Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

cobber · Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 200 Location: NSW Australia

I don't know how long this section of your “Caravan Club” web site has been up but I only just discovered it.

It is dedicated to the clubs museum and collection of memorabilia dating back to its formation.
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/About+us/The+Caravan+Club/The+Club+archive/The+Club+archive.htm

One of the most interesting bits I thought was the ability to read (and download) the small book written by William Gordon Stables “A Souvenir of The Wanderer Caravan” at http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Souvenir_of_the_%22Wanderer%22_Caravan

I hope you vintage caravan poms Wink

realise how lucky you are to have a Caravan Club 100 years old that is interested in it's history..... ours couldn't give a tinkers cuss Sad

.

Cobber.

Brian M · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:53 am Post subject:

Cobber

Don't get too excited - I have been a member of our Caravan Club for 6 years (Joined it to take advantage of their Insurance for the Safari) and have unsuccessfully tried on several occasions to get a Classic Caravan event supported by them.

Their argument is that they have over 300,000 members and "think" that less than 300 are classic caravan owners, and that they shouldn't spend money on an event for only 0.1% of the membership.

Classic owners could attend one of their rallies but every one attending would have to be a member at an annual cost of £30.

Moving their archive to the National Motor Museum doesn't mean it is open to the public! They have probably done it to save the cost of keeping the cupboard full of memorabilia at their head office!!

Having said that it is good to have such a strong organisation looking after the interests of caravanners. They can influence legislation (the membership probably represents about a million voters and general elections have been won or lost on a smaller swing. They own 200 major caravan sites and licence a further 2500 smaller sites that have to be maintained to a very high standard to keep their certification.

So a Classic Caravan Museum (like VV Mark's dream) is a long way off!
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Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

cobber · Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 200 Location: NSW Australia

G'day Brian,

The bit that did excite me was the ability to print that "A souvenir of The Wanderer Caravan" brochure.... it tells how things were in the days the Land Yacht Wanderer was roaming the country.
And now I have just discovered that "The Cruise of the land Yacht Wanderer" is now available as a reprint on demand from a couple of yank publishers
http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1437322549/ref=nosim/addallbooksea-20

Poor quality no doubt but I can't afford the first edition.

Regards,

Cobber.

RotaryBri · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 465 Location: Warwick

Brian M,

Quote:
'Don't get too excited - I have been a member of our Caravan Club for 6 years (Joined it to take advantage of their Insurance for the Safari) and have unsuccessfully tried on several occasions to get a Classic Caravan event supported by them.'

Why not try the CSMA for a classic caravan rally? They have a very keen classic car section and also have a caravan section. I'm sure that they would be interested.

If you ever get to Somerset call in to the Bakelite Museum in Williton, as they have a small collection of old caravans there. They even make the 'Pod' caravan, if you can call it a caravan. The museum itself is fascinating as well.
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Keep Torqueing,

RotaryBri

1976 NSU Ro80

gillberry · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 702 Location: Norwich

We joined for the cheap insurance as well for our cheltenham fawn although we have now sold that as we have bought a bigger nyala .
Looking through the archive pics , 1950 on the algarve shows a cheltenham fawn being towed by a standard vanguard .

vatco · Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 48 Location: Wansford

I am a European rep for TCT (tin Can Tourists) The second oldest caravan club in the world.

We are interested in old caravans .......... In fact we are only interested in the old caravans (and their custodians of course Smile

)

I also run, possibly, the largest caravan restoration business in the UK and we are planning a vintage caravan rally sometime soon (ish) so anyone else interested then get in touch
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Home is where you park it

Brian M · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:55 am Post subject:

vatco · Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 48 Location: Wansford