PW_4_2024

Spotlight on the SIGS

Busy Year for C&C SIG By Kevin Hullah

The Caravan and Camping SIG concluded their 2023 season with a Rally in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire at the town’s Cricket Club. This was the 13th time here with 16 units attending; the biggest turn out for the year. With a well-appointed bar and function room and a bus stop at the entrance it always proves an extremely popular event. T he highlight of the meet was on the Friday evening when a big outdoor screen was erected showing The Greatest Showman blockbuster film. The organisers provided it at no cost and merely more overcast, but the village hall was opposite the site and was available for hire on an hourly basis. Because we were staying in the village, we were classed as residents and given a discounted rate!

asked for a donation to the local Rotary Club. We held a Raffle and raised £100. As usual, members enjoyed a Sunday roast dinner prepared by Angela Hullah. The Group started 2024 off by holding a Rally to coincide with the Annual General Meeting. The venue was an old favourite at Lickhill Manor Caravan Park at Stourport in Worcestershire. The weather was kind, and members could enjoy the May sunshine and make the most of relaxing outdoors. The town centre and Bewdley village were within reasonable walking distance along the banks of the River Severn which runs through the site. The AGM was held in the nearby community hall. Business was conducted swiftly before members adjourned to a local pub for Sunday lunch. The next Rally was a follow on from the AGM Rally some 50 miles away at a new venue; Barnstones Caravan Park at Great Bourton, Banbury in Oxfordshire. Attendees took time to visit the many attractions in the local area, including historic properties and a motor museum. The weather was

We gathered again after a few weeks at another new venue – Burleigh Hill Farm Caravan Park at St Ives in Cambridgeshire. Within a few hundred yards was a hub with a supermarket, a pub and some shops. There was also access to public transport which our motor-homers found convenient for visiting the area including the city of Cambridge about 15 miles away. The Group had a meal in the pub with the evenings taken up with outdoor games on the site in the sunshine. The Group gathered again in early August at an old favourite; the Ice Cream Rally at the Red Lion Farm Caravan Site at Haughton near Stafford, run by Bob and Mary Lea from Staffordshire Branch. It was a pleasure to welcome new members to the Group, Colin and Maria Gameson. The farm makes and sells amazing ice cream from its tearoom and our members were not backwards in coming forwards to partake. The owners kindly allowed us to use the rooms for social evenings. Members then travelled across the border into Derbyshire for a meet at Carsington Fields Caravan site, a popular venue in the Peak District. The Rally had been organised by Roy and Joy Potts from Derbyshire Branch, but Roy had a few health issues, so the site owner, Judy, together with another Derbyshire Branch member, Sean Murphy, took on the mantle and arranged things including the customary Indian Banquet take-away delivery. We wish Roy a speedy recovery. The final Rally for the year will see the Group back at Knaresborough. The big screen will return with another popular film and the Ralliers are all booked in at Harrogate Theatre for a performance of the John Godber play set on a caravan site, “Perfect Pitch.” The meet will be rounded off with the usual visit to the local Zolsha Indian restaurant. Having organised most of the rallies throughout the year, Kevin and Angela Hullah will be taking time out in 2025 apart from arranging the AGM rally and Knaresborough. It’ll give others a chance to find some new horizons to explore.

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POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024