By William Coleman
Being awarded an OBE is one of the highest honours someone can be receive. For his services to the industry and charity The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Chairman, Grenville Chamberlain has been given this prestigious title which was announced in the New Year’s Honours 2019.
Grenville Chamberlain said, “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.”
Grenville has a long and deep history within the caravan world and has been using caravans for his holidays since the early age of 7. Grenville joined the Caravan and Motorhome Club way back in 1981 and throughout his 37 years of service he has been dedicated to organising and participating 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 didn’t stop there either! He has served on various Club Centres, Councils and Committees and was then elected to be the Club’s Chairman in October of 2007.
Being Club Chairman is more than just a job role for Grenville as he tours some 12,000 miles a year with his family and spend over 40 weekends a 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 passions 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.
