by Arash Hekmat
Since the Queen marked her 60th anniversary on the throne last year with the Diamond Jubilee celebration, royal celebrations have been all the rage.
Admittedly, that’s a hard act to follow, but Bristol-based Bailey Caravans has five years on the Queen and has been doing a pretty good job of celebrating its own blue sapphire jubilee over the past few months.
That’s for 65 years in case you were wondering, long enough to make Bailey the caravan manufacturer the country’s longest established UK independent manufacturer.
Yes, the company’s currently in the middle of marking its 65th anniversary and, extending the regal theme, got celebrations underway in November with a visit from none other than Her Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh at its South Liberty Lane manufacturing plant.
The highlight of the trip was definitely their inspection of an Approach SE 760 motorhome (pictured above with a royal lookalike) and a Unicorn Cadiz touring caravan, two carriages fit for a queen.
In the latest development of this story, it appears that the tourers generated so much interest in the ensuing media storm that Bailey has made the decision to put both of the vehicles up for auction to its Retailer Network, with all proceeds going to a local charity.
This means the company’s partner retailers will have an opportunity to bid for both the Unicorn Cadiz and the Approach SE 760, with a view to then selling them on to customers.
Included in the package is a certificate of vehicle authenticity, a framed photograph of the Queen in the caravan or motorhome, an opportunity to take the very same Royal tour of the Bailey Factory, and a special lunch with the company’s directors in Bristol.
All in all, that’s quite a haul for fans of both the monarchy and Bailey’s selection of caravans and motorhomes.
Even though the public won’t be able to bid on either of these two vehicles, the company currently manufactures over 7,500 units a year, so you’ll still be able to get your hands on either model, even if yours doesn’t come with a picture of the Queen inside.
