John Lennon Caravan Restoration

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By William Coleman

Well this is certainly news to me! Who knew that John Lennon was into caravans? His gypsy style caravan may not be quite up to modern standards, but what a magnificent piece of caravan history. The van is now set to go through a full restoration process following its rediscovery.

The amazing 1800s style caravan has found its way into the hands of a charity who are going to be putting the van through a restoration. John Lennon actually gave the caravan to his, at the time, young son when the Sgt Pepper album was released in 1967.

The world famous Beatles member had the caravan painted in the design as the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, along with his now famous Rolls Royce. The caravan fell off of the grid over 50 years ago and nobody thought it would ever be seen again, that was until 2012 rolled around.

Back in 2012 the caravan was found and then stored safely until it was handed over to The Delight Makers. Their mission is to have the caravan restored to its former glory and prestige.

Chairman of the charity, Sam Koshare-Edouardes, 54, has said once the caravan in fully restored they want to take it around the UK and spread the words and messages of John Lennon, messages of peace and love. Something I think we can all agree the world needs more of right now.

There is a lot of work that needs to be done before the caravan is show worthy again. The project is being very cautiously put together by Sam’s partner who it putting the van back together piece by piece.

“Restoring this is like the Mary Rose,” said Sam. “We are trying to salvage every single piece that we can to keep it as authentic as possible.”

The caravan was built in a small workshop in Chertsey in 1967 and turned a few heads when it made its way for delivery to John Lennon’s home in Weybridge. Following the delivery and a few years in storage it seemed vanished and did not reappear for quite some time following the unfortunate passing of John Lennon.

“John and Yoko left it behind when they went to America, although they were hoping to come back,” said Sam.

“Ringo Starr moved into John’s property and then John died. When Ringo sold the house he moved the caravan to his next property in Longcross and then for some reason he left it there.”

During its time at the Longcross the van fell into a state of disrepair following an incident where a tree fell on top of it during the Great Storm of ’87.

There the caravan sat rotting away until 2012 when it was rediscovered following the sale of the house to a new owner who then passed it onto the Delight Makers charity.

The project has not been a straightforward one and has very much been a labour or love. During the early stages the van had to be moved from Virginia Water to south east England in an attempt to find the space to work on it away from “fanatic” fans. Good to see that Beatlemania is still running wild.

“It probably looked like mission impossible,” Sam said. “By the time it’s finished it will have cost more than £150,000. Every single piece we have has to be preserved and it has some that would be from the 1800s.”

Currently a documentary is being filmed to show the full restoration project, but Sam would love to find out as much history and information on the caravan to he can piece together than van and its journey.

“The debut date of the caravan was July 24, 1967,” she said. “The journey was several hours and they had a mishap on the way and had to pause several times, so there are plenty of possibilities that people may have caught a glimpse or a photo.”

Story Credit- SurreyLive
Photo Credit- Mirrorpix, BILL ZYGMANT/REX

A Day At Truma HQ

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By William Coleman

Since meeting Truma’s Managing Director, Martin Fitzpatrick, on the Bailey of Bristol #Bristanbul tour last year, myself and the CaravanTimes team have spent quite a lot of time getting to know the team behind one of the industries biggest on board heating and air con manufacturers. We wanted to find out more about how they make and fit their products and last week we got the chance to visit their HQ to see where all the magic happens.

Truma have offices in 5 countries around the world where they deal with a whole range of Truma products, design, R&D, manufacturing and fitting. I visited their Darby site to see how the team put together units and then fit aftermarket systems to caravans and motorhomes.

One thing that I was not aware of was just how large Truma’s warehouse is, it really is absolutely enormous and has a good amount of staff running the well oiled operation. The size of it reminded me of the last scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark where they store the Ark, row after row of goodies.

Within the warehouse you have teams putting together products before they are then boxed for sales or fitted to vans that are booked in for aftermarket fixtures. It was an eye opening to see the products I have used for years being assembled.

While I was at Truma Lee Davey, Mr TinTent himself, was booked in to have a new air-con unit fitted to his Bailey Phoenix 760. I was quite interested in how the aftermarket fitting process would work and what actually needs to be done to mount and install a rooftop unit.

The process really is quite surgical and once the unit is fitted you’d think it came from the factory with it already in place. They really do a fantastic job in quite a short amount of time. Something as simple as removing a sky lights and popping in an air-con unit and there you go, fully automated air conditioning with zero impact on the van’s structure.

Once the Aventa Compact Plus was fitted we went inside for a demo and it is amazing just how powerful something this small is. Within a few minutes the van was very chilly and had an even temperature throughout. A few taps on the iNet app and then just like that the van warmed back up to a very comfortable climate. The tiny, almost soundless, Compact Plus pumps out 2,200 watts of cooling power.

After the fitting and test I spoke with Truma’s head fitter and he gave me a bit of a run through of how exactly Truma’s air con works and the best way to use it to ensure you get the optimal effects. One of the main aims Truma have is the way in which the air con works with the entirety of the caravan or motorhome.

One key point that was explained, one I was totally unaware of and never even thought of, is that the air distribution has been designed to ariate everything from space all the way to the fabrics within the van. So not only will it call down the van it will also cool mattresses, curtains, duvets and sofas.

Having spent a day at Truma I have gained a fair understanding of their products and the reasoning behind why it is so important to them to provide products that are totally customer focussed. From the cold testing chamber all the way to aftermarket fitting, Truma really do have an amazing set up.

The Caravan And Motorhome Club Surfing Partnership

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By William Coleman

The Caravan and Motorhome Club and Surfing England have announced the growth and development of their relationship which sees the Club maintain its support of the English Surfing community and its adventurous members.

Working together since 2014, both organisations have been striving to grow, develop and increase the service they offer their members.

The surging waves of positivity from this partnership are felt across the organisations’ active communities who continue to benefit from this partnership.

The agreement sees the Caravan and Motorhome Club drive forward the development of surfing in England as they fully promote and believe in the ethos and goals set at Surfing England.

With Surfing England committed to their strategy of ‘a healthy surfing community’, which aims to see more people starting, staying and supporting surfing in England.

Brian Morgan, Head of Communications and Events states “We are super proud to continue our support of Surfing England and the surfing community. The Club is able to offer surfers a warm welcome and provide them with different accommodation options.

Whether camping, caravanning or exploring in their campervans, the Club offers offer a choice of 2,700 sites in the UK and in Europe, many near to awesome surfing beaches. Our site facilities will ensure surfers get a hot shower and somewhere to dry their wetsuits so they are ready to hit the waves the next day.”

The Club are supporting the Surfing England organisation as a whole, whilst enjoying Headline Sponsorship of the 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club English National Surfing Championships taking place in Perranporth, Cornwall 4-6 May.

The support to English Surfing’s not-for-profit National Governing Body is key to Surfing England. “With surfing featuring as a demonstration sport in Tokyo 2020 Olympics, more eyes are on the sport than ever before. It is an incredibly exciting time for English Surfers and our duty to guide and support the sport to ensure our wonderful community prosper.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s commitment to Surfing England enables us to develop and grow our Healthy Surfing Community and we thank them for their long standing support” says Hannah Brand, Surfing England Operations Coordinator.

Caravan And Motorhome Club Chairman Receives OBE

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By William Coleman

In January it was announced that the Caravan And Motorhome Club Chairman, Grenville Chamberlain, is to be awarded an OBE for his services to the industry and charity work during his time as The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Chairman.

The Chairman was presented the OBE by non other than His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace at the ceremony that took place last week.

Mr Chamberlain, from Cambridge, was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours 2019. He was accompanied by his wife Liz to receive his award at Buckingham Palace

Grenville Chamberlain said, “It has been the most incredible day. I am deeply moved and honoured to receive this award which I believe reflects the outstanding contribution our Club makes not only to society today but also to those less fortunate than ourselves.

The benefits are clear from the results of the work of our staff at East Grinstead and across the sites network; the dedication of our many volunteers and our loyal members who all do so much to enable their fellow members to enjoy themselves to the full.

Across the Club many people work incredibly hard to raise much needed funds to help charities, both national and local, and although this award bears my name it is clear recognition of the efforts of them all.”

Caravanning since the age of seven, Grenville joined the Caravan and Motorhome Club (formerly The Caravan Club) in 1981.

Throughout his 37 years of dedicated commitment to the organisation he has participated in the full breadth of Club activities, not only in the UK, but also internationally with the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to champion road safety initiatives and awareness.

Grenville served on various Club Centres, Councils and Committees and was elected Club Chairman in October 2007. He tours some 12,000 miles each year with his family and spends over 40 weekends each year attending Club events and supporting members.

Nick Lomas, Caravan and Motorhome Club Director General said, “Grenville is admired and held in high regard by Club members, staff and fellow Committee members because of the care, patience, skill, leadership and long hours that he devotes to the Club. He is a true example of one who is more than worthy of a lasting recognition for his selfless devotion to the Club and to charitable causes.”
One of Grenville’s sporting passion is cycling and he led a Club team of 140 riders in the London to Brighton Bike Ride in 2010 that raised £42,000 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which was his Chairman’s nominated charity. He then raised £103,000 over a three-year period for BHF.

Job Opportunity- Caravan Wardens Needed

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By William Coleman

Recently a friend of CaravanTimes showed me a very good job opportunity that has crossed their. This is not usually something we would share but the offer seemed so good we couldn’t not show it to our readers.

If you are in the market for a brand new role of you simply want to take a different path then this may just be the opportunity for you. If you are interested in taking advantage of this amazing opportunity then take a read of the details below and follow the link at the bottom of the page. I wonder if we will get a recruitment fee?

Location: Market Rasen, LIN, GB, LN8 3EA
Company: The Jockey Club
Job title: Caravan Wardens
Based at: Market Rasen Racecourse
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Seasonal role, working 40 hours a week from March to October
Start date: As soon as possible

Market Rasen Racecourse Caravan Park is looking for 2 Caravan Wardens to join our friendly, hard working team. These are seasonal (March to October), live in roles and could suit couples.

Role Summary

The ideal individuals for this role will be friendly, customer focused, have a positive attitude and flexible approach. You will possess good administration and communication skills, work under your own initiative, as well as working under guidance and instruction from the Racecourse General Manager.

The Successful Candidates Will;

  • Be responsible for the overall management of the caravan park working in conjunction with the Racecourse General Manager
  • Manage the Caravan Park shop including transactions and basic accounting
  • Be responsible for the Caravan Park bookings system, taking bookings, tracking capacity and generating increased revenue on peak periods across the year
  • Be responsible for basic maintenance across the Caravan park including strimming, mowing and some basic painting
  • Ensure the caravan park indoor facilities are cleaned daily, including showers, corridor and toilet facilities
  • Welcome all visitors to the site, assisting with site hook ups and general enquiries including customer complaints, queries and customer satisfaction
  • Assist the Racecourse team with basic duties both pre and post race days
  • Work with the Market Rasen Racecourse and the Caravan Club to actively promote the caravan park
  • Support the Racecourse Team in taking bookings for Market Rasen Racecourse Golf Course during the weekend

These are both full time positions, however, the working hours will vary depending upon the business requirements and will include dealing with late night arrivals, evening safety rounds during the touring season and weekend work.

Experience is preferable but not necessary.

A driving licence is essential to be successful in this role. Ideally, you will also need your own motorhome or touring van; a hard standing pitch with water and electric will be provided for you.

The closing date for the role is 19th April 2019. We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date if we receive a large number of suitable applications.

To apply for the role please follow this link, Apply Here.

Exclusive Interview With Simon Howard Of Bailey Of Bristol

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ByWilliam Coleman

Last year, we are actually fast approaching the 1 year anniversary, I was fortunate enough to be selected to take part in the Bailey Of Bristol Bristanbul tour where we covered 21 countries in 21 days while towing 2 caravan and driving a motorhome. During the three weeks on the road the bond that formed within the team was one of a kind, and one of the best things to come out of the trip. So almost a year on I catch up with a friend I made on the tour, Simon Howard, to find out how one of the UK’s largest leisure vehicle companies are getting on.

Bailey have very humble beginnings spanning all the way back to 1948 where the very first caravan was created, in a shed, and was sold for £200.

Since then Bailey Of Bristol have had phenomenal growth and now produce around 6,500 caravans and motorhomes each year to help fill the ever growing demand from the public. During the bumper year that was 2017 Bailey saw some amazing sales figures and generated a turnover of £144 million.

Having created some video content for Bailey in the past the CaravanTimes team were selected to video document the Bristanbul trip and it was here where I got to know Simon.

When you are travelling through the picturesque mountains of the French Alps and the not so friendly border of Bosnia you do find quite a lot to talk about and you really do get to know your team well.

I can safely say that me and Simon got on quite well and it is always a pleasure bumping into him at shows, product launches and when we visit Bailey HQ. But that’s enough from me, let’s talk to Simon.

CT- What is your main role at Bailey Of Bristol?

Simon- I am the Marketing Director.

How do you keep marketing fresh in such an ever changing market?

It is always a balancing act maintaining communication with both existing and potential new audiences. Fortunately new marketing channels allow us to get our messages across to different people in different ways. Ultimately, however, successfully marketing caravans and motorhomes is about highlighting the features of the product itself and the lifestyle it allows you to enjoy.

Last year saw some great new models from Bailey. I quite like the Grande range especially. You must have been working all out to get so many new vans to market ahead of the new season.

Quite Like? Introducing new products into the market is a complex exercise and requires a considerable amount of time and resources.

We start the process with a series of customer and retailer focus groups to make sure we are making what people want, and then rigorously test the resulting proto-type models on test tracks and cold chambers to ensure they work.

Once they have been validated to ensure they comply with both UK and European Standards only then can they be made available to the general public.

We saw the Grande and the all new Phoenix hit the market last year. How have to two new ranges been received?

We have been very encouraged by the performance of these two new ranges thus far. Prior to their launch we, as a business, were overly dependent on our Unicorn range in terms of retail sales, however we now have a much better balanced portfolio with three distinct product offerings appealing to a broader spectrum of potential customers.

We spent quite some time together driving across Europe last year. What was your highlight of the tour, apart from my choice of driving music?

Getting hopelessly lost in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul in Istanbul with a caravan in tow.

Is there anything that we can look forward to from Bailey in 2019?

Again we have plenty of exciting new products, both caravans and motorhomes, in the pipeline for launch later this year. So watch this space…

Grand Theft Auto With A Caravan Attached

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William Colemam

We all know that caravans are a target for would be thieves and vandals. What you may not expect is for someone to try and pinch a towcar, swap the plates over and then have a police chase with a caravan attached. Some people really do not care for the rules of the road.

A would be caravan thief from Walsall started a full on police chase on the M6 while towing a caravan and has subsequently been sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Local motorway police officers were notified of a Mitsubishi L200 pick up truck that was towing, what appeared to be, an Elddis (unsure of model) single axle caravan, both of which had been reported as stolen.

It was also made apparent that both the caravan and pick up had false plates attached. The alert came as the truck was travelling on the A34 northbound towards Trentham.

Police gave chase after Steven Beeson, the gentleman who has just been sentenced, refused to stop for officers and then almost had a collision with a lorry at the entrance to junction 15 on the M6.

Once he was off the motorway Beeson decided to try an evade police and drove like a maniac until he was stopped at Hilton Park services near Junction 11.

Following a trial Steven Beeson pleaded to both driving while disqualified and the theft of the Elddis caravan.

PC Andrew Sigley said: “Beeson demonstrated some very dangerous driving and was lucky he did not cause a collision with another motorist. The excellent work by our pursuit team meant we were able to bring this reckless behaviour to a safe end.”

To watch a video of the chase Click here.

Caravan Guard Decade Of Charity For Paralympian

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By William Coleman

Charity is the one thing that unites people from all walks of life and from all round the world. Year in and year out companies make charitable donations and sponsor race teams, athletes and all manner of funds and schemes. One company who have gone above and beyond that are Caravan Guard who are celebrating their 10th year of charitable support one of Britain’s most decorated Paralympians.

The Halifax based caravan insurance specialists, Caravan Guard have been a proud sponsor of Halifax’s very own world champion Paralympian Hannah Cockroft for a staggering 10 years.

Hannah Cockroft has a list of accomplishments that could fill a trophy cabinet and has not let anything stop her from achieving the highest heights of any athlete. The five time Paralympic champion and 10 time world champion was presented with this year’s cheque for £1,000 during her visit to see Caravan Guard staff and some of their children.

During Hannah’s visit to Caravan Guard HQ she was put through her paces by the inquisitive youngsters who were keen to find out more about her special racing chair, her training regime and how fast she could go after letting them hold her collection of Olympic and World Champion gold medals and signing autograph books.

Hannah recently took part in the celebrity Stand Up To Cancer Great British Bake Off show and shared her experiences as well as how she is planning to tackle her training for next year’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Over the past decade Caravan Guard’s charitable donations have gone toward helping Hannah pay for specialised racing wheelchair, replacement wheels, gloves, speedometers, physio and travel expenses to and from competitions around the globe.

“I’m so lucky to have had Caravan Guard’s support for the last 11 years,” said Hannah. “They’ve been with me since day one, when we were fundraising for my first racing chair, and they’ve been over every bump with me since.

“I can’t do what I do without my amazing sponsors, and after losing four in the past year, it means more than ever to me that Caravan Guard have come with me this far.”

Associate Director of Caravan Guard, Laura Wilby, said it was fantastic that Hannah could always find time to visit their offices and speak to staff – as well as their children.
“She’s such an inspiration for so many young people for achieving her dreams and the children were so excited to meet her and actually hold three Paralympic gold medals,” she said. “We’re so proud to have sponsored her from the very start of her golden and record breaking journey and hope her search for more financial support is as successful as her racing career.”

During her time as a professional athlete Hannah has won 20 gold medals and 4 silver across 4 competitions. I once won gold in 100 meter race in school when I was 15, not quite the Olympian level Hannah has reached. A massive well done to Caravan Guard for supporting one of our very best athletes.

The Lamborghini Caravan……?

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By William Coleman

Have you ever wanted to use an Italian sports car to tow your caravan? How about using the amazing Lamborghini to tow your Lamborghini manufactured “twin” axle caravan? Well it looks like the sports car industry has cast its net into the caravan world.

Yes, as you guessed it, this was Lamborghini’s attempt at trying to fool the world with an ill conceived April Fool’s Day joke/prank.

As you can see by their photo they did not really put too much time and effort into making it look convincing. Put aside the dodgy looking photoshop it does still look like quite a cool set up. Not sure how popular you would be firing up Lamborghini Aventador 6.5Ltr V12 on site and have it sat alongside a bright yellow trailer.

CaravanTimes will now be calling Lamborghini to see if they will loan us one of their sports cars to test their towing ability. I have a feeling that they will tells us April 1st was 2 days ago.

The Pop Up Camp365 Towable Lightweight Caravan

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By William Coleman

Compact living is an art unto itself and once you mastered it the holiday options that open up to you are limitless. As we welcome a lot of younger holiday makers into the world of caravan holidays we are seeing weight restrictions come into play, as well as a slight fear of towing. With the arrival of the Camp365 we may see thee issues slip away.

Fold out vans are not a new concept and it has never been as popular as your “traditional” caravan, camper or motorhome. With more and more younger people flocking to campsites I can see the fold out making a bit of a come back: smaller, lighter and something very different to the traditional.

The all new Camper365 is very much catered toward a younger market, and I can see traditionalists not being a fan. But for newcomers or young folk this is a great little tourer.

Price wise it is very competitive and coming in at around the £15,000 I can see a lot of people using this as their first van.

Due to its size and weight it has been said than even a car such as the electric Toyota Prius is enough to comfortably tow.

The engineering process focussed on delivering a trailer that has a low centre of gravity and has an aerodynamic design for slipstreaming and remarkable fuel economy with all towing vehicles.

The tow behind pop up camper concept is super spacious and I really like the innovative design, which allows for quite a lot of space one fully erected. The origami style fold out system is quite a sight. You won’t believe what comes out from such a small little folded trailer.

For anyone who does not have a driveway or garage this is ideal as it is so much smaller than a caravan, and we know the issues some neighbours have with seeing a caravan.

There have been some instances where people have been very much turned off of the idea of a fold out due to construction time and the effort that this entails.

Camper365 estimate that this trailer will take around 10 minutes to set up and does not require any tools to assemble. Just the two hand you were born with.

Once you have fully set the trailer up you are presented with a 12ft wide and 8 foot deep living space with a foot to head distance of 7ft, so if you are a giant you may need to stay seated once inside. A spacious 700 cubic square feet from such a small trailer really is impressive.

The Ultimate Caravan First Time Buying Guide

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By William Coleman

If you’re new to caravanning, buying a caravan for the first time can be a daunting and overwhelming process. With so many options out there, it can be difficult to figure out where to start.

It can be easy to pick the wrong choice, especially when buyers are drawn in by high-tech features, style or the make and model. Despite these being attractive reasons to buy a caravan, you need to think practically about what you’re buying for and your individual needs. For example, are you traveling by yourself, or do you have a small family to cater for too?

Purchasing a caravan can be a significant investment, so you’ll need to do your best to find the right one first time to avoid the hassle of reselling or trading in for something new. To help you with this vital decision, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on what you need to look out for as a prospective caravan owner.

Questions to ask when Buying a Caravan for the first time

Can My Car Tow A Caravan?

Firstly, you need to purchase a caravan that suits what you already have. Not all cars are capable of towing a caravan, but those that are may be better than others or only able to tow up to a certain weight. This will highly impact your decision on which one to buy. After all, if you’re looking to purchase a caravan, what’s the point if you can’t take it anywhere?

Essentially, you need to stay within the law and also remain safe when towing, so ensure you strictly follow the guidelines set out by UK road laws, and foreign ones too if you’re intending to travel abroad.

To find out if your car can tow a caravan, you need to check the car manufacturer’s weight limit. This may be less than the car itself, so ensure you check this before you buy. You can do this by checking online on the car maker’s website, your car handbook, or use a towing capacity calculator like this one. Another way to figure it out is if the caravan’s mass is less than 85% of the total car’s mass. Towing will be much easier providing that you’re under this weight limit. It’s really important you check this before you travel.

What Weight & Berth?

Once you’ve determined whether your car is capable of towing a caravan, you’ll be looking for vehicles under that particular weight. The average weight of a caravan is around 1300kg, but this doesn’t account for any personal belongings when setting off on a holiday. Depending on how confident you feel when driving and the size you require, this will further narrow your choice of caravan.

Depending on the construction type and the materials your caravan is made from, it will also affect the towing weight. The higher the berth, generally the higher the weight, as you’ll need more room to sleep and move around.

How Much Is My Budget?

You’ll be significantly restricted by your budget, which will subsequently help with other decisions such as style, model and layout. Costs can creep into the tens of thousands, so you need a strict budget in mind when doing your research. Once you’ve decided on a budget, this will really direct your research and you’ll see the size and facilities you can get for your money.

For between £4000-£8000, you’re likely to get a functional second-hand caravan that’s been manufactured in the last 10 years or so. This price range will give you more flexibility than lower budgets in terms of berth and layout. Newer caravans start in excess of £10,000, but it’s worth looking around at all your options to try and find a bargain rather than purchasing one too quickly, as you may find better deals elsewhere.

New Or Second Hand?

This decision will be based on your budget, but also where you purchase your caravan from. A private seller or dealership will often trade in second-hand caravans which can be much cheaper than purchasing from the manufacturer. However, you will have to consider the state and condition, accounting for any extra costs and replacements of soft furnishings or replacement caravan mattresses

Buying a caravan that’s been properly maintained will not only help with long term maintenance costs but could also help you save on insurance. However, a new caravan may have the advantage of carrying a warranty, so what you decide is up to you. When buying from a second-hand seller, ensure you view all the documentation and service records to avoid buying a defective or stolen caravan.

Layout & Style

Finally, the caravan you purchase needs to be suitable for you and your uses. The last thing you should do is buy a caravan on recommendation, and realise it’s completely the wrong layout, or you dislike the style. Such inconveniences may put you off from using it, which won’t make it worth the investment.

You may find that after doing some research you’ll have a preference for a certain layout or style. For example, would you prefer a fixed bed, or seating you can convert into one? Some users prefer to use on-site bathroom facilities or have their own in their caravan. Regardless, these preferences may have cost implications so ensure you choose wisely in line with your budget.

Any Other Useful Advice For Buying My First Caravan?

Do your research! we can’t stress enough that you need to consider all makes, models, and sizes and find your personal preferences and constraints in terms of budget and weight. The last thing you want to do is put a large deposit on a van and then change your mind. Therefore, gain as much insight as you can by viewing caravans online, visiting sellers and dealerships and also trade shows are a good way to get more advice.

Forums and other social media channels can be useful in answering common questions but bear in mind that these aren’t always accurate and hold mostly personal opinions. If in doubt, you can discuss your needs with a caravan club or ask for independent advice.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished- Charitable Caravan Effort To Face Heavy Fine

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By William Coleman

I am a firm believer in that if you are in a position to help someone in need you should. But like the old adage goes, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Recently in Havant a kind hearted samaritan decided to convert an old caravan into accommodation for the homeless but now faces backlash from neighbours and a fine from the local council. What has this world come to?

Becky Catchpole, 35, from Hampshire has done something that not a lot of people would do for another person and is now facing the brunt of the law for doing so. Her local council has decided that she should be subject to a £5,000 fine and the mother of 2 is “outraged” at what has gone in.

Not too long ago I wrote a short article on the rules and regulations of storing a caravan on a freehold or shared property and I did mention that there are some people out there who do have a bit of a stigma toward caravans. Now combine housing the homeless in one and you will soon see some eyebrows raised.

Such is life that a neighbour of Becky’s actually complained about the situation which was then been followed up by the communication from the council who claim that she has ‘breached planning law’.

The 1960s caravan which sat peacefully on Becky’s driveway was converted into a fully functioning living space, and listed on AirBnb, which was then opened up to house a elderly rough sleeper and their dog free of charge. Something that I think is a very honourable thing to do for someone who is in such need of help. It is also just a temporary solution until the local council can house the homeless man.

Following her kind hearted act council officers have accused her of breaching planning laws and have insisted that she remove the homeless person or face this enormous fine. Not sure the crime, if it is one, fits the punishment.

Morally and ethically speaking I find several things wrong with this situation. As far as I am aware a local council has the task of reducing the amount of homeless people and to protect people of its boroughs. So in this instance the local council are insisting that a person is put in harm’s way and made homeless, or they will accept a payment and all will be forgotten.

Becky has said: “I’m trying to do a good deed and help someone off the street and now I’m being threatened with a £5,000 fine. It’s absolutely outrageous.

“It’s the council’s fault this man is homeless in the first place. They haven’t found him anywhere to live.

“I’m letting him sleep for free while he waits. Now the council want to throw him back on the street.”

The ruling made by Havant Council was on the grounds that the caravan is actually a separate dwelling on her property, which I am guessing they feel should be subject to some form of taxation. Following the letter from the council there is now only a couple of weeks to fight for the to use the stationary caravan to help our most needy.

Councillor Narinder Bains said: “We risk a dilemma of setting up those who are homeless to fail. You can give anybody somewhere to stay but with it has to come with the support to manage them and you can’t get that by staying in a caravan.

“Everybody has got guidelines to abide by. As much as we wanted to be kindhearted, we have to understand rules are there for a reason. In this case, it’s about safeguarding.”

On a personal level I do understand that there are some safeguarding concerns and rules in place to protect the vulnerable. But I point blank refuse to believe that safeguarding is “safer” for someone when they live in a doorway than in a temporarily housing someone in a caravan, where they will not get rained on, freeze or even worse come to some serious harm from other people.

It seems that the whole situation has stemmed from one neighbour who just took issue. Do they dislike caravans or do they have some sort of issue with the homeless? No matter how you may feel about those less fortunate than us who have to sleep rough you should never go out of your way to put someone back on the streets. What harm was actually being done to the neighbour who complained?

I guess we will never know!

Story credit- www.thesun.co.uk
Photo credit- Solent News