Northern Irish football fans hit the road in pimped-out caravan for Euro 2016 finals

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Northern Irish football fans to travel to Euro 2016 in true style

A group of football fans from Northern Ireland are travelling to the Euro 2016 finals in France in true style, with the aid of a trusty pimped-out caravan.

Lee Brooks and five of his friends headed off to France earlier this week in the second-hand caravan as a way of cutting costs after decorating the caravan by highlighting the Northern Ireland football team’s achievement in reaching their first major tournament in 30 years.

As for amenities, however, there’ll be no chance of cooking up a treat in the caravan, as the kitchen area has been disposed of in order for Lee to escape from his day job as chef.

He told BBC News: “I don’t want to cook on holiday, I feel I’m already doing enough with the driving.

“I am doing the driving the whole way as my brother injured his hand playing football for the Northern Ireland supporters’ team and had to get five stitches.

Lee spent two weeks sandpapering and painting the caravan in anticipation of the trip in the caravan which will be home for 16 days during the trip.

“Nice here we come,” Lee continued. “I don’t know what they will think when we hit the town.

“People will probably say ‘what is this?’ I think it will be a positive thing as it is a bit different.”

Lee and his pals have managed to secure tickets for Northern Ireland’s three group games in Nice, Lyon and Paris and Lee hopes some of Michael O’Neill’s players will take time out to pop in for a chat.

“I hope some of the boys will have a sit in with us,” he said. “We have painted a message saying this is the team hotel on the side of the caravan, so it would be nice for them to drop in.”

Epic 100-mile bike ride to Cambrian Coast caravan park planned to raise money for Macmillan and West Midlands Air Ambulance

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Group of cyclists set to complete challenge in just 12 hours

A group of cyclists are set to embark upon a gruelling 110-mile bike ride to a caravan park on the Cambrian Coast on Friday morning for a wonderful cause.

The cyclists will be heading for Islawrffordd Caravan Park in Talybont, near Barmouth to raise money for the West Midlands Air Ambulance and Macmillan Cancer Support. They expect to complete the ride in 12 hours taking in Bridgnorth, Shrewsbury, Welshpool and Dolgellau during the process.

The ride has been organised by Martin Whelan from Stourbridge to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the loss of his mum, Maureen, who died from cancer.

Martin explained that his family has enjoyed holidays in Barmouth for many years and his mum’s favourite place was Islawrffordd Caravan Park, where the family had a caravan holiday home.

Since childhood, he has wanted to cycle from Stourbridge to Islawrfford. Now to celebrate his 40th birthday, and as a tribute to his mum, he decided to do it this year and friends and acquaintances are coming along for the ride.

“I have been going to Barmouth on holiday since I was five and Islawrffordd was my mum’s favourite place and it remains my favourite place because there are a lot of happy memories there,” said Martin.

“We decided to choose a cancer charity, as well as the West Midlands Air Ambulance, and the support I have had is fantastic. We aimed to raise £5,000 but I think we have surpassed that target.

“I would like to say a big thank you to the rest of the team and sponsors for their support. It means a hell of a lot to me.”

Jane Evans, wife of Dylan Evans, a director of Islawrffordd Caravan Park, will be one of the cyclists joining Martin. “We have known Martin and his family for a long time and we were keen to support him when we heard that he was organising the bike ride for charity,” she said. “I have cycled up to 80 miles in practice and am looking forward to the ride.”

The cyclists will be stopping off en route to the Welsh coast at caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure in Shrewsbury, who are sponsoring the ride. The riders include Paul Hupperdine from Talybont, Chris Mcleod from Stoke on Trent, Barry Fisher, Tony Walters and Graham Varney from the Midlands.

Jane’s sister, Rachael Garner from Stoke on Trent, will be helping Steve Jones in a support vehicle and Paula Tunnadine, a Barmouth fitness instructor, will be joining the riders in Dinas Mawddwy.

The riders will set off from the All Electric Garages and AEG Motorhomes, Stourbridge at around 6am on Friday morning. Anyone wishing to make a donation for the bike ride can do so by visiting the group’s fundraising page here.  
 

Caravan park owner believes tourism will be unaffected following EU vote

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Touring visitors from overseas will continue to flock to the UK according to one caravan park owner

The owner of a large caravan park has predicted tourism will remain unchanged irrespective of the outcome of the EU vote on 23 June, it has been reported.

Henry Wild, owner of Skelwith Fold caravan park in Lakeland, Cumbria, has hit out at speculation that holiday parks across the country may see a decline in visitors from other countries, staying that both sides of the debate have “woefully underestimated” the UK’s enduring appeal to overseas visitors.

Speaking to Cumbria 24, Wild said: “Britain has always been seen as a very different sort of country from most other EU states, both culturally and in the amazing diversity of our landscapes.

“It’s this which underpins our enormous appeal to continental visitors, not least because people often want a holiday to represent a complete change from what they are used to.

“We’ve mountains, moors and a stunning coastline – and a host of other distinctions from pubs and historic sites to great cities and an incredible artistic and sporting heritage.

“I’ve heard so-called experts from both the in and out campaigns claiming that tourism will benefit from their preferred result – and will suffer if the vote goes the other way.

“The truth, I think, is that Britain’s uniqueness and charm towers way above any decision to stay in or quit the EU, and we’ll continue to welcome our European neighbours regardless,” Wild continued.

What do you think of Wild’s take on the European vote? Let us know in the comments below.

Caravan takes centre stage as theatre production launched for audiences of nine

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Mobile play set to wow audiences across the UK – but only nine at a time

A live outdoor theatre production company is set to take centre stage when it launches its new outdoor performance space later this week in Newcastle – all with the help of a caravan as its main focal point.

Live Theatre will add to its array of previous exciting productions with a specially commissioned piece entitled Mobile, directed by Jemma McDonnell of The Paper Birds and performed by Kylie Walsh and Georgie Coles, and is set to go on tour across various locations around the UK. Said to provide for an inventive and intimate piece of theatre concentrating on class, family, aspiration and belonging, Mobile is based on interviews conducted in communities across the UK, and the production will take place inside a caravan with room for up to nine theatregoers.

Artistic director, McDonnell, said: “Mobile is about who we are, where we have come from and the impact on us of our parents’ class and upbringing. Social mobility is, very rightly, viewed as a positive force and something for individuals and political forces to aspire to but is it always a positive experience? We look forward to opening up this conversation in our caravan – taking the show to audiences rather than them coming to us in a traditional theatre setting.”

Mobile will be wheeling its way to a number of venues during the next few months, so to check out if they’re coming to a town near you, as well as to watch the official trailer of the production itself, read on below.

Dates

8-26 June: Live Theatre, Newcastle
9 July: The Marlowe Theatre
10 July: Canterbury High Street
11-13 July: Kent schools
14-15 July: Latitude Festival
18-20 July: Kent schools
23-24 July: Turner Contemporary, Margate
8-12 October: The Marlowe Theatre
1-5 November: Theatre Royal Plymouth

Caravanners urged to check tyres ahead of summer holidays

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Bridgestone issue advice to those about to set off on their summer holidays

Leisure vehicle owners are being urged to check their caravans’ tyres ahead of hitting the road on their annual summer holidays.

Bridgestone, the world’s largest tyre maker, has issued advice to caravanners and motorhomers to help make sure they have a safe trip, wherever they’re going.

In particular, when a caravan or trailer tent is only moved once or twice a year the tyres can develop ‘flat spots’ where the rubber deforms due to the weight pressing down on the same point for an extended period. This can severely impact safety at higher speeds.

Another consideration is that all vehicle tyres should be replaced after ten years from new, regardless of appearance, apparent condition or tread depth remaining. Rubber degrades over time and becomes less grippy.

Bridgestone’s business development director Stuart Jackson, who is also chairman of TyreSafe, said that motorists should look for any sign of age deterioration in the tyres such as sidewall cracking and carcass deformation.

He said: “Whatever tyres are fitted to the towing car, caravan, trailer tent or motorhome, it is essential to the safety and stability of the combination that all tyres are correctly inflated for the applied load.

“Tyres that are driven under inflated for extended periods are more likely to suffer from rapid wear which could lead to a sudden and rapid deflation, causing loss of control. Debris left on the carriageway after a tyre failure could prove hazardous for other motorists.”
He continued: “We never recommend the dangerous practice of fitting a replacement tyre on the hard shoulder and roadside safety advice issued by Highways England should always be observed.

“Keeping tyres correctly inflated ensures an even wear rate leading to longer tyre life. Pressures should be checked and adjusted prior to any journey when the tyres are cold – not during or after a run when they will be higher. Never reduce pressures when the tyres are warm, as they could be too low when they cool down.

“After pressure checking, ensure the valve is not leaking and the valve cap is fitted. The correct inflation pressures for your car tyres can be found in the owners’ handbook and often inside the drivers’ door or the fuel filler cap displayed on the vehicle.”

GEM Motoring Assist releases video warning tiredness kills

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Before you set off on your summer holiday this year, make sure you checkout this video below

It goes without saying that caravanners need to be properly rested before setting off on long journeys, and road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist has released a video highlighting this fact as thousands of families and couples make plans for summer holidays that could involve road journeys of several hundred miles.

Being tired when you’re driving not only raises the risk of a collision, because you’re less aware of what’s happening around you, but GEM has also stated that your ability to react is impaired if a risky situation develops. That’s why fatigue can be a factor in up to 20 per cent of all road collisions, and up to 25 per cent of fatal and serious crashes.

GEM chief executive David Williams MBE said: “A fatigue-related crash is around 50 per cent more likely to result in death or serious injury, simply because a driver who has fallen asleep at the wheel will be unable to reduce speed or change direction to avoid a collision. The consequences can be devastating.”

Falling asleep at the wheel is easily avoided, but as Williams continued, it is vital you heed the many warning signs your body will give you before you actually nod off.

“No one simply falls asleep without passing through various recognisable stages of tiredness and distraction,” he went on.

“You will experience difficulty focusing on the driving task, you may fidget, yawn constantly and rub your eyes frequently. When more serious levels of fatigue set in, you may find your thoughts constantly wandering away from driving, you may drift to the left or right, you may be slowing down without realising and you’ll suddenly find you cannot recall anything that happened in the past few minutes.

“At this stage your driving performance is seriously impaired, and it’s vital that you stop somewhere safe as soon as possible. A power nap and/or a caffeine-based drink can provide a short-term fix, but they should never be used as an acceptable substitute for proper rest. If you’re that tired, you must stop and rest properly.”

GEM has offered a few simple tips for drivers to avoid reduce the risk of a fatigue-related collision. They are:

– Get a good night’s sleep before you drive a long journey
– Build in time to reach your destination (or your night-stop) without rushing. Remove time pressures wherever possible
– Avoid driving alone for long distances if possible. Share the driving, and support each other by watching for any signs of fatigue
– On long journeys, take a break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours or 100 miles. Get out of the car, do some exercise, stretch or walk. If necessary, have a caffeine drink or two to boost your alertness
– Don’t press on into the night. Avoid driving at times when you would usually be asleep

Check out GEM’s short video on understanding the dangers of fatigue below and make sure you stay refreshed before you set off on your journey this summer.

Lunar appoints new dealership for Venus range

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Westfield Caravans in Blackpool appointed as new dealership

Venus Caravans has appointed Blackpool based Westfield Caravans as one of its main dealers. The family owned and run business, will stock new Venus caravans at its four acre site off Chorley Road.

The appointment coincides with the company’s 35th anniversary celebrations.  Westfield Caravans was established in 1981 as a caravan holiday home distributor by the current managing director’s father and is an NCC Approved Holiday Home Dealership.

Twelve months ago, recognising a significant gap in their local market, the team took the decision to expand operations to include the sale of new and used touring caravans. The move was successful and the company is in the process of redeveloping its dealership to include a touring caravan show-ground, due for completion in March.

To complement the touring caravan sales offering, Westfield can also provide servicing and repairs from an on site workshop, in addition to a well-stocked accessories store.

Westfield’s managing director, Mark Molyneaux, said: “Venus is a perfect addition to our offering.  It’s a concise range that offers a choice of versatile layouts appealing to a wide range of customers, from couples to families.

“We’ve been hugely impressed with the quality of the build and finish, and the level of specification offered across the range. We’re confident that many of our used caravan customers will be amazed at just how affordable the Venus range is and the value for money it offers,” he adds.

The Venus range has proved extremely popular since it’s launch in 2012 and the latest 2016 range is the best yet with the four-berth 570/4 scooping a National Caravan Award for ‘Best Couples Caravan under £17,000’.

UK sales director for Venus, Lee Roberts, said of the range: “The Venus range is going from strength to strength, particularly as cash-conscious caravanners recognise the value for money the range offers. 

“We’re delighted to bring Westfield Caravans on board as a Venus dealer and have been hugely impressed with their performance over the last 12 months.  We are looking forward to working with them and wish them another 35 successful years in business,” he added.

The Venus caravan range is available to view seven days a week at Westfield Caravans, off Chorley Road in Blackpool.  Call 01253 301 505 or visit www.westfieldcaravans.co.uk

Win an iPad Mini 64GB WiFi with Bailey of Bristol

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Tell Bailey what you think for your chance to win

Those kind folks over at Bailey of Bristol are offering you the chance to win a top-of-the-range iPad Mini 64GB WiFi in their latest giveaway and all you have to do is complete a short survey.

The survey, which takes just minutes to do and is available to complete up until 12 June, concentrates on how you spend your leisure time and your attitudes to caravanning and motorhoming, with Bailey taking an interest in the views of both people who own leisure vehicles and those that currently don’t.

The findings will be used to help Bailey develop products to cater for emerging trends, needs and expectations amongst consumers.

All respondents to this survey will have their details entered into a draw to win an iPad Mini 64GB WiFi, the winner of which will be notified by 15 June.

And don’t worry, all answers provided will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be used for statistical purposes only.

So what are you waiting for? Get clicking here now and you never know – the next survey you complete online could be done using a brand new snazzy iPad!

Eagle sculpture joins Dewi the Dragon in guarding Harlech caravan parks

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Sculptures commissioned by Salop Leisure takes pride of place at caravan parks

A spectacular Welsh dragon sculpture has returned to the Cambrian Coast where he is set to guard a new caravan park in the shadow of an ancient castle.

The eye-catching 16-foot long, 11ft high and 10ft wide metal dragon, named Dewi, has spent the winter on a pampering holiday over the border in England, but he’s now back in Harlech looking better than ever.

Dewi has moved a few hundred yards to a new home, however, as he has taken up residence on Castle View Holiday Home Park, which nestles next door to his previous perch at the award-winning Min-y-Don Holiday Home and Touring Park.

The new caravan park is being redeveloped in two phases at a cost of £2 million to create 60 caravan holiday home pitches.

Taking Dewi’s place guarding Min-y-Don Holiday Home and Touring Park is a giant eagle sculpture, which has flown to Wales from caravan dealership Salop Leisure’s Shrewsbury headquarters.

Salop Leisure, which has commissioned impressive metal sculptures for its headquarters and four caravan parks, is now in the process of ordering a new showpiece. No final decision has been made but one of the options for the entrance to the Emstrey headquarters is a giant dragonfly.

The sculptures are made by Marche Studios at Ford, near Shrewsbury who have already made two eagles, one of which guards the entrance to Morbyn Isaf Holiday Home and Touring Park, near Machynlleth and a leaping salmon and oak tree for Seven Oaks Holiday Home Park at Crew Green, near Shrewsbury.

“The sculptures are a point of difference on our parks and are appreciated by our customers,” said Salop Leisure’s chairman Tony Bywater.

“The sculptures are a very worthwhile investment in works of art and to date we have spent around £60,000 on them.

“Dewi has turned heads and been a real talking point wherever he has been and we are delighted that he’s now back in Harlech looking better than ever after his winter pampering. He looks fantastic set against the backdrop of Harlech Castle, which is a World Heritage site.”

Dewi became a major tourist attraction when he was initially based at Salop Leisure’s roadside headquarters at Emstrey and has been popular with visitors to Harlech since 2011.

The dragon took 732 hours to be crafted and comprises 2,500 different sized scales welded onto a frame. The scales, cut from 78 square metres of sheet metal, were polished and given 12 coats of lacquer. Now it’s time for Dewi to have a makeover.

New competition to win a week in a brand new 2017 season Elddis caravan

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Glossop Caravans offers one lucky family the opportunity to mark its 40th anniversary with a free holiday

Glossop Caravans is about to hit the big 4-0 and, to mark the occasion, will be offering one luck family the opportunity to win a free holiday at The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Barnard Castle site in a brand new, yet-to-be-seen 2017 season Elddis caravan.

The competition is just one of the reasons why it’s certainly in your best interests to visit Glossop Caravans this weekend, where the Derbyshire dealership will also be hosting an array of activities to celebrate its 40th milestone, including radio broadcasts, towing masterclasses, and even a caravan clinic. Younger visitors will also catered for and the weekend will feature a circus skills workshops and magicians.

Furthermore, every caravan purchased during the celebration period, which runs all week until Sunday 5 June, will come with a free Glossop anniversary towing cover.

It doesn’t stop there though, and a prize draw will be running throughout the event with prizes including Camping and Caravanning Club membership, caravan servicing, motormovers, barbecues and outdoor furniture.

Survey suggests children are suffering from lack of outdoor activities

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Children’s mental health under the microscope ahead of Get Kids Outdoors with Camping campaign

Children in the UK are falling behind in the happiness stakes because they spend too much time indoors, according to a new survey that has found around one in two UK adults worry their children or grandchildren aren’t as happy as they were at the same age.

The survey, conducted by The Camping and Caravanning Club as part of a campaign to “Get Kids Outdoors with Camping” also found a third of adults believe they were much happier as a child themselves, with a startling 96 per cent stating the reason for this being that they spent more time outdoors, interacting with other children rather than sitting in front of a screen, like much of today’s younger generation.

Findings also revealed that four out of five (88 per cent) adults believe that spending more time outdoors and going on camping trips would help improve children’s social skills and mental health, because it would teach them how to interact, adapt and operate in real life and practical situations. Yet half (50 per cent) admit their children don’t spend enough time outdoors and over two thirds (69 per cent) say their children spend more time indoors than outdoors.

Furthermore, 72 per cent of all adults believe that social media and online gaming have a negative effect on children’s ability to engage and interact in real life situations.

Barnardo’s chief executive, Javed Khan, said: “Being active and having quality family time are two things that help children and young people thrive. Getting out and about together on an exciting camping adventure or for a walk to the local park is positive mentally and physically. As well as health benefits, spending less time online could reduce the hidden dangers children are exposed to online.”

The survey also revealed that the majority (86 per cent) of adults believe that encouraging children to spend more quality time in the Great British outdoors and on camping trips could help to increase physical health and fitness and in turn fight against the current, so-called obesity ‘epidemic’. More than a third agreed that being active in earlier life means the child would be more likely to retain a level of fitness in adult life. Yet recent figures¹ suggest only 21 per cent of children today regularly play outdoors, compared to 71 per cent of their parents.

Launching next week, the Get Kids Outdoors with Camping campaign, which coincides with National Camping and Caravanning Week (30 May – 5 June), will see The Camping and Caravanning Club embark on a national roadshow, visiting popular areas of the UK, to demonstrate and reinforce the mental and physical benefits that getting out into the great outdoors can have on adults and children alike.

Camping and Caravanning Club president and TV presenter Julia Bradbury, who kick started the campaign by camping overnight on top of the O2 Arena on 24 May 2016, said: “There’s no question our kids are missing out; apparently the likelihood of a child visiting any green space has halved in a generation. Children are becoming disconnected from the natural environment and that is having a detrimental effect on their development. Outdoor adventures help with physical development and build emotional resilience. Get them off the screens and get them outdoors!”

The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Get Kids Outdoors with Camping Roadshow will kick off on Monday 30 May at Twycross Zoo, before pitching up at Cardiff Bay on Thursday 2 June, taking in Gulliver’s, Milton Keynes, the British Caravanners Club Rally, Evesham and the Canoe Camping Club Rally, Hereford in between. The Roadshow will then make its way up to Blair Drummond Safari Park, Sterling, Scotland to set up camp on Saturday 4 June . Adults and children of all ages are invited to join members of The Camping and Caravanning Club to discover all the fun and activities there are to be had by camping in the great outdoors.

What do you think of kids today? Do you think you were happier when you were a child and, if so, why?

IAM RoadSmart gears up to celebrate 60 years of safety

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Read on to find out how you can attend IAM RoadSmart’s car and bike parties here

IAM RoadSmart (formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists) is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2016. Over the last 60 years more than 400,000 people have taken their skills to the next level and become advanced drivers or riders with the organisation.

To mark the anniversary, IAM Roadsmart will be staging two parties; one for bike enthusiasts on 2 July and another for car buffs on 9 July. Isle of Man TT winners Steve Plater and Mick Grant will be attending the bike party, while rally legend Paddy Hopkirk will be special guest at the car party. The parties will take place at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on 2 July and a car party at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon on 9 July, respectively, and visitors will also have the chance to have their car or bike take centre stage as part of the magnificent #60bikes and #60cars displays. IAM RoadSmart is looking for one motorcycle or scooter manufactured in each year of IAM/IAM RoadSmart’s existence for the 2 July party, and the equivalent for the car party on 9 July.

Sarah Sillars, IAM RoadSmart chief executive officer, said: “We are proud of what we’ve achieved over the past 60 years. In co-operation with our group volunteers and the willingness of the motoring and riding public, we have all worked to improve lives for the better and have seen road fatalities and injuries plummet over the decades.

“As IAM RoadSmart we are now ready for the next 60 years. There will always be a need to make better drivers and riders whatever happens to the transport landscape in the UK. Our work will only become more relevant in the future.

“Our events on 2 and 9 July will be a chance for people to celebrate their love of cars, bikes and most importantly driving. They are an important part of so many of our lives for so many reasons. We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.”

See below for some interesting facts surrounding IAM Roadsmart:

– The organisation was established in 1956. By 1995 the IAM had guided its 250,000th member through his advanced test and in the past 21 years 150,000 more have taken the opportunity to improve their skills on the road.

– In 1962 the organisation introduced the first test for commercial vehicle drivers in the UK and in 1976 the IAM introduced its first motorcycle test. A decade later it launched a fleet training programme for businesses.

– By 1998 the IAM’s 200th local group was formed; today there are 207. The local groups are the lifeblood of IAM RoadSmart, coaching and testing potential advanced drivers and riders week-in week-out. Currently there are more than 5,000 volunteers representing the groups across the UK.

– By the 2000’s the IAM was increasingly involved in lobbying the government for change in transport legislation. Its manifesto became widely respected for setting out the scene of what it regarded as the most essential developments in road safety – such as a graduated driving licence system and introducing road safety to the National Curriculum.

– In 2016 the Institute of Advanced Motorists was renamed IAM RoadSmart, and over the coming year will launch a range of products which support specific needs, to include driving at night, rural driving and motorway driving.

– IAM RoadSmart operates a commercial division which addresses the specific needs of business drivers and fleets with a suite of courses and advice. It also provides drink-drive rehabilitation courses through its Driver Retraining Academy subsidiary.

To join in with the celebrations, check out more details on the bike party here or the car party here.