blairtummock Rd, Glasgow, G33 4ED

T: 0141 773 1212

F: 0141 771 1999

E: info@motorhomecentrescotland.com

NEWTON GARAGE LTD

14 The Wisp, Edinburgh, EH16 4SQ

T: 0131 669 6336

E: newtongarage@aol.com

NORTH ROAD GARAGE

Great North Rd, Kelty, F ife, KY4 0HW

T: 01383 830404

E: sales@northroadgarage.co.uk

W: www.northroadgarage.co.uk

SHERIFFMILL MOTOR COMPANY LTD

Sheriffmill Rd, Elgin, Moray, IV30 6UH

T: 01343 547121 or 01343 547378

E: service@sheriffmill.co.uk

SOMERSET

CARAVAN & MOTORHOME SOLUTIONS

Littlecombe Garage, Touches Lane, Chaffcombe Rd, Chard, TA20 1RY

T: 01460 63320

E: caravanmotorhome@btconnect.com

W: caravanmotorhomesolutions.co.uk

HIGHBRIDGE CARAVAN CENTRE LTD

A38 Bristol Road, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4EX.

01278 764800

E: AftersalesDept@highbridgecaravans.co.uk

W: www.highbridgecaravans.co.uk

SOUTHWEST MOTORHOMES

Southfields Enterprise Park, Unit 1, Jordans Rd, Ilminster, Somerset, TA19 9FF

T: 01460 57524

E: service@southwestmotorhomes.co.uk

W: www.southwestmotorhomes.co.uk

STOCKPORT

PINNACLE MOTOR ENGINEERING

Gordon Street, Stockport, SK4 1RS

T: 0161 480 0397

E: info@pinnaclemotors.net

W: www.pinnacle-motors.co.uk

SUFFOLK

SHARMAN CARAVANS

Habitation services to all motorhomes and campervans – AWS approved workshops. Colchester Rd, Ipswich, IP4 4RU

T: 01473 713284

E: sales@sharmancaravans.co.uk

W: www.sharmancaravans.co.uk

SURREY

ELMWOOD VEHICLES LTD

Motorhome Servicing & MOTs

278 Kingston Rd (rear of petrol station), Epsom, Surrey, KT19 0SH

T: 0208 394 2847

E: info@elmwoodvehicles.co.uk

W: www.elmwoodvehicles.co.uk

GREENFIELDS CARAVAN & MOTORHOME SERVICING LTD

Servicing and repairs for all makes

AWS Approved workshop.

The Maultway, Camberley, GU15 1QA

T: 01344 231153

E: help@caravan-service.co.uk

W: www.caravan-service.co.uk

SUSSEX CARAVAN TECH SERVICES LTD

(Bailey, Swift and Adria) London Rd, Hurst Green, East Sussex, TN19 7PN

T: 01580 860260

E: shop@caravantech.co.uk

W: www.caravantech.co.uk

JC LEISURE

Lifestyle Park, Harbour Rd, Rye, TN31 7TE

T: 01797 227337

E: service@jcleisure.co.uk

W: www.jcleisure.co.uk

PREMIER MOTORHOMES

Premier Business Park, Main Rd, Birdham, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7BU

T: 01243 511189

E: service@premiermotorhomes.com

W: www.premiermotorhomes.uk

RELIANCE CARAVAN & MOTORHOME SERVICES

Units D1-D3, New Barn Offices, Funtington, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9DA

T: 01243 940050

E: enquiries@reliancecms.uk

W: www.reliancecms.uk

THE ADVENTURE COAST

Frances & Michael Howorth discover North Devon is not just an area for outdoorsy types, the region has a whole host of amazing attractions, great local food and drink.

Whether it’s the clotted cream teas or the wilderness of Dartmoor, there is something about Devon that keeps drawing us back.

We love North Devon for its award-winning coastline, much of it a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We adore its collection of quaint, stony villages. We revere the coast’s craggy headlands and the stunningly beautiful walks they offer. We are in awe of Devon’s gigantic beaches and the massive Atlantic waves that roll in and break over sands backed by dunes.

These golden, sandy beaches are perfect for rock-pooling, swimming, and surfing – in fact, much of the coast is often named as one of the UK’s top surfing spots. Combine the dramatic coastlines with rugged moors and the verdant valleys, all demanding to be explored, and you may never get as far as Cornwall!

When asked what they love about North Devon, every motor caravanner has a different answer.

For us, it is Devon’s diverse variety of attractions, which range from thrill-seeking activities like surfing, kayaking and paddleboarding or the ability to get on our e-bikes and explore the scenery. We love pulling on our hiking boots and yomping across Exmoor, enjoying the beautiful walking trails and wildlife. There is something very special about settling down for a picnic following a bracing walk and watching wild Exmoor ponies wander about the moorland.

Then there is the Tarka Trail, named after Tarka the Otter.

This 180-mile, figure of eight loop through mostly unspoiled countryside is the longest continuous cycle path in the UK. The section between Braunton and Meeth runs on a flat, tarmacked pathway on what was originally a railway line. It provides 30 miles of tranquil, traffic-free cycling –the longest stretch anywhere in England. We joined the trail having camped at Smytham Holiday Park, a delightful, top-end campsite. Many of the pitches have their own self-contained, heated bathrooms and an outside washing up facility. In fact, having been so spoiled while staying here, we now have to ask why are there not more campsites that offer so much for such a reasonable fee? Set in 33 acres of parkland adjoining the old Manor House, still in use as the owning family’s home, it is located in Little Torrington, a location extremely handy for visiting the gardens of RHS Rosemoor or the glass blowing workshops in Dartington. From Smytham, we drove to Clovelly, walked to Rosemoor and rode our bikes to Bideford and Dartington.

Torrington, a location extremely handy for visiting the gardens of walked to Rosemoor and rode our bikes to Bideford and Dartington.

Clovelly with its traffic-free, steep, cobbled streets and

London photographer HFT94y/shutterstock

Wild Exmoor pony

North devonphotography/shutterstock

Beach near Airy Point and Crow Point on Braunton Burrows, part of the Tarka Trail

Touring, Camping and Glamping in the heart of the South Hams

traditional cottages is a delightful ancient harbour village perched atop a 400ft cliff where time seems to have stopped. There is a large, campervan friendly car park at the top of the hill and the parking fee pays for entry into the village. Before you set off down the hill, take time in the visitor’s centre and watch the introductory video. It explains how originally, the estate was owned by William the Conqueror, and remained associated with Royalty until 1242, when it was acquired by the Giffard family. Today, it is a thriving community and still a working harbour full of fishing boats. 240 people live here year-round in

80 or so preserved cottages. The community is thriving, perhaps because none of the houses are second homes. Having climbed back up the hill, relax a moment or two in Clovelly Court Gardens and hopefully get a chance to watch Richard Massos, a wood turner, carry on his age-old craft.

Dartington is one of Devon’s hot spots. Quite literally! The furnaces used by glass blowers reach temperatures of around 1,300 degrees centigrade. Free parking in a large, unrestricted space means motor caravanners can park here while occupants enjoy browsing through the shop to buy glass or watch skilled master engravers

at work. Self-guided tours of the facility are available for a small fee.

The garden at RHS Rosemoor is not just aimed at those with green fingers. It is a very personal, relaxed garden with extensive areas of parkland and an arboretum. After her husband died, Lady Anne Berry, a keen amateur gardener, gifted her 18th century Manor House, together with its 40-acre estate to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in 1988. Today, its many formal gardens are an oasis of tranquillity. Take time to enjoy a spot of lunch in the newly refurbished Garden Restaurant and then walk off the calories in the extensive cottage and woodland gardens.

Smytham Holiday Park (top left) is set in 33 acres of parkland (above); Gardens at Rosemoor (left). Wood turner Richard Massos (far left) carries on this age-old craft in Clovelly

Picturesque fishing village of Clovelly

Gass blowers at work at Dartington Crystal

We cycled along the Tarka Trail to Bideford. This historic town lies on the banks of the River Torridge, and has been an important port since the times of William the Conqueror. By the 16th century, Bideford had become Britain's third largest port, and Sir Walter Raleigh is said to have landed his first shipment of tobacco here. Good and easy van parking is available across the bridge from the main town, off the Barnstable Road, and this makes a good base from which to explore.

Other seaside resorts nearby include Woolacombe, Ilfracombe and Westward Ho! the only town to have an exclamation mark in its name. But for the ultimate surfer’s paradise, point your van in the direction of Croyde or Saunton. Many associate seaside, beachholidays with children and indeed many young people seek nothing more than a bucket and spade. Others look for a more diverse offering, and here Devon has top attractions aplenty.

Quince Honey Farm in South Moulton is one such site. The farm is a family owned and operated honey farm that is part honey factory, part education centre and part entertainment venue. Having spent half a day enthralled on site, we can vouch for these values. 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 making candles from beeswax. All in all, a great day out for the whole family.

Not far away in South Stowford, Exmoor Zoo offers another full day of fun for all the family. Over 600 animals across 175 different species inhabit the zoo. Stroke, touch, hold or just watch from a distance, this is where you can see many endangered species, including black lemurs, great grey owls and howler monkeys. The clouded leopard is also on the endangered list and here they have a magnificent enclosure giving visitors ample opportunity to watch them cavort.

Other large cats on show include cheetahs, pumas and of course the famous Beast of Exmoor. This black leopard is, without doubt, the zoo’s main attraction and rightly so.

Families whose passion is animals will certainly enjoy the facilities on hand at the Royale Resort in Stowford Village. Complete with its very own petting zoo and horse-riding stables, this large and all-encompassing campsite is a onestop destination in itself. Arrive here, pitch up and chances are, you may never have to leave.

A true family centre, the site is home to a swimming pool, children’s playground, crazy golf, putting green and a formal sports area. Onsite cafes, takeaway restaurants and shops mean there really is no need to venture off site.

If you do leave, then why not head up towards Ilfracombe and discover North Devon’s largest harbour where catches of bass, ray, crab and lobster are landed daily. Overlooking the harbour, Damien Hirst’s ‘Verity’ represents >>

The Tarka Trail to Bideford

Saunton beach

Seaside town of Bideford

Award winning park close to Newquay, Padstow & Watergate Bay beach (with free mini-bus transport to beach) • In a stunning area of outstanding natural beauty • Touring pitches • Static caravans • Camping pods • Family facilities (swimming pool, tennis court & more) • Electric as well as nonelectric pitches ranging from 9mx9m to 12mx12m • Mains water/drainage • Grass & hard-standing options •

01637 860387

www.watergatebaytouringpark.co.uk email@watergatebaytouringpark.co.uk

Tregurrian, Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 4AD

Set in a forest clearing surrounded by 300 acres of pine forest on the Blackdown Hills, Forest Glade Holiday Park provides everything you need for a family holiday or a quiet break out of season. Hard standing and fully serviced pitches available. Facilities: a free covered heated swimming pool, sauna, shop with off-licence and take away, children’s play areas, games room, tennis court and forest walks.

Forest Glade Holiday Park, Near Kentisbeare, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 2DT. www.forest-glade.co.uk • 01404 841381

Award winning, beautiful family run park on Dartmoor National Park with views of the moor.

Up-to-date facilities for motorhomers with spacious level pitches – grass and hardstanding with or without electricity and services. Motorhome service point, dog friendly etc., AA 5 Pennant rated park.

Two miles from Tavistock, ideally situated for exploring and activities in West Devon and East Cornwall, as well as the nearby coasts.

Pets welcome at Smytham. A rural retreat ideal as a base to enjoy all that North Devon has to offer. Walks and dog friendly beaches nearby. Direct access to Tarka Trail. Dog Exercise field.

Peter Tavy, Tavistock, Devon PL19 9LS

Tel: 01822 810349 Email: stay@harfordbridge.co.uk

www.harfordbridge.co.uk

‘Just a placegreat to stay’

truth and duty. Over 20m tall, this bronze statue of a pregnant woman holding a sword aloft is truly impressive. A somewhat older structure nearby is the Hele Cornmill and Tearoom. David and Catherine Jones have dedicated their lives to the restoration of this 16th century watermill. David, a furniture maker by trade, has used all his skills to restore the mill to full working order. Water from a stream turns a massive water wheel which turns stones that grind grain into flour. Catherine then uses the flour to bake the most delicious cakes which are sold in the mill’s outbuildings, now converted to a tearoom. Historically educational and jolly tasty too! We have yet to find a better combination of tourist attractions.

If water can be used to power flourmills, then why not railways? Waterpower is clean, green, ecofriendly energy and it has been put to good use since Victorian times at the Linton Lynmouth Cliff Railway. The highest and steepest fully water powered railway in the world has a zero-carbon footprint. For each journey it uses 300 litres of water, weighing three tons, taking it from the river and allowing it to flow into the sea once it has done its job. Park your motor caravan in Linton and ride the railway 500 feet down to the picturesque fishing village of Lynmouth. If you need to burn off holiday-induced calories, try walking back up again! It is a long, steep haul and a good demonstration of why the Victorians built the railway in the first place. Your reward for climbing to the top must be a cream tea at the railway’s upper station. There, they serve what must have

been the largest scone we saw in Devon, along with handsome dollops of clotted cream and strawberry jam. Just remember to put them on the scone in the correct order!

North Devon is not just for foodies, the region has a whole host of amazing drink producers including one that distils rum! Exmoor is not an area rich in sugar cane producers, but that does not seem to have put off husband and wife team, John and Nicola Smith. Having successfully launched a range of Exmoor Gin, John, who loves sipping rum in the Caribbean islands, conceived of the idea of producing world class rum. Using molasses brought in from Guyana, the family create three distinctive rums, one white, one spiced and

one, soon to be released; Exmoor Cask Strength. This superbly smooth spirit is perhaps the pinnacle of John's achievements so far and could quite possibly be the one capable of realising his dream to export Exmoor Rum to the Caribbean. Take a tour and tasting and be the judge yourself.

Far less alcoholic, but just as delicious, is raw milk! The health benefits of drinking raw milk daily are well documented. In Devon, the place to try and buy it is on West Middlewick Farm, a working farm and campsite run and owned by the Gibson family, John, Dan, Cath, Jo, and Abi. Perfectly situated between Exmoor and Dartmoor, it lies almost halfway between Tiverton and South Molton, in the middle of Devon.

Exmoor Zoo

David Jones at Hele Cornmill and Tearoom

Every day, John hand milks a herd of 14 Friesian-Jersey Cross cows, producing 60 litres of raw milk, which is sold to those on the campsite and through their wellstocked farm shop.

The farm also has dwarf goats, Bella the donkey and a giant rabbit called Bryn, all firm favourites with younger visitors. What makes this campsite so delightful is that –simply – there are no rules. Families make their own fun using a field for football or going for riverside walks. Fishing is available on the farm's own carp lake for a small fee and in the evenings, families sit outside their vans enjoying rural peace and tranquillity. West Middlewick Farm offers motor caravanners a chance to enjoy camping as it used to be. Whether you want somewhere with a sea view, somewhere deep in the country, something luxurious or on a budget, you will find the perfect campsite in Devon.

DEVON CREAM TEA

Traditionally, a Devon Tea Cream would be a Devonshire cutround, a type of slightly sweet bread roll also known as a Split, Tuff, Devon Dumpling or Chudleigh bun, served warm with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

However, a truly traditional treat would be Thunder and Lightning: a scone or cut round with clotted cream and black treacle, or, for the less adventurous, golden syrup.

Nowadays, most tearooms serve scones, either plain or fruited, instead of Devonshire cutrounds.

In Devon, clotted or "clouted" cream is served with scones. Made from full cream cows' milk; gently baked and cooked until a golden crust forms, it is the perfect accompaniment for a warm scone.

This is how to eat your Devon cream tea, be your choice a fruit scone, plain scone or cutround. First split the scone and to halves. Then liberally spread clotted cream onto its surface and then spoon strawberry jam on top of the cream. Unless of course you hail from Cornwall. There they put the cream on top of the jam!

Mill Park is a sheltered caravan and camping site set around a sparkling 1.5 acre lake. Located in an attractive wooded valley on the north Devon coast, it is perfectly situated for coastal walks, fun seaside activities and the breathtaking beauty of Exmoor. Mill Park offers good sized level grassed and hardstanding pitches with electric hook-ups, fully serviced pitches, a motorhome service point, modern shower blocks, laundry room and camping supplies. There is an on-site family room and pub plus a well-stocked shop. The nearest village, Berrynarbor, is just a five minute walk and offers a country pub, village store and post office.

South Devon Railway

just the tcket for a great day out

There’ll be a warm Devon welcome for you at the South Devon Railway, a beautiful 14-mile steam train ride along the stunning valley of the River Dart.

Plenty of parking at Buckfastleigh station, TQ11 0DZ

We’d look forward to seeing you!

southdevonrailway.co.uk 01364 644370

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.

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.

01872 510716 www.carvynick.co.uk

Summercourt, Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 5AF

www.coastandcountryparks.co.uk/lynmouth-holiday-retreat-2

Caravan & Camping Park set in Exmoor National Park with breathtaking views!

New heated showers, toilets, dishwashing and laundry facilities. Small shop providing essentials in reception, pub with restaurant in walking distance from the campsite. Dog friendly with multiple walking routes from park.

Manor Farm, Lynton, North Devon EX35 6LD 01598 753349 | lynmouth@coastandcountryparks.co.uk

Buckfastleigh • Staverton • Totnes

HOLIDAY PARK

Discovering captivating CORNWALL beyond its coastline

Cornwall is a captivating county known for its breathtaking coastline. Discover the timeless beauty of classic Cornwall as you journey along its stunning coast, creating the perfect road trip skimming the coastline. Indulge in delicious seafood, visit iconic landmarks, and relax on the stunning beaches. Be in awe of the majestic cliffs, uncover hidden coves and stand at Lizard Point, the southernmost tip of mainland Britain. Yes, of course, visit the big hitters, such as Kynance Cove, with its turquoise waters and dramatic rock formations. Ponder as you stand on the edge of the world at Land's End. Marvel at the splendid St. Michael's Mount. However, Cornwall offers more than just its coastline.

Beyond Coast and Beaches: When it comes to Cornwall, its stunning coastline and picturesque beaches often steal the spotlight. This enchanting region has so much more to offer beyond its shores.

Chimney

St Michael's Mount harbour

Embark on a journey of discovery to uncover more of Cornwall.

Mystical Moorlands and Historic Landscapes: Explore the magical moorlands of Bodmin Moor, a vast expanse of untamed beauty. Lose yourself in its rugged landscapes, ancient stone circles, and mystical legends. Delve into Cornwall's rich history at Tintagel Castle, a place steeped in Arthurian legend. Wander through the ruins of this medieval fortress perched on the cliffs.

Check out the art scene: Don't miss the chance to experience Cornwall's vibrant cultural scene at the picturesque town of St Ives. Wander through narrow cobblestone streets, explore charming galleries, and soak up the creative ambience along narrow alleys lined with vibrant art studios and galleries, showcasing works by local artisans.

Gardens and Botanical Marvels: Cornwall is renowned for its stunning gardens, offering a botanical paradise for nature enthusiasts and

garden lovers. Visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a hidden paradise restored from its forgotten state to become a botanical wonderland. More than just a garden, the Eden Project is a world-famous ecological attraction. Explore its iconic biomes and discover diverse plant species from around the globe. Other gardens to lose yourself in include Trebah Garden, Trewithen Gardens, Caerhays Castle Gardens and Lanhydrock Garden.

Historic Mining Heritage: Uncover Cornwall's mining legacy at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geevor Tin Mine. Step into the depths of the mine, where you can learn about the lives of the miners and the vital role mining played in Cornwall's history. Cornwall offers several other mining attractions that provide a glimpse into its rich mining history, including East Pool Mine, as well as Levant Mine and Beam Engine, both managed by the National Trust. These attractions allow visitors to explore the

underground tunnels, learn about mining techniques, and discover the stories of the miners.

So, go beyond the beaches, and uncover the secrets Cornwall holds.

To make the most of your Cornwall adventure and make planning a breeze, take advantage of Uncover Britain’s self-drive road trip planner and itinerary for the Cornwall Coast, which covers the cultural treasures and hidden gems inland too – so you won’t miss a highlight and you’ll save hours searching the internet. Discover the best campsites, motorhome stopovers, viewpoints, and attractions that Cornwall has to offer. Access the library of 30 UK road trips for a year, including Cornwall with a premium membership www.UncoverBritain. com, and grab £10 off membership with the code MCCJUL by 31.07.2023. Or sign up for free membership to access route maps only and get planning your trip to Cornwall!

Eden Project

Tintagel Castle

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.

WIN a 2 night River Dart Country Park Camping trip for 4 people with Adventure Playground access!

Set in 90 acres of parkland within Dartmoor National Park, the River Dart Country Park is one of Devon’s best-loved family tourist attractions and campsites. Packed with activities in a stunning location on the edge of the River Dart, the award-winning site is the perfect place to embrace the great outdoors. Family holidays start at River Dart! T&Cs apply.

COMPETITION

To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the question below and send to Motor Caravanner

Competition, Micropress Printers, Fountain Way, Reydon, Suffolk IP18 6SZ or email editor@ themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk (please put River Dart competition in the subject line). Please include your name and telephone number. How many acres of parkland is River Dart Country Park set in?

www.riverdart.co.uk

WIN a 2-night stay for 2 adults & 2 children at Woodlands Caravan and Camping, Dartmouth!

Woodlands Grove is an award-winning caravan and camping site, located in beautiful countryside and only a short drive from the picturesque waterside town of Dartmouth. The spacious pitches, family facilities, and onsite cafes are just a few of the reasons families return year after year. Guests can also enjoy free access to our adjoining theme park with 10 play zones including a zoo farm and falconry centre! T&Cs apply.

Closing date: noon 28th July 2023

INCLUDED WITH EACH HOLIDAY PRIZE

WIN a Devon’s Top Attractions Family Ticket (one with each holiday prize)

A Family Ticket allows FREE entry (2 adults and 2 children) for one visit to any one of Devon’s Top Attractions listed on the reverse of the ticket. The 2023 tickets are valid until the end of the year. Each family ticket is worth up to £100! www.devonstopattractions.co.uk T&Cs apply.

To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the question below and send to Motor Caravanner

Competition, Micropress Printers, Fountain Way, Reydon, Suffolk IP18 6SZ or email editor@ themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk (please put Woodlands competition in the subject line). Please include your name and telephone number. How many play zones does Woodlands Caravan & Camping theme park have?

Closing date: noon 28th July 2023

T&Cs: Can be found here https://www.devonstopattractions.co.uk/terms-conditions/

River Dart T&Cs: Prize of 2 nights camping on a non-electric pitch for up to 4 people to be taken in 2023 low or mid season - subject to availability. Includes access to Adventure Playgrounds - Dare Devil activities and Dartmoor Bike Park not included. Please note that the prize winners once selected, will then have to email marketing@riverdart.co.uk to organise their prize. Woodlands Grove Caravan & Camping T&Cs: Stay must be taken during Tariff A dates only. See website for tariff dates. Pitch includes electric. Prize also includes entry to Woodlands Family Theme Park for the whole stay. www.woodlandspark.com. Devon's Top Attractions

7 DAY SPECIALS FOR OVER 50S

Camping Los Gallardos

R.T.A: AL- 4-04-0017

In sunny Almería, Spain - It’s Europe’s sunniest spot!

• Family run, category 2 peaceful, community campsite in the south of Spain - near Mojácar

• Bowling greens

• Busy bar, restaurant & shop

• Full services (Inc: UKTV hookup & much more)

• Full service pitches available

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

info@widdicombefarm.co.uk

www.widdicombefarm.co.uk

Discover

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

www.manorfarmholidaycentre.co.uk

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:

A-CLASS MOTORHOMES

A-Class motorhomes resemble a small coach. The bodywork is of unitary construction and is the same width throughout its length. Other coachbuilts retain the original base vehicle cab, but add (usually-wider) bodywork behind. The full-width A-Class cab facilitates a roomy and regal driving environment.

The windscreen is installed by the converter and is bigger than the those on most chassis-cabs. An additional advantage is that the cab area is better insulated. Unlike the base vehicle’s original cab which would have been extensively crash-tested and modified to ensure maximum ‘survivability’ for cab occupants and other road users in

the a serious road traffic accident. Some A-Class cabs haven’t been tested to the same standard. Of course, it certainly doesn’t follow that they are not as safe, because they are designed using the latest CAD-CAM software, just that it is what American politicos call, a ‘known unknown’.

Part one of this series of Tech Talk (Motor Caravanner February 2023) featured a very early ‘Safari’ motorcaravan built in America on

a 1903 Pierce-Arrow chassis. It falls within the above definition of an A-Class, but wasn’t designed for use on public roads. The first traceable example used on public roads was (surprisingly) not American, but European. Charles Louvet was a maverick French inventor, plus a boat and canoe designer and manufacturer. His 1923 Carling Home 2 [1] was a mighty beast and the forerunner of three others. (Carling Home 1 was a trailer

caravan.) Interestingly, Charles had no desire to mass produce them, instead they were for his own family’s use, plus he took each one on tour and charged folks a fee to look around them. The considerable sums generated were then used to fund his marine projects.

Blighty wasn’t far behind with lots of enterprising individuals and companies following suit. Eccles (perhaps better known for their touring caravans) actually produced many early motorcaravans including ‘A’ class ones in the 1930’s. There were many Brit-builds that deserved to make it to mass production, but didn’t for a variety of reasons. Two particularly-appealing streamlined examples are pictured. The 1927 Road Yacht [2] built by pioneering dare-devil aviator Noel Pemberton, and the all-steel monocoque 1938 Lounge Car [3] from Coventry Steel

Caravans’ MD Clifford Dawtry.

An interesting Stateside development saw the mass production of the lofty Pickwick Nite Coach [4]. All - including this 1930 example - had separate completelyprivate two-seat booths (what we call Pullman dinettes) that converted into two single-beds. Washroom facilities and a galley with catering staff were also included. Greyhound Lines ran them on timetabled longhaul routes. Other entrepreneurs hired them out for private RV tours, complete with liveried staff!

An all-time ‘fave’ is the 1937 American Roadliner [5]. It started

life as a prototype housecar built for a local doctor by San-Franciscan Chris-Craft Boat Sales. It wasn’t registered until 1942, when it was described as a Plymouth Roadliner. Decades later its hind quarters were discovered poking out of a barn. Subsequently, it was totally rebuilt by the current owner - Art Himsl - and rechristened in 2002 as a Zepplin Roadliner.

John Roy Hunt was an American cinema owner and highly-regarded Hollywood film cameraman for almost 50 years. The Hunt House Car [6 - pictured after a recent restoration] was built by him just post World War 2, for use ‘on location’. The sink and hob were where the passenger seat usually is…

Mention A-Class motorhomes and many will think of a palatial

3 continued on p64

continued from p63

Hymer, though currently the company is concentrating on smaller and lighter examples…which is where they started with integrals, as evidenced by this late 1970’s Bedford Blitz (CF) [7]

Next, some images from the Club magazine. Firstly, as was said earlier, many A-Class motorhomes have bus or coach in their DNA, but in this case [8] it started life as an actual bus on an RAF camp, where it transported service personnel

Ferry Good for Al-ko

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.

around the various perimeter buildings, before being sold out-of-service to Motor Caravanners’ Club member, A King (pictured), of Macclesfield. It was photographed in 1963 at an early stage of conversion to a motorhome, but it already has a garage for a ‘roofless’ bubble car [inset]. Members of a

certain age may recall the genial and talented singers and actors Edmund and Jackie Hockeridge who were keen club members. Here they are on the cover of the February 1975 magazine [9] with their new Dodge Superior RV, which had been supplied by Wilsons Motor Caravans.

To conclude this month’s Tech Talk and to bring us bang up-to-date is the impressive Grande Frontier 88 [10] from North Lincolnshirebased Auto Trail…currently our only volume producer of A-Class motorcaravans. What a corker!

Next month… Motorcaravans at war and in peace.

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

Wordsearch

Can you find all the elements listed below?

Argon

Carbon

Cobalt

Copper

Dysprosium

Gold

Iodine

Iron

Krypton

Lead

Mercury

Crossword Puzzle

Across

1 Tasks (4)

3 Thin layer (4)

6 Expiry (5)

10 Repentant (9)

11 Tooth top (5)

13 Glitter (7)

Neon

Nickel

Oxygen

Radon

Silver

Sulphur

Tin

Tungsten

Xenon

Zinc

32 Entertain in a public place (4)

33 Lugs (4)

Down

1 Capital of Israel (9)

2 Started (5)

4 Childish (9)

5 Thaws (5)

6 E.g. Mussolini (8)

7 Adjoining (9)

8 Pivot (5)

9 Fix a computer program (5)

15 Use of metaphors (9)

17 Organisations (9)

19 Rust-resistant (9)

20 And so forth (2,6)

24 Sudden burst of light (5)

25 Doctor's replacement (5)

26 Indian form of address (5)

28 Violin's bigger sister (5)

July 2023

Tea Break Teasers

(from pages 66 & 67)

Bazaar

Private sale advertisements

ACCESSORIES

TYREPAL TYRE MONITORING SYSTEM

New Colour Model. For cars, vans and motorhomes. Up to 99 PSI. As new, complete in original packaging – £50. Tel Mr Thorn 07857 713408 (Taunton, Somerset)

MOVELITE 2XL DRIVEAWAY AIR AWNING or can be attached to awning rail (kit included 4-6mm) only used twice. £300. Tel 07479 524254 (Worcester)

FIAMMA ULTRA BOX 320 REAR MOUNTED STORAGE BOX in excellent condition with fixings and 2 keys. Dimensions 100cm(w) x 70cm(h) x 53cm(d). Approx 12kg. Buyer to collect. Email: mail4jan276@gmail.com for photos. Tel: 07852 519704 (South Yorkshire)

VEHICLES/BIKES

PEUGEOT KISBEE 50 SCOOTER less than 500 miles. Full MOT. His & hers helmets, top box, loading ramp all included. Illness forces sale. £1,000, no offers accepted. Tel 01768 773133 (Keswick)

SMARTCAR 2014 first registration, 29800 miles, 2 seater, Fortwo Edition 21 MHD Auto, 999cc, (zero road tax), A frame with carrier bag, fully electronic braking system. All in excellent condition. £6,999 ONO. Enda Carolan, email endacarolan@yahoo.co.uk. Tel: 07902 894443 (County Down)

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:

Postcode:

Telephone: 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

Codeword

Sudoku