Park Resorts books big acts

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Caravan enthusiasts heading to a Park Resorts site could be in for a treat as the holiday operator has booked a number of top acts to appear throughout the summer.

Former Atomic Kitten member Natasha Hamilton will be strutting her stuff at three different locations this August.

She will appear at East Sussex’s Camber Sands on August 7th, Yorkshire’s Cayton Bay on August 14th and Essex’s Highfield Grange on August 21st.

Meanwhile, ladies may wish to head to Highfield Grange on July 17th, Essex’s Valley Farm on August 14th or Skipsea Sands in Yorkshire on August 21st, as 1990s pin-ups 911 will be appearing on stage.

Furthermore, Eastenders character Shaun Williamson will also be appearing at no fewer than five sites during the summer.

Other acts include 1970s and 80s boy band The Real Thing and Eurovision winners Bucks Fizz.

The park operator recently revealed that it has spent millions of pounds on renovations of many of its sites.

Rescue team in appeal for caravan base

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Caravan owners in North Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset may be interested in the plea of a volunteer team which helps the emergency services during periods of extreme weather conditions.

According to the Weston & Somerset Mercury, Wessex 4×4 Response is seeking a mobile home to act as a mini-base for its workers, allowing them to change clothes, use radio equipment and plan operations.

The group is looking for a donation and has suggested that, if a firm provided them with a caravan, they could emblazon the name across the side for sponsorship.

Volunteer Chris Young told the newspaper that the main requirements are that it is watertight and roadworthy.

“A 16 ft caravan would be ideal, so one end could be a communications hub and the other could have a toilet and rest area,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Lincolnshire Echo has revealed that a caravan site built for gypsy and traveller families is to get a £1.25 million revamp.

Pictures, layouts and prices: we reveal the Bailey Olympus

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Caravan manufacturer Bailey Caravans of Bristol today unveiled full details of its new model, the Olympus. The caravan is the second Bailey range to be built on the all-new revolutionary “Alu-Tech” bodyshell, which was designed to combat the problems of water ingress. Caravan Times has been told the Olympus is the equivalent of the Pageant series in the classic Bailey line-up, and as such slots below the Pegasus in the Alu-Tech range. Here we can reveal for the first time full details of pricing and layouts, ahead of the first public showing at Boat and Caravan.

Overview

First pictures confirm the Olympus as the visual baby brother of the best-selling Pegasus. The structure is made up of interlocking aluminium with no external fixing points, in order to minimise the risk of water ingress. In addition the caravan is built with an integral water management system. As an Alu-Tech caravan, the body panels are built using a timber-free construction. Plastic is used instead in a construction which incorporates high density polystyrene insulation.

Most crucially the benefit is passed on to customers with an industry-leading 10-year integrity guarantee. The structure also receives a Grade III classification of EN1645-1 thanks to its fully insulated shell.

An industry standard AL-KO setup is in place with a galvanised steel chassis, braking system and running gear. The AL-KO ATC trailer control system is also standard alongside the firm’s stabliser and shock absorbers. Features carried from the Pegasus include twin front wet locker storage compartments and weatherproof LED front and rear grab handles for visibility.

Layouts and interior

The interior of the Olympus has a number of advantages over traditional models, chief of which is the internal headroom. This has been increased to a class leading 6’5″ (1.96m) – and due to the flat panel roof construction this is consistent throughout the caravan. Split-level storage is found throughout, with new kitchen laminates and fittings in matt nickel combining to create a fresh look. Interior fabrics are subtle in beige and both options come with sculpted arm and back rests.

Layouts range from the entry-level 2-berth (the Olympus 462) to a 6-berth model (the Olympus 546) while there is the option of a twin-axle Olympus with the 624 which sleeps four.

Pricing

The Bailey Olympus starts at 13,995 for the 462, and rises to £15,595 for the 6-berth 624.

For more information on the Bailey Olympus you can visit their micro-site at baileyolympus.co.uk.

Back to the future: how retro caravans became cool

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If you read the newspapers you’d be forgiven for thinking that the caravan holiday had been invented by the Government as an antidote to the recession. Last year the travel media was flooded with stories of the “staycation” and the return of the “great British holiday”. Yet for millions of Brits a caravan trip is both a staple of their childhood and a pastime of their present. What happened to all the caravans of our past is the subject of a new book that celebrates the design of vintage trailers.

My Cool Caravan explores a niche in caravanning, namely the world of creativity and design afforded by restoring vintage caravans. Authors Jane Field-Lewis and Chris Haddon share two things in common: an impressive design background and a love of old caravans that extends to ownership. The book traces their obsession to all corners of caravan design, with forty stylish vehicles of all vintages from across the world. Lavishly illustrated with photography from Hilary Walker, it is rare to find in book form something which captures the touring experience so vividly.

This is in part due to the shared passion of Jane and Chris for how caravans offer “happy memories of simple things, reflecting the valuable details of life which are usually too readily overlooked.” And it is the attention to such “valuable details” which abounds throughout and makes for a fascinating read.

Jane Field-Lewis in particular brings knowledge of set-dressing and framing an object, from her work as a stylist in film and photography. As such the pictures make us feel as if we have walked through the Tardis doors into a trailer of the past. A Bakelite radio, a mug of china and some ginger nut biscuits – all unremarkable items, but placed in a vintage caravan they instantly evoke a simpler time.

The book is divided into chapters which celebrate a particular style. Jane’s own Monza 1000 is to be found under “Old retro” and is used as her office space where she retreats for inspiration. Crucially little has been changed with the 1970s brown hessian print and vinyl wallpaper showing how colour trends have changed over the years. Co-author Chris uses his trailer for the same purpose, only his is a 1963 Airstream Globetrotter he found in Connecticut, USA. Other highlights include a 1936 Eccles Aristocrat in the “Country cottage” chapter, sporting a beautiful two-tone finish with the original blue intact.

What makes this book rise above coffee-table fayre are the stories. Many of the owners spotted their caravan lying somewhere unloved, or being auctioned off for a song, and rescued them in order to restore to their full glory. It is the blend of the informative and personal which gives this book a peculiar charm similar to the caravans displayed within.

Since My Cool Caravan landed on the desk of Caravan Times it has travelled regularly around the office, with staff eagerly nominating their favourite. It is a book which cannot help but transmit the passion of its authors and is a fascinating window on our caravanning past.

Marcus Dubois

Name change for Caravan Club’s breakdown assistance

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Caravan owners looking forward to a summer of weekend breaks may be interested in the Caravan Club’s breakdown and recovery service.

Known as Mayday, it is operated by Green Flag and operates 24-hours a day year round, covering cars, motorhomes, touring caravans and trailer tents.

The scheme recently renamed its comprehensive and double journey cover toRoadside & Recovery and Dual Recovery respectively.

“We believe the new naming convention better describes the insurance cover provides,” explained the Caravan Club’s head of insurance and financial services Lesley Coell.

“The change provides clarity for new and existing policyholders.”

Roadside & Recovery will attempt to fix the vehicle by the road and get it to a destination of the driver’s choice anywhere in the UK.

The Dual Recovery package sees customers taken to their holiday site and the vehicle repaired in time for the return trip if possible. If not, the vehicles are taken back home after the trip.

Meanwhile, the Caravan Club recently celebrated 50 years of its Certified Locations scheme.

Caravan girl wins place at Cambridge

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A girl brought up in a caravan and who has never competed a full year at school has won a place at a prestigious UK university.

Traveller Zoah Hedges-Stocks left school to work with her family’s travelling fair, but has now won a place at Cambridge University, the Daily Mail revealed.

The 20-year-old spent every summer of her youth serving in her mother’s food van and has been offered a place at the all-female Murray Edwards College after achieving two As and a B at A Level.

Not everyone in her community understood the magnitude of her achievements, Ms Hedges-Stocks told the newspaper after becoming the first member of her family to apply for university.

“Cambridge was the only university they had heard of and they didn’t understand the application process was selective – they assumed you could simply walk in,” she said.

The caravan resident revealed that she wanted to study history after hearing folklore tales from her grandfather.

Meanwhile, the Caravan Club has revealed it is offering its own breakdown and rescue service in conjunction with Green Flag.

Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury to appear at Boat and Caravan

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TV personality Julia Bradbury will be a guest of The Camping and Caravanning Club this month at Boat & Caravan Show. The Countryfile presenter and outdoors enthusiast will be present on The Club’s New to Camping Stand (300) on Tuesday, February 23. Boat & Caravan is held at Birmingham’s NEC and caters for a wide variety of touring lifestyles.

Last year Bradbury officially endorsed the Camping and Caravanning Club’s New to Camping campaign and is delighted to be involved again at the UK’s biggest outdoor leisure show.

She said: “It is fantastic to see that The Camping and Caravanning Club’s New to Camping campaign is still going from strength-to-strength since its launch last May. I’ve seen and spoken to a lot of people whilst on location filming across the country and everyone seems to share that real enthusiasm and hunger for camping.”

Bradbury also added “I’m looking forward to hearing and sharing more stories with the show visitors.”

Her love for communicating the value of exploring the outdoors is well know. Countryfile, BBC One’s Sunday evening primetime series, was re-launched with Bradbury at the helm alongside Matt Baker and on January 24 saw over 7.3 million viewers tune in.

Bradbury is also known for presenting BBC One’s Watchdog as well as other series including Wainwright’s Walks, Railway Walks and The Rough Guide to . on Channel Five.

WIN a brand new Bailey Pegasus at Boat and Caravan

Visitors to the Camping and Caravanning Club’s stand have the opportunity of winning a brand new Bailey Pegasus 534 Caravan, all thanks to Club Care Insurance. Visit their Main Stand at 5295.

Show-goers will also be able to seek expert advice, get involved in demonstrations and enter competitions on the New to Camping Stand.

Meanwhile, to tie in with the Easter opening of the new Gulliver’s Milton Keynes Club Site, Gulliver’s Theme Park characters will be entertaining the children on the Saturday and Sunday of The Show.

The Boat & Caravan Show is taking place from February 23 to 28. To book your tickets call 0844 581 3000 or visit: the Boat and Caravan website

Park Resorts invests millions in facilities

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UK-based caravan site operator Park Resorts has revealed that it has invested millions of pounds in its facilities.

As well as a great deal of new accommodation, the holiday park firm is set to introduce two brand new shows to its entertainment acts this summer.

Alice in Boogieland is a family show which follows the protagonist in an all-dancing parody of Alice in Wonderland.

Meanwhile, Krew Club’s Got Talent is a kids show where children get to see park mascot Sparky rehearse to prove that he has the skills to be the Krew Club winner.

The firm has also invested in improvements and refurbishments to its Oasis Showbar at Cayton Bay in Yorkshire, the Clifftop Bar at California Cliffs and Showbar Carmarthen Bay in south Wales.

Kent’s Shurland Dale and East Sussex’s Camber Sands sites also have refurbished swimming pools for the new season, while Essex’s Valley Farm has a new indoor swimming pool and changing rooms.

Meanwhile, Park Resorts has also booked a number of top acts to appear at its sites throughout the summer, including popular 1990s boy band 911.

Caravan park season extension vetoed

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The owners of a Yorkshire caravan park have been left disappointed after being told that they will not be allowed to extend their opening season.

Hawkswick Cote Caravan Park in Arncliffe had hoped to open the site for a further ten weeks beyond the current November 14th closing date, the Craven Herald and Pioneer reported.

The committee behind the decision decided to keep the agreement of 1998 in place, restricting the site to a season from March 1st to November 14th, after local residents voiced concerns that a change would impact on their lives.

This was despite a recommendation from Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority planning officers to allow the change to take place.

“We do not feel that the semi-permanent residence of people at this site is desirable for the Littondale community, unless they contribute fully to the economy of the district through council tax as main residence or second home owners,” a letter to the committee on behalf of Hawkswick Parish Meeting members said.

Meanwhile, the Caravan Club recently marked the 50th anniversary of its Certified Locations scheme.

Caravan Club mark 50th anniversary of Certified Locations

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The Caravan Club recently held an awards ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of its Certified Locations programme.

The initiative recognises small and exclusive privately-owned caravan sites which are only open to Caravan Club members.

Keal Lodge Certified Location in Lincolnshire’s Deeping St James took the top prize, with owner Jean Rogers explaining to the club how she likes make the extra effort with caravanners.

“I am more than happy to help our guests make the most of their stay – whether it’s wildlife watching, admiring historic buildings, or joining in one of my craft weekends,” she said.

Laithes Lodge in Blackpool and Stoneyways in Suffolk came second and third respectively.

The awards ceremony, which took place in the House of Commons, was attended by secretary of state for communities and local government John Denham.

There are currently around 2,500 Certified Locations around the UK, meaning Caravan Club members have a large choice of places to pitch up.

Meanwhile, the Caravan Club recently reported that ABTA – The Travel Association has suggested that Brits do not skimp on travel insurance when visiting foreign caravan sites.

Lorraine Kelly the ideal caravan guest

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A survey of caravan users has revealed the ideal celebrity holiday companion to be TV presenter Lorraine Kelly.

The Scot took almost a third (32 per cent) of the votes, with comedian Peter Kay taking second place with 28 per cent.

According to the poll of 1,200 Safeguard caravan insurance customers, Nigella Lawson (nine per cent) and Jamie Oliver (15 per cent) were also popular choices.

The rest of the top six was completed by Coleen Nolan, who commanded 11 per cent of the vote, and Rod Stewart, who took five per cent.

Commenting, Safeguard manager Rita Sadler explained that choosing a holiday partner wisely is an important part of a caravan break.

“We can see why Lorraine Kelly would make the perfect holiday pal as her down to earth chatter would keep you entertained on the journey,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Melton Times recently reported that a group of protestors have marked their one year anniversary of living in a caravan at a site where a telecoms company wishes to erect a phone mast.

Honda recalls Jazz in fresh blow to Japanese carmakers

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Japanese car giant Honda is to contact 171,372 owners of the Jazz model in the UK as part of a safety recall. The manufacturer is arranging an examination of the master power window switch on the first generation Jazz (2002-2008). The news comes as Honda has added 437,700 cars, mainly in North America, to its existing global safety recall over airbag inflation problems. The company has already recalled almost 4,000 Accord and Civic cars in 2008 and another 510,000 cars in mid-2009.

Readers of Caravan Times alarmed by recent reports of airbag issues should know that most of the faulty cars are found in North America and the recall does not affect customers in the UK. Honda vehicles sold in the UK are fitted with a different type of airbag to the one concerned.

The news however comes as a fresh blow to Japanese carmakers, after we reported last week how Toyota recalled over 180,000 cars in the UK over a faulty accelerator pedal. And today in a separate safety issue Toyota announced a global recall of some of its Prius model over a brake problem. This affects 8,300 in the UK and the maker intends to install updated software to faulty cars.

Honda Jazz – the switchgear problem explained.

Honda have discovered that the master window switch in the driver’s door of the Jazz can malfunction when exposed to large amounts of liquid ingress. For example if the window is left open frequently or for long periods during heavy rain this can cause issues. Water and other fluids can cause the window switch’s circuit board to malfunction and prevent opening or closing of the window. What has prompted this recall is that in rare cases, the circuit board can overheat causing melting or smoke or, potentially, fire. However there have been no reported cases of a switch malfunction causing fire to a Jazz in the UK.

The manufacturer explained that not all of the cars recalled will require a replacement switch. However it promises to fit all recalled cars with a waterproof skirt in order to prevent further water entry.

How to get it fixed

Honda UK intends to contact Jazz owners affected by the recall “as soon as possible”. In all cases they have assured that work will be carried out at no cost to the customer.

The firm have advised customers who have concerns to contact Honda (UK) Customer Relations on 0845 200 8002 for assistance.

Those affected by the Toyota Prius story should be aware that the model affected is the third-generation Prius (built before 27 January 2010). A full statement on the issue can be found here at the manufacturer’s blog.