Easter Memories: We hear your unforgettable stories from Easter breaks past

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

And just like that, Easter is almost upon us. The school holidays are already underway, which has prompted the CaravanTimes office to reminisce of memorable Easter Hols gone by. So we’ve asked both our readers and the team from Broad Lane Leisure to share their favourite Easter memories with us.

From the CaravanTimes Forum:

Caravan Bill:

“I remember the days Auntie Mary and I used to collect sequins. We made a wonderful dress whilst at the campsite, as the weather was very bad. I gave this dress to my niece, she loved it. Easter is great.”

Lesley Paterson:

“33 years ago, Easter found my husband and I en route to York with a caravan, borrowed from my parents. I was almost 6 months pregnant and I was driving. Our route took us through Edinburgh – right down Princes Street and turning right (south) past the North British (now the Balmoral) Hotel and the Scotsman building.

“We were nervous, it was our first time towing and we took turns driving.

“What a fabulous holiday we had… we stayed in the North York Moors, and the Rowntrees Park in York. We went for walks to Fountains Abbey; travelled on the steam train to Pickering; ate well in Whitby (fish and chips) and in York at the Judges Lodging.

“Now we are retired, the caravan has been upgraded and trips are even more frequent. We have spent Hogmanay at Grantown and Stonehaven, with friends… Yes, at least four of our friends have also bought caravans and we have great fun on sites together. This year we will all be going to the Edinburgh Festival again for the fourth time.

“We currently have a 2015 Elddis Avante 554. It has a fixed bed and a double can be made up in the front seating area. The layout is perfect for us, with excellent storage.”

From Dealers:

Darren Brown of Broad Lane Leisure:

“The memories that do stand out, and are still fresh in my mind, are those spent in Devon with my own children over the years as they grew-up.

“I remember our son Thomas, who is now 25, learning to ride his bike at Burrowhayes Farm in Porlock. (At one stage there was only one other caravan on the site and they asked me for a ‘word’! I was worried that Thomas may have been near their van with his bike and perhaps caused some damage. as it was they wanted to thank us for making their week. They loved watching me teach our little lad how to ride.. He could only go anti-clockwise around the van!

“We also took some caravanning friends to the same site a few years later and we lost their children and ours for five solid days building dams in the nearby stream in bare feet! They never once complained that the water was cold.

“Finally, I recall one time that my wife and I headed down to Shorefields, in the New Forest, in advance of the in-laws bringing the children down the next day. The plan was to set-up camp with the awning and annex and then head to the local pub. After a busy day, at about 5pm we headed to the shower block to get ready. I got back to the van first only to find that it was in the shade; after a quick phone-call to the reception, I arranged to move and after I pulled all the pegs-out and threw the awning on-top of the van I moved it about 50 yards along, into the sunshine. I watched a startled Claire, my wife, come-out of the shower-block in her dressing-gown, only to think either she’d gone mad – or I had gone home without her! It was so funny!

“We have been caravanning all over the UK, especially in Scotland and the Lakes, and absolutely loved everything about it. although not so much now, we still go, but without the children!”

Now we want to hear from you – please tell us about your memorable Easter Holidays and what you’re getting up to this year…

Caravanners be warned as Police operation cracks down on unfit leisure vehicles

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

Police in Essex have been sending out an early warning to leisure vehicle drivers ahead of the Easter holidays to make the necessary weight and safety checks before starting their journeys during a recent caravan and trailer operation.

According to the Chelmsford Weekly News, two drivers in overweight vehicles received £600 fines and 32 other drivers were stopped by police during the first vehicle towing operation of the season.

Working with the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service and Central Registration & Identification Scheme, officers ran the operation at Junction 19 of the A12 trunk road, Chelmsford, near Boreham Services Lorry Park.

During the day of action, 34 vehicles were stopped, 21 of which were towing trailers and 11 were towing caravans.

Of the vehicles stopped towing caravans and trailers, only 12 were clear of any faults.

Two overweight 3.5 tonnes vehicles were found to be 15 per cent over the maximum authorised mass when weighed and the drivers fined £600.

A number of vehicles’ tyres were also over the five year recommendation and a total of eight vehicles had breakaway cables that were incorrectly fitted, or none fitted at all.

Some vehicles towing caravans had no extendable mirrors.

The driver of a trailer with a seized braking system was given a £100 fine and 3 points on his licence for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Of the vehicles that were stopped, four drivers were issued with fines and three licence points after it was discovered they did not have the correct category BE licence.

Gary Winfield, Roads Policing Constable from the Casualty Reduction Team, said: “This was a successful day and we can be satisfied that in all these cases, appropriate and robust action has been taken.

“There are a number of measures that people can take to ensure they are driving safely while towing caravans and trailers.

“If these measures are not taken, there can be serious and quite frankly tragic ramifications for all involved.

“We will be carrying out more of these checks, so please heed the warning and ensure you are being responsible on the road.”

Whale receives R&D funding from EU

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

Whale, a prominent waste pump supplier to the caravan and motorhome industry, has been successful in receiving support from Invest NI for the next 4 years. The project is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020. It aims to undertake research and development to improve the competitiveness of the business in its global markets.

Whale is a well-known brand with a reputation for design expertise. Whale supply the marine, caravan and motorhome, shower drainage and industrial markets around the world with innovative freshwater, bilge and waste pumps and water and space heating systems.

Richard Bovill, Whale’s Engineering Director, commented: “This investment is another exciting milestone in Whale’s plans for continued growth. Innovation remains at the heart of the company”.

Patrick Roberts, Managing Director, reinforced this by adding: “Our forward thinking approach is driven by a dedicated team who exude a passion for delivering the best possible product and service for our customers. Our team at Whale share a contagious enthusiasm for innovation”.

8-year wait finally over after NI motorhome, caravan and tent site gets approved

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

Planning approval has been granted for 20 new pitches for touring motorhomes in the Northern Irish city of Derry after an eight year battle with local councils.

According to the Northern Irish publication Derry Now, the decision was made at a recent meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Planning Committee at the local Guildhall.

The site will also be suitable for caravans or tents and will include electric hook ups.

It will be located at farmland on the Upper Galliagh Road owned by the applicant Mr Paul Heaney.

The Council was told that there were no objections to the plans which had first been lodged in 2009.

The plans had been rejected on two previous occasions by the old Derry City Council.

Speaking at the meeting SDLP Councillor Angela Dobbins requested that a condition requiring the applicant to provide additional parking bays on land he does not own be removed because it was “unrealistic”.

Record-breaking lifesize lego caravan on show at Beaulieu

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

A life-size caravan which holds the Guinness World Record as “the largest caravan built with interlocking plastic bricks” has gone on display in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

Built by 12 model makers using 215,158 Lego bricks, this astonishing creation may use plastic components from the toy box but does almost everything a real caravan can do, with electric lights, running water and even seats that fold into a bed.

The brick brilliance continues inside, with incredible details such as eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes cooking in a frying pan on the two-hob burner, a vase full of flowers on the table, toothbrushes and a tube of toothpaste by the sink, a milk carton in the fridge and even a complete chess set.

Measuring 3.6 metres long, 2.2 metres tall and weighing in at 1200kg, the project took over two months to build and more than 1,000 man-hours. Layers of Lego bricks were built on top of a conventional caravan chassis, proving how strong and versatile the plastic pieces can be. Only standard off-the-shelf Lego pieces were used, with no custom-made components.

Visitors to the National Motor Museum can see up-close how this caravan stacks up. It was designed to mimic a classic T@B 320 teardrop-style caravan and created two years ago by LEGO building specialist Bright Bricks as part of the National Caravan Council’s Freedom to Go campaign.

The campaign aims to change the public perception of leisure vehicles, inspire and educate them about holidays in trailer tents, motorhomes, touring caravans, caravan holiday homes and lodges. It also provides inspiration and advice to decide what type of leisure vehicle to choose and to help plan a holiday adventure.

Following its appearance at this year’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at Birmingham’s NEC, the unique LEGO caravan is now on show next to the Caravan and Motorhome Club collection display in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

Dan Connolly, the Freedom to Go Campaign Director, said: “Freedom to Go is delighted to have the LEGO caravan on display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu until October. The LEGO caravan was built with the intention of building awareness of leisure vehicles and the great adventures you can have with them.”

Entrance to Beaulieu includes admission to the National Motor Museum, the World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and grounds and Palace House, which has been home to the Montagu family since 1538. Tickets can be bought in advance online or on the door. For tickets or more information see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

#ArcticAdventure: The Adventure is Here

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

The first installment of our #ArcticAdventure documentary is finally here! Our editors have put together a highlights reel of the entire trip – through all 12 countries, 5,000 miles, 16 days, with freezing temperatures and spectacular views. But we knew you might not be up for watching all 70 hours worth of footage, so we’ve chopped it down to just a two and half minute music video, for your viewing pleasure – enjoy!

We’re extremely proud of our very own CaravanTimes team members, Sonja and Alessi, capturing two weeks worth of some incredible footage on their #ArcticAdventure. It was truly a trip to remember, and you can now enjoy the highlights of it right here, all to some nice music as well.

Stay tuned for more #ArcticAdvenuture installments, but until then, please let us know what you think of the video, and if it’s inspired you to take an #ArcticAdventure of your own…

COMPETITION: Winner chosen to attend All About Dogs festival

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

CaravanTimes recently held a competition for our readers to have the chance to win 2 two-night camping passes for your choice of four available All About Dogs shows (3 in April, 1 in August). We have randomly chosen from the list of entrants and we can now reveal who the lucky winners is.

JEN JACKSON

CONGRATULATIONS, JEN! You will now be able to pick up 2 two-night camping passes from the ticket office at one of four All About Dogs festival of your choosing. Organisers will be in contact with you shortly to provide you with more details. Well done!

The 2017 dates and venues are:

  • Newbury Showground, Thatcham, Berkshire, 8 – 9 April
  • Trinity Park, Ipswich, Suffolk, 16 – 17 April
  • Newark Showground, Newark, Nottinghamshire, 22 – 23 April
  • Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, Essex, 30 April – 1 May (no camping)
  • Norfolk Showground, Norwich, Norfolk, 27 – 28 August
  • Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex, 23 – 24 September (no camping)

For those of you that did not win this time, you can still book discounted advance tickets to any of the All About Dogs shows, here: www.allaboutdogsshow.co.uk

Salop Leisure layout exciting expansion plans

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

Plans for the expansion of award-winning caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure have been announced.

Up to a dozen new jobs will be created by Salop Leisure if the proposed development of the company’s headquarters at Emstrey is approved by Shropshire Council. The plans include extra storage pitches, a building extension to provide more display space for motorhomes and campervans and expansion of the Love Coffee restaurant to create an outdoor seating area, gardens and a large children’s play area.

There will also be extra parking spaces for customers and existing dwellings close to Emstrey island will be relocated to another part of Salop Leisure’s land.

“To continue to take the business forward and to meet increasing demand for the services we offer, we need additional space,” said Salop Leisure’s managing director Mark Bebb. “The expansion will allow the company to extend the business to cater for anticipated significant growth in domestic tourism, particularly caravan, lodge and motorhome ownership and increase the diversity of products that we offer to the leisure market.

“We need the extra storage capacity because our existing facility is full and we are currently having to reluctantly turn away customers. Owners are looking for somewhere safe, with the latest security systems, to store their touring caravans and motorhomes as they don’t have the space to park them on their drives at home.

“The Love Coffee café is very popular with visitors and local people who meet up over a coffee or light lunch. The proposals will allow the café to be extended to provide an outside seating area, play area and additional parking.

“This is a very significant development for the company with future growth of the UK leisure industry in mind and is good news for Shrewsbury’s economy as we aim to attract even more visitors to the town and create more employment for local people.”

The plans have been announced as work on a new £4 million touring and glamping resort, Love2Stay, on land alongside Salop Leisure’s headquarters is making steady progress. The resort will have 120 fully serviced touring caravan pitches, 22 luxury glamping tents, a BIOTOP natural swimming pool, spa facilities with hot tubs, a pilates and yoga studio and a well-equipped indoor fitness suite. The Caravan and Motorhome Club has accepted Love2Stay as a prestigious affiliated site.

Established at Meole Brace, Shrewsbury in 1966, Salop Leisure moved to state-of-the-art headquarters at Emstrey in 2006 and has continued to invest in the business ever since. The company has satellite sales centres in Machynlleth and Stourport-on-Severn.

Salop Leisure is now the main caravan and motorhome dealership in the West Midlands and one of the most successful in the UK, employing a workforce of more than 200. The company was recently named the UK’s top supplying dealership of new touring caravans in 2017.

Marquis and Elddis agree more Majestic years ahead

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

Marquis have announced that for the 2018 season they will be once again working with Elddis to produce the multi award winning Majestic range of motorhomes.

Now in its seventh year, the Majestic range is established as the UK’s best selling “Dealer Special” motorhome.

Marquis, who are part of the Trigano Group, are happy to continue working with Erwin Hymer Group UK Ltd and the senior management team congratulated them on the recent acquisition of the Explorer Group.

“This agreement, Marquis’ largest ever for an Exclusive range, shows our continued commitment to UK manufacturers and is worth over £20m which represents a 10 per cent increase on our previous year’s order. With a strong working relationship, Marquis will continue to work closely with Erwin Hymer Group UK Ltd to ensure our customers receive the very best touring comforts at the most competitive prices.” said Alan Buckwell, Marquis Sales Director.

Swift and Airstream announce new UK venture

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

American touring manufacturer Airstream, Inc. have announced the appointment of Swift Group as the sole distributor for Airstream in the UK.

The partnership brings together two companies with complementary strengths and a commitment to realise the potential of Airstream in the UK.

“This is a fabulous new opportunity for Swift Group, with significant promise in an untapped market,” said James Turner, Swift Group Managing Director. “I am delighted that Airstream has recognised the quality, passion and unrivalled capability that Swift possesses. I look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”

Airstream was founded in the U.S. by Wally Byam in the 1920s. An icon was born when Wally built his first shining silver orb, known as the Clipper, in 1936. Today, Airstream counts Oscar winners and rock legends among its loyal followers. Easily recognized by the distinctive shape of their riveted and rounded polished aluminium, many have been magnetized by the inescapable pull of the Airstream range of luxury trailers.

The Airstream board has long coveted the British market, convinced that this epitome of high-end leisure vehicle luxury could find a place in the hearts of UK consumers. In Swift Group, Airstream discovered an ideal partner with an unrivalled calibre that will help the brand flourish.

“Over the last decade, Airstream has developed a strong foundation in the UK and we believe Swift Group is the right partner to help us take it to the next level,” said Bob Wheeler, President and CEO of Airstream, Inc. “There is tremendous potential for Airstream in the UK and we fully expect to see sales accelerate in the coming years.”

The addition of Airstream to Swift’s portfolio of brands will enable Swift to extend into a new market sector and further strengthen its leading market position in the UK.

#ArcticAdventure: The Adventure is Coming

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

Our #ArcticAdventure documentary is almost ready, and here is another sneak preview to wet your winter appetites in preparation for what CaravanTimes is calling “the most anticipated Arctic Adventure story of all time”.

Our CaravanTimes team members, Sonja and Alessi, documented two weeks worth of footage on their #ArcticAdventure, in countries including Germany, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden.

You can view highlights of the first week of their trip right here

Our 5 Favourite Leisure Vehicle Movies

Posted by

by Tom Leaning

Easter is just round the corner, and if you’re planning your long-weekend getaway with your caravan, motorhome or campervan and need some cinematic inspiration, we’ve compiled our 5 favourite leisure vehicle movies that will tickle your funny bones, pull at your heartstrings and definitely get your touring juices flowing.

1. About Schmidt (2002)

It’s Jack Nicholson (As Good As It Gets, A Few Good Men, The Departed) driving across middle America in a 2001 Winnebago Adventurer – what more do you want?? This modern classic comedy/drama from Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants) about a recent retiree coming to terms with his own life and relationships with his wife and estranged daughter, produces an astonishing performance from Nicholson, and keeps the eyeballs glistening throughout.

2. Snatch (2000)

“D’ya lak dags?” Do you? Well this film is full of them, as well as Brad Pitt and his caravan travelling band of “pikies”. This all-star comedy crime caper is turned up to 11 with creativity and filled to the brim with greedy gangsters all after a priceless stolen diamond while spouting unforgettable, expletive-ridden dialogue. Enjoy!

3. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

A dysfunctional family road-trip comedy to remember, and predominantly set in a classic yellow, VW Type-2 Campervan, which houses the crucible of the movie’s best comedy, and acts as a supporting cast member, with its imputent and uncontrollable bus horn and temperamental but enduring VW engine. The goal is to get the family’s young daughter, Olive (Abigail Breslin), from New Mexico to California in time for a Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. Do they make it in one piece? Well, after 100 minutes of masterfully comedic, cinematic moments, you can judge for yourselves.

4. Paul (2011)

The British comedic talents of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost combine to produce “a love letter to (Steven) Spielberg”, about two sci-fi geeks road-trippin’ across Arizona, ticking off America’s UFO tourist attractions, before having a close encounter with their very own extraterrestrial (Paul, voiced by Seth Rogen) near Area-51. The film’s RV of choice is a 1987 Winnebago Chieftain ‘Traveller Beagle’, which comes in handy as a getaway vehicle as they desperately try and elude federal agents, determined to retrieve their escaped alien. Spielberg fans will love the regular nods to E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind and those who liked Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz will indulge in the awkward, comedic timing that Pegg and Frost are masters at.

5. Sightseers (2012)

And we leave the best for last: a disturbing but brilliant black-comedy from writer/director Ben Wheatley, which follows two lovers that take a caravan trip to Yorkshire, only to descend into a shocking rampage across national parks, killing anyone that even remotely annoys them. This ‘Brummie and Clyde’ bloody, love story tickles and chills in equal measure and bathes in the understated hilarity of Great British black comedy.

But what do we know?! Tell us YOUR favourite leisure vehicle movies in the comments below and why you love them.