Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[gresham flyer]

Most people have heard of the Governments Strategic Steam Engine Reserve stored under Corsham and Rudloe (Box Hill).

People living nearby have heard strange noises like shunting and the clank of wagons being coupled together. But to this day no evidence has been forthcoming.

An amazing discovery has now come to light after contractors were called in to demolish old redundant military wharehousing, at a recently closed airfield in Lincolnshire.

In the swinging ,miniskirted,freesex,affluent,budget holiday trips to Benidorm,days of the late sixties,there was a change on the horizon for traditional caravan owners.

The steam Railway Enthusiasts had encountered the wroth of Dr Beeching with the closing of much of there beloved railnetwork.

Now it was the Caravan Enthusiasts turn,but this time it was a different name wielding the mighty sword,this man was called Sam Alper

Buying out and closing down family run Caravan manufacturing concerns overnight caused a deverstating blow to the Caravan Traditionalist.

After reading a book by a recognised author of the day about the secret stash of steam trains under box hill,Sam decided to follow suit .

Hiring a large hanger from the strapped for cash "Wilson" government of the day,Sam filled it with all manner of caravans,made over the past 50 years by the vast number of family businesses that had gone out of existence.

Only a select few people knew about their existence,namely contractors maintaining the airfields buildings and infastructure,who were sworn to secrecy.

In the mid eighties a journalist working for the Practical Caravan magazine ,having a few too many drinks in the hospitality bar at Earls Court after the Caravan Show,overheard a man let slip (after drinking Ollie Reed under the table)that he knew of a place in darkest and deepest Lincolnshire that was a treasure trove of Vintage Caravans.

For years people would drag their wives and children from the sunkissed beaches of Ingoldmells,to spend a day of their holiday hunting around airfields and disused hangers for the Caravaners Holy Grail.

But to no avail,even the Jappanese investigation team hunting for Nessy in Loch Ness,passing down the A1 on their way home were drafted in, but nothing was found.
It was not until a sunny spring sunday afternoon,after drinking a pint of Shires English Best Bitter in a thatched roof public house with duck pond in the garden,wholesome cooked food, classic cars parked out front,and pretty young barstaff awaiting the tables,that a man on a mission eventually stumbled on the secret stash.

Driving off the B1054 in the direction of Boothby Grafoe,he saw an unmarked road,following it he came across some unlocked gates,venturing deeper into this unmarked territory he came alongside a large hanger building.

Looking inside through a broken window he saw an amazing site--rows upon rows of mothballed Vintage Caravans,he kept his find a secret.

Temptation became the better of him and he would borrow one of the caravans from time to time to take to Vintage Caravan Shows,his colleagues were amazed how quickly he had restored them,they were superb,just as if they had come out of the factory.

After a number of years the truth can be told,his name is VAN MAN.

A Christmas Tale,if only it was true. But you never know.!!!!!

[Uncle Alec]

Already started on the Christmas sherry have we?

[clan chieftain]

And then he woke up Good story though.
_________________
The Clan Chieftain

[moggy]

Thankyou to greham flyer ,Wow! what a story ,Certainly had me going, Lol

[old van man]

oh ! i like it if only it was true !

[cobber]

Gresham Flyer,

You're a classic, you had this poor old colonial clot believing every word ….I was thinking “how come O V M doesn't
know about this hoard ”


Cobber.

[Gaz]

Brilliant, yep, you had me going there too for a while. As you say, shame it's not true.
_________________
Web links:1972 2000 SC P6
1969 Bedford CA Dormobile