Padstow Park War On Plastic

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By William Coleman

How many times have you driven down a peaceful country road or stepped onto a beautiful beach to find empty plastic bottles, food packaging crisp packets and all other manner of plastic waste? It does seem to be a lot more common and is causing some serious issues with the environment. An environmentally conscious park has a new secret weapon to compact this ever growing issue.

Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park in Padstow are taking the war on plastic pollution to another level and are fighting to keep local beaches clean by investing in special equipment which can rid the sand of micro-plastics.

Called a trommel, the machine sieves the sand to separate out “nurdles”, the small plastic pellets produced in their billions each year during the manufacture of plastic products.

The anti-pollution device, which is operated manually, has been designed and manufactured by Nurdle, a not-for-profit business based in North Devon.

Staff at Mother Ivey’s Bay carry out regular beach clean-ups throughout the year, and team leader Anna Wilsher says the trommel will make a huge difference:

“Last year we noticed nurdles during our beach cleans, and although it was possible to pick these up by hand, we have been on the look-out for a way that makes the task easier,” she said.

“It’s a fantastic piece of equipment and easy to use. I am looking forward to letting families staying at our holiday park to have a go as it’s also actually rather fun!

“Removing nurdles from the beach so they do not return to the ocean is vital to help reduce marine pollution,” added Anna who is a qualified marine biologist.

Once the nurdles have been separated, they will be upcycled and used by local artist Veronika Niewiadomska to create special pieces of creative work:

“I’m really excited about this project, and really looking forward to working with the recovered plastic to create collages and sculptures,” said Veronika, a graduate from Winchester School of Art.

Mother Ivey’s provides caravan holiday homes, both privately owned and for hire, plus touring pitches.

This is a great big step in the right direction for our coastline. It is a horrifying fact that our oceans littered with so much plastic that some clumps or garbage are the side of small islands. The wildlife are eating them and dying and our beached are becoming littered with floating trash. So always take a spare bag with you just in case someone else doesn’t bother.

High Praise From MP At North Yorks Park

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By William Coleman

April brings the English Tourism Week where the very best holiday spots get highlighted for all their hard work and get away offerings. During Tourism Week a family run North Yorks park drew some very high praise following a visit from a local MP.

North Yorkshire MP Kevin Hollinrake has praised a family’s award-winning Yorkshire Moors holiday park for its “tremendous contribution to tourism” in the region.

Mr Hollinrake made his comments on a special visit to Wayside Lakes at Wrelton, near Pickering, during April’s English Tourism Week.

The 10-acre park, recently subject to a £500,000 investment by the family, is based around two picturesque lakes, and provides luxury lodges for private owners.

Mr Hollinrake also took the opportunity to present an Exceptional Service Award to Wayside’s manager and co-director Trevor Jones who has worked on the park for 27 years.

The award is the highest honour given to outstanding park personnel by the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the park industry’s professional body.

Mr Hollinrake, who represents the constituency of Thirsk and Malton, said business owner Mark Goodson was to be congratulated for his vision and commitment:

“This is an excellent and very attractive development which provides the perfect base to explore some of the most beautiful parts of Yorkshire,” said Mr Hollinrake.

“Tourism is one of Yorkshire’s most important industries, and it is five-star developments such as Wayside which stimulate the sector.

“The knock-on effect of an inspirational holiday park like this, in terms of jobs and investment in Ryedale, is very significant, and it has been a privilege to come here,” he added.

Mark Goodson, who owns Wayside Lakes and the adjacent Wayside Holiday Park, said he was absolutely delighted that the MP had found time to visit and learn more about the business:

“Our MP showed a genuine interest in what we are trying to achieve at Wayside, and we are grateful for his presenting my colleague and friend Trevor Jones with a long-service certificate.

“Trevor has worked first for my father Roger, and now with me as my co-director. His hard work, enthusiasm, good humour and commitment to Wayside is exemplary,” said Mr Goodson.

Mr Goodson, whose family has long been involved in the entertainment and leisure sector, said that this year is likely to prove exceptionally busy for the park:

“Last year was very strong for us with almost £400,000 of holiday home sales, despite Brexit, the chilly start to the season, and the football World Cup when everything stopped.

“Most of our new owners are more mature folk who want a comfortable and attractive holiday home in tranquil countryside with easy access to popular destinations.

“Wayside Lakes is set in superb walking country with just a short distance from Yorkshire’s breath-taking coastline, historic market towns, and world-class heritage sites,” said Mr Goodson.

There is more information about the park on its website at www.waysidelakes.co.uk

A Family Caravanning Flashback

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By William Coleman

This past Easter Bank Holiday the family got together for a bit of a reunion and to make the most out of the amazing weather we had. While going through some of my nan’s old belongings my aunt stumbled across the little treasure chest of family memories that showed what the British caravan holiday was like in the 60s.

They say that caravan holidays are a generational thing that is passed down, his was certainly true for my family. When I was a child I went on several caravan holidays each year with all my different family members, as I am sure a lot of our readers did and still do.

So to start this story off it does have to start on a bit of a sad note which was the passing of my grandmother back in October 2017. Since then the family had not had a full reunion due to us being a bit spread over the globe, which is why this bank holiday was so special for everyone.

Nan lived to the bold age of 94 and was as healthy and fit as a 25 year old before her passing. Nanny Violet had a personal hand in raising pretty much every single member of my family.

A brave woman who lived through the World War II and actually have birth to my Aunt Jackie during a German bombing scare. I am told it was in a bunker but that story may have been exaggerated over the years.

Having raised 6 children of her own, 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren she made sure we all went away with her on a caravan trip and always by the seaside.

Over the years I went on all different types of caravan holiday with Nanny Violet, mostly static as she got a little older but early on when I was around 5-6 there was the odd towing caravan trip with nan. I do have fond memories of paddling in the sea holding her hand because I was scared of sharks. Very common in inch deep waters of Ilfracombe in the early 90s.

As we went through the slides it was made apparent that these photos were being seen for the first time by mum and her siblings as they were thought lost and never turned into actual photos.

According the Uncle Clive, granddad thought slides were the future of photography. Suffice to say he may have been slightly wrong on that and subsequently these slides just sat in a box in different garages and homes over the past almost 60 years.

During the “screening” we were giving a bit of a talk through each photo, including debates trying to figure out who the random people were in each slide. Once that was done we seemed to move on to a whole sleeve of slides that were photos of holidays and days out with the family.

Trips to the coast really are not that different now from what they were 5 decades ago. There were the classic bucket and spades with your sandwich packed lunch sitting on the sand. The one photo that really stood out to me was the whole family packed into a tow car with all the kit stacked on the roof.

From what I can tell the towcar being used was an early Standard Vanguard estate, the earlier model (1947-52), I wonder what towing mileage this got. Attached to it is a single axle caravan without any branding ot insignia to give away the make and model.

I had no idea that the caravan love in my family went back this far. I just assumed that my parents took me on them and subsequently when mum and dad could not Nan would step in and take us all away.

The photo just displays everything there is to say about the caravan holiday. It is almost like the portrait of the Great British holiday. I know this is not exactly groundbreaking news but I thought it was well worth sharing and hopefully will jog some happy memories for you too.

The Perfect Escape From Brexit According To The BBC

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William Coleman

I think it is safe to say that Brexit has caused a fair bit of stress and turmoil for most of us here in the UK. So now that it seems to have been…paused…postponed…. why not find yourself a little slice of non Brexit relaxation time in Dorset.

Since the votes were counted back in the latter part of 2016 Brexit has dominated the news and has caused a lot of stress and anguish. Now it’s about time that we took a break, which genuinely has happened, from the Brexit battery and find an upbeat side to the saga.

The BBC have found the silver lining we have all been waiting for and its in a caravan back down south (west).

During the main evening news on the BBC one evening the question was asked: “Where can you go to escape all the gloom?” – and then provided a very attractive answer.

The BBC’s cameras had been to South Lytchett Manor holiday park near Poole in Dorset to find out if this was the perfect bolt-hole from Brexit fatigue.

Viewers were shown a drone’s-eye view of the park nestled in tranquil countryside: the ideal rural retreat from bickering politicians and curmudgeonly campaigners.

Brexit, said the reporter on the park, was creating both winners and losers – and Britain’s tourism industry was definitely one of the victors of the debacle.

The journalist spoke to David Bridgen who, with his wife Joanne, has owned South Lytchett Manor for the past 13 years, gathering a host of top tourism awards along the way.

David said that holiday bookings were far ahead of last year’s figures, suggesting that even more families than previously would be opting for a staycation this summer.

Many had expressed uncertainties about travelling abroad, he said, and the weakness of the pound also meant overseas visitors had to reach much further inside their pockets.

Guests on the park were then asked why they had decided to stay put in this country, instead of heading for one of the channel ports on the south coast.

The long list of reasons suggested why so many other parks in Britain are this year also looking at advance bookings stacking up like never before.

The varied from fears of delays on leaving ferries and possible passport problems to concerns over driving licences, mobile roaming charges, and pets needing rabies jabs.

By contrast, many families in previous years have found that Britain provides a much more relaxed holiday experience – and more for everyone, especially children, to enjoy.

David and Joanne said they were delighted to see their park named as a perfect comfort blanket from Brexit woes, and hoped it would also help highlight Dorset as a first-class holiday destination.

As well as touring facilities, Lytchett Manor provides glamping facilities including picture-postcard Romany caravans with a raft of modern comforts such as full-size beds and heating.

It is also a member of the Best of British group which comprises some 50 independently-run parks with top quality ratings throughout the UK.

More information about the park is available at www.southlytchettmanor.co.uk

Eastenders Star Goes Caravan Shopping

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By William Coleman

It is pretty much set in stone that we Brits absolutely adore the good old caravans holiday and no matter where you come from or what you have the lure is always there. One of England’s most popular soap stars has been spotted caravan shopping with his son just in time for summer.

Eastenders star Danny Dyer has been seen looking at a potential new summer get away spot and swapping the mean streets of the East End for a more tranquil spot by the sea with his family.

Dyer, 41, visited Bunn Leisure Park in Selsey, West Sussex on Sunday with his 5 year old son Arty. The site is very popular with families and has a whole range of caravans than cost anywhere from £17,395 all the way up to a staggering £239,000. In some cases you can even stay for less than £10 per night.

A picture was shared on Facebook by holiday lets firm Sunny Selsey Holidays of Danny Dyer sporting a flat cap holding his son in the site’s restaurant.

Reports say there was a little bit of a buzz in the air following his arrival at Bunn Leisure and there were “a few excited ladies on site” according the CS Holiday Lets.

This is not the first time ‘Danny’ and the family have visited Bunn Leisure Park but it now seems as though they are taking steps to make sure they can spend a lot more time there with the purchase of a new holiday home.

The site has everything a family could ask for with a pool, gym, sauna, football pitches, basketball and tennis courts and a kids club.

Salop Leisure Showcase Event

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By William Coleman

As the weather starts to warm up everyone is flocking to the campsites and dealerships in equal measures. If you visit Salop Leisure in Shrewsbury you will be visiting both campsite and caravan superstore in the same location. From the end of April to mid May Salop are showcasing their stock offers during the largest free caravan showcase in the UK.

With more than 15,000 visitors expected to attend Salop Leisure’s Shrewsbury headquarters to take part in a whole host of free attractions for all the family at the West Midlands Caravan, Motorhome and Destinations Show between Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, May 12.

On site there will be the latest touring caravans, motorhomes, campervans, holiday homes and lodges. If you are visiting be sure to check out the Love2Stay site. If you like 5 Star luxury sites with state of the are facilities then this holiday park will be right up your alley.

The company is putting on a ton of free attractions so you and the family can make a day of it. Have you ever wanted to try rock climbing, canoeing, paddle boarding and treasure hunts, oh and for free!

You can also take part in donkey rides and face painting for children all of which will be taking place on the Bank Holiday weekend between 4th to the 6th of May.

Ed Glover, Salop Leisure’s marketing manager, said: “The show is always the highlight of the year here at Salop Leisure, attracting in the region of 15,000 to 20,000 people.

“It’s a mixture of existing owners, first time buyers and local families who come to enjoy the activities on offer while also experiencing the lifestyle which owning a caravan brings.

“A free activity programme designed to promote the Heart of England, Mid Wales Inland and Mid Wales Coastal as holiday destinations allows visitors to experience holiday home and leisure vehicle ownership.

“We hope that while families are enjoying the activities, it will enable them to gain an insight into our fabulous destinations.

“The show is a perfect chance to explore the exciting life of caravan ownership in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, with expert advice and exclusive show discounts available.

“There will also be refreshments on offer, with all proceeds donated to Shropshire Mind.”

The Great Big Caravan event runs across the Bank Holiday weekend from May 4-6, with a holiday home and lodge showcase between April 27 and May 6, and a touring and motorhome showcase from May 4-12.

The popular 16-day show is a one-stop-shop for customers seeking to buy a caravan holiday home, luxury lodge, touring caravan, motorhome or campervan.

Salop Leisure’s expanded touring and motorhome display area now features more than 180 touring caravans and over 40 motorhomes, both pre-owned and new.

Fantastic deals will be available from the extensive accessory shop at Emstrey to help buyers kit out their brand new model.

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…