Police delivered a swift message to any would-be tourer thieves out there last week: caravan crime simply does not pay.
The point was made following the arrest of a man suspected of stealing a caravan from a home in Witham, Essex last week.
As The Braintree and Witham Times reports, the authorities were first contacted on Friday February 1st following the theft of the £9,000 caravan.
The silver Mercedes towcar at the centre of the crime was subsequently spotted on the A12 road towards Chelmsford.
Police quickly swooped in on the caravan thief, aided in their pursuit by a nearby police helicopter.
The motorist was eventually stopped on Essex Yeomanry Way, with a 66-year-old man from south east London arrested before being released on bail.
This is the second incident in the past month where police have used a helicopter to track down a caravan thief, proving how seriously they take this type of crime.
Back in January, a police helicopter was used to apprehend a caravan thief in Derbyshire.
Swift Group has kicked off 2013 in impressive style with sales soaring in the opening part of the year.
The company, which is one of the leading UK firms for the manufacture of caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes, saw sales in February soar to just under £13 million following a series of shows across the country.
Swift Group has seen big success at events in the likes of Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham.
The business’ strong performance has been aided by the increased popularity of the Swift Challenger SE and Sterling Eccles SE ranges while the Sprite collection was also a big hit with consumers. It has meant that Swift’s market share has now grown to over 41 per cent.
Nick Page, commercial director of Swift Group, said: “With outstanding specification at the right price and great show offers it is encouraging to see that Swift Group products are being chosen by so many customers.”
The Scottish Caravan Motorhome and Holiday Home show is well and truly underway at the Glasgow SECC, and there’s so much to see before the event closes on Sunday (10 February).
To help you make the most of your time at the show, CaravanTimes has compiled the following essential guide to the main attractions.
Eterniti is a name that has been spreading around the caravan word for more than a year now, but at Glasgow this new manufacturer takes centre stage in Hall 4, Stand H30.
With their twin-axle Genesis range drawing the biggest crowds, this is certainly one stand not to miss, with plenty of unique features like an electronic slide-out section and a double-width shower included.
2.) Get up close to some creepy-crawlies at Amazonia
Not for those of a nervous disposition – the Amazonia exhibit allows you to get hands-on with some of nature’s scariest creepy crawlies.
Are you brave enough to pet a tarantula? Head over to Hall 2 to find out…
3.) Admire the new Elddis Autoquest 175
Quite how Elddis has managed to fit such a huge bathroom into such a compact tourer, we’ll never know!
The latest addition to Britain’s best-selling range of motorhomes (pictured right) can be seen on the Cleveland Motorhomes stand in Hall 5, Stand N30.
4.) Scale the huge climbing wall
When you walk into Hall 2, there is one sight that will definitely catch your eye – the towering climbing wall, which is more than 7m high.
Free to climb for anyone older than six, this is sure to make your visit to the SECC a day to remember for any budding rock-climbers.
5.) Size up the new Sprites
The craze for front sunroofs on caravans has made it into the iconic Sprite range, and this mixture of classic and modern is certainly appealing.
Make sure to take a closer look inside the two newest layouts – the Major 4 FB and the Major 6 TD at Halley Caravans in Hall 4, Stand J20. The Scottish Caravan Motorhome and Holiday Home show runs at the Glasgow SECC from 7 to 10 February. Tickets are still available on the door, priced at £10 for adults and £9 for seniors, while kids under 16 go free.
To see our pictures of the first day of the show, including folk band Clanadonia who kicked things off in raucous fashion, click on the photo slideshow below.
by Ben Wilby
The Birmingham NEC is one of the most popular venues for caravan shows – with two huge events held each year, the first of which is the Spring Caravan and Camping Show.
This year’s event, which begins on 19 February, will feature a bevy of new tourers, many outdoor activities and a variety of celebrity guests.
In previous years the event has been called the Boat and Caravan Show, but for 2013 this is being changed to the Spring Camping and Caravan Show under new organisers NCC Events.
All the major caravan manufacturers such as Bailey, Elddis and Swift will be there, as will a variety of dealers should you feel like buying a new caravan at the event.
For 25 lucky people a new caravan will be a slightly smaller investment to make, as they have won a pair of tickets to the show in our latest competition.
We’ve had hundreds of entries over the past two weeks, and almost all of you managed to correctly identify Valentine Warner as the celebrity chef who will be appearing at the event.
So without further ado, the 25 winners are as follows:
Doreen Stokes
Wendy prince
David Johnson
Yvonne Ingham
Darren James
Maurice Weaver
Jill Revill
Mike Ellery
Geoff Norris
William Abbott
Tim R Jones
Alan Field
Julie Nelson
Phillip Nangle
David Mulholland
Annette Hopla
John Booth
Alan Pudner
Stef Clarke
David G Smith
Moira Hope
Ralph Wood
Rosalyn Parkinson
Shan Bartlett
Graham Etchells
Congratulations to all of you, we will be in touch via e-mail to arrange delivery of your tickets.
If you missed out this time, then you can still get discounted tickets by booking online. Keep checking back with CaravanTimes as we have another competition coming up very soon.
Whether looking for a new car or the perfect vehicle to accompany a caravan on a tour of the UK this summer, the Mitsubishi Outlander could certainly fit the bill.
First launched in 2008, it has proved to be a popular addition to the ever-popular off-road vehicle stable offered by the firm.
But with time marching on, the Japanese automaker is preparing for something of a clear out, with an all-new version of the car set to roll into view this year.
Yet it’s not all bad news for fans of the 2007 model out there, with the company set to slash prices on the car in a bid to clear out any of the old stock.
A quick look over its details highlights the appeal to caravanners and road warriors alike too, with space for up to seven passengers or alternatively the potential for 1,000 litres of boot space.
Throw in entertainment features like an onboard DVD player and there is every reason to keep an eye out for this new model.
With entry-level models available for as little as £20,000, this is one story that could roll on and on.
TV talent show villain Simon Cowell is reportedly thrilled about his new project X Factor: The Musical in which the star of the show will live in a caravan.
The musical, based on the reality television singing competition, is said to “quite likely [.] offend current and former stars of the show”, by creating caricatures of the celebrities and contestants, an unnamed source told The Daily Mail.
This includes a character named Geordie who spends most of the time crying into a Chelsea shirt – any idea who that could be?!
Cowell’s company, Syco, has reportedly put £10 million towards the project which will be staged in the West End next year.
The musical had a read through of the script in London last week, which reportedly left Simon “ecstatic with the script. He was in tears of laughter at the read-through.”
The story follows one contestant, named Shenise, and her journey on the ITV show from living in a caravan to finding fame and fortune on the show.
This plot seems very similar to the new Spice Girls musical Viva Forever! which features a contestant named Viva who lives on a houseboat – but we think a caravan makes for a much better storyline.
We’ve gone all pink love hearts and chocolates here at Caravan Times in preparation for the most romantic day of the year.
We want to know how you are planning on spending Valentine’s Day. Dinner? Cinema? Haven’t really thought about it?
If the usual clichéd gestures or last minute efforts have become a little old and you really want to sweep your partner off their feet this year, why not celebrate love a little differently with a romantic evening in your caravan?
Why?
Caravan’s have the wonderful advantage of being a source of both freedom and creature comforts, and with that freedom comes the opportunity to travel to some truly beautiful destinations to enjoy with your special someone.
Nothing could be more romantic than pitching up and enjoying a star-filled evening with breathtaking scenery. We have thought long and hard and have come up with what we think are three of the most amorous locations for your evening’s enjoyment.
The picturesque caravan site boasts of magnificent sea views in a stunning location in Cornwall.
Open all year, the site has paths to the fishing village of Looe and is only a short walk to the harbour, fish quay and quaint cafes with cream teas. Best of all it is located right by the beach. What could be romantic than a midnight stroll on the sand?
You would not even have to leave your caravan to enjoy the best of the British countryside with rolling hills, as far as the eye can see, right on your doorstep. There is also an array of activities available for the more adventurous couple, such as horse riding and canoeing.
If this isn’t up your street, there are also farmers’ markets to wander around and walking trails in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
If you really want to push the boat out, why not go to one of the most romantic (and easily accessible for British caravanners) locations in the world – France.
The caravan site, featuring on The Independent’s top 10 list for best camping sites, is described as being “in a superb setting amongst wooded countryside on a 60-acre, riverside estate.” Sounds good to us!
The décor
So your destination is booked, the missus does not suspect a thing, and it is shaping up to be a great night, but the caravan looks. just like your caravan.
You’ve gone on holidays with it a thousand times, why should this time be any more special? The appearance, that’s why.
Plan an amazing romantic evening with candles, flowers and fairy lights. You could even invest in a couple of Chinese lanterns to truly set off the stunning romantic gesture.
If you’re stuck for inspiration, this romantic scene from Desperate Housewives should give you a few ideas.
Eating outdoors
Another advantage of travelling in your home away from home is a chance to stock your cupboards with all the right ingredients needed to make a starlit romantic supper or even a romantic picnic.
More personal than any restaurant, never underestimate the appreciation of a home-made meal.
And finally, the gifts
So, you’ve found the perfect caravan park – overlooking beaches, the rolling British countryside or nestled in a gorgeous woodland area.
You’ve decorated the caravan to perfection and cooked a homemade dinner. So far, you are a top partner! But what’s missing? Gifts!
There are plenty of sites out there for buying thoughtful Valentine’s Day presents, but if your love your caravan almost as much as your other half, then this list on Spreadshirt.co.uk is a great place to start shopping.
To all the singletons’<' . strtolower('Array')3>
Just because you’re flying solo this Valentine’s Day it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.
If you’re a single guy/girl, why not go on an all-girls/boys trip to somewhere fabulous, like the Peak District? As Jane Austen once wrote ‘what are men compared to rocks and mountains?’
Alice Payne’s family has handed over a caravan to a park after the tragic death of the teenager who passed away last month after losing five year battle with cancer.
Alice, inspirational blogger and founder of holiday charity Alice’s Escapes, inspired thousands with her ‘bucket list’ of ambitions, and would regularly update subscribers of her progress in completing her goals.
One item on the list was to buy a static caravan for the charity and, two weeks after her passing, the two-bedroom Winchester Willerby caravan complete with a bath and wrap around decking was delivered to Bardsea Leisure Park, situated in the Peak District.
Fundraising for the charity was complemented by Alice’s mother Vicky Payne, who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2012.
Mrs Payne, told The Gazette “It was incredibly emotional to watch the caravan arrive, but we felt an overwhelming sense of pride at what Alice and her merry band of supporters have achieved.
“There’s been so much support shown to both Alice and to the charity and it was good to finally have something solid for all the hard work. We were all thinking of her so much.”
Alice was inspired to create the holiday charity during a caravanning trip with her family, enjoying the normalcy of the trip after “many years of gruelling treatments”.
The charity therefore aims to give other families, whose children have life-threatening illnesses, the same opportunity to escape to the Lake District for some peace and relaxation.
The Measham auction centre was the venue for an impressive day of auctions involving caravans and motorhomes, which further served to provide evidence of the continued appeal of holidaying in the UK.
The BCA event, on January 11th, attracted a significant number of visitors with 200 private buyers and dealers in attendance along with 70 additional trade representatives, who bid for vehicles via the auctioneer’s live online bidding service.
Among the highlights on offer were a number of tourers sold under the Black Horse Motor Finance care pack, which each featured all of the documents available, including a CRIS (Caravan Registration & Identification Scheme) check for caravans, and a V5 and VOSA check for motorhomes.
In all, some 40 caravans and motorhomes were sold under the scheme, with notable sales including a 2009 Auto-trail Chieftain SE, six-berth motorhome, which went for £32,600.
Commenting on the results, BCA corporate account manager Alan Gupwell pointed to the rise of the staycation as a key factor.
“There have already been a number of reports that many families are considering staying in the UK and taking short breaks in 2013,” he said.
“No doubt many see a caravan or motorhome as a good value investment for this year’s holiday and the years ahead.”
In what is fast appearing to be the caravanning equivalent of the old fairytale of Goldilocks, rambler Alan Campbell is preparing to face up to his very own three bears – the British justice system.
The rambler is facing charges in connection with a series of break-ins he perpetrated during a four-month period that saw him hike his way down a South West coastal path, living in the empty seaside caravans he found along the way.
Starting from Weymouth, Mr Campbell travelled across 100 miles, with stop-offs in the tourism hotspots of Weymouth and Dorset along the way.
Over the course of the journey, he broke into some 82 different caravans, taking in 13 different caravan sites where he stole food, drink and other valuable items left there.
Speaking to the Kingsbridge & Salcombe Gazette, defence lawyer Nick Bradley said: “He found himself without accommodation wandering around the South West coast path and he acknowledges his survival strategy involved the intrusion into these caravans.
“It was not a planned spree of offending and these were not high value thefts.”
Mr Campbell, who had just been released from prison at the time of the offences, is now back behind bars and his licence was revoked after he admitted to these break-ins.
Caravan owners and motorists alike are facing up to a new type of epidemic – the pothole epidemic.
That was the warning issued by the experts at Potholes.co.uk, a website owned by Warranty Direct, which is concerned that road obstacles of this type are only worsening in the current climate.
According to research conducted by the group, the average depth of a pothole in the UK has actually worsened with indents of this type now some four inches deep.
This is notably worse than the three-inch average recorded by the group just two years ago.
Road damage of this kind poses a significant risk not only to car and caravan tyres but similarly vehicle structure integrity.
Commenting on the figures, Warranty Direct owner Duncan McClure cited an “underinvestment” in the UK road network as the chief reason behind the worsening of conditions.
“Temporary fixes have just escalated the problem over the years and our highways have now got more holes than Swiss cheese,” he said.
He called for more investment in permanent repair materials across the road network.
A pair of friends who enjoy regular caravan holidays together are preparing to turn their passion for tourers into a new dealership which is opening in the south west.
Mark Pearce and Jamie Hibbs have grown up as childhood friends, embarking on many a caravan holiday with their respective families over the years.
Yet the idea of opening the new branch of Wiltshire Caravans in Westbury only came about after a chance discussion between the two mates during a recent trip away.
Mr Hibbs recalled that they were “chatting one evening and said how amazing it would to set up a one-stop shop caravan dealership”.
“When we got back we started to look into it, but it wasn’t until a few months ago that the perfect site became available. As soon as we saw it, we just knew it was exactly what we’d been looking for,” he added.
Based on the West Wilts Trading Estate, the new dealership will stock a range of Elddis caravans, with the Elddis Xplore, Affinity, Avante, Crusader and Buccaneer ranges all set to be stocked.
Let’s hope the business goes as smoothly as their recent caravan holidays!
