Whitby caravan explosion leaves two in hospital

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by Tom Lowenstein

A man and woman in their 50s are being treated for severe burns following a caravan explosion at a farm in Goathland, North Yorkshire.

Police suspect that a gas leak was responsible for the explosion, which completely destroyed the touring vehicle when it happened on Monday last week.

Neither of the victims have been named, but police confirmed that a 55-year-old man from Whitby was rushed to Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary with burns covering 30 per cent of his body.

The woman, 51, was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesborough. Her injuries are not thought to have been as severe.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police revealed that the explosion occurred inside the caravan.

“A joint police and fire service investigation has begun to establish the cause of the explosion,” they said.

“However, at this stage it is not being treated as suspicious and no one else is being sought in connection with the incident.”

VisitEngland winner heading off on 70-day campervan tour

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by Tom Lowenstein

A nationwide search for England’s Biggest Fan has found its winner and the lucky lady is now packing her bags in preparation of a 70-day all-expenses paid tour of the country.

Lancashire lass Rachel Kershaw, 30, won VisitEngland’s Fan in a Van competition after demonstrating her unparalleled love of all things England and her prize is the epic trip, complete with courtesy campervan from O’Connors Campers.

Starting her journey in Land’s End next week, Rachel will travel the length and breadth of the country thanks to the national tourist board, parking her motorhome in many different Camping and Caravanning Club Sites along the way.

“This is the challenge and opportunity I’ve been waiting for,” Rachel said.

“I can’t think of anything better than travelling around England in a vintage camper van and discovering new places.”

Judges including author Martin Dorey and travel journalist Sally Shalam chose Rachel out of sacks of entries because of her contagious enthusiasm for England and staycationing.

“Her enthusiasm and passion for her home country is truly infectious,” said VisitEngland Chairman Lady Cobham.

Rachel will be will be blogging and tweeting about her adventures as she goes, so follow her at @faninavan or visit www.visitenglandblog.com to keep up to date with all her goings on.

REVIEW: Charming caravan e-book offers a glimpse into 1930s touring habits

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by Maeve O’Donnell

A Caravan Holiday in 1932: A trip down memory lane on two wheels is a great little book for anyone that has ever been on a caravan holiday in recent or far gone years. The book is based around Len Smith’s diary of a trip taken with his wife and two friends in the summer of 1932 and tells of their travels across the country.

Len Smith was an illustrator, both commercially and during the war, and the illustrations he uses to decorate his diary entries are a great addition to the story.

Setting off on August 27th from Woodford, Len and his fellow caravanners make their way through Alysbury, Gloucester, the Forest of Dean, Weston Super Mare and Lyme Regis, pitching up on various farmers and getting to know the locals.

A very detailed account of each meal is provided, because as Len points out “this is real”, unlike a story where people are never shown to eat. Or perhaps Len is just showing where his priorities lay on the trip.

Unfortunately their summer trip is cut short when one of Len’s friends falls ill: “With good health and good weather a caravan holiday is marvellous. When illness comes and it’s wicked weather.well.”

Despite this, it is clear the group have enjoyed their time caravanning and this book is a really great insight into the simple pleasures of a caravan holiday, as experienced 80 years ago.

The backdrop of this diary is interwar Britain, a surprisingly good time for the caravan industry.

The 1930s saw the production of caravans double and in just ten years the trade went from quirky and pricey to a popular way to escape the “grim realities of interwar Britain”. The outbreak of the Second World War did halt production but by that time caravans had established themselves as a popular way to holiday.

The diary is supplemented with drawings, recipes and the occasional advert from the time, as well as the short history of caravanning which all together make the perfect piece of nostalgia for anyone who has ever stayed in a caravan.

A Caravan Holiday in 1932 is available as an e-book from the Amazon store for £4.99. To find out more, click here.

MPs extend caravan tax petition deadline

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by Tom Lowenstein

MPs campaigning to overturn the government’s widely condemned caravan tax have extended the petition’s deadline and called on people across the country to back the move.

Seven MPs from Hull are leading the Early Day Motion and have launched a petition on the Downing Street website, with thousands of people signing their names so far.

Yet with the House of Commons not due to hear the Early Day Motion until Friday May 25th, they have extended the deadline on the petition in the hope of gathering national support for the campaign, the Hull Daily Mail reported.

Over 40 members of parliament from across the political parties have signed the motion, but Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart has called on people nationwide to sign the petition and write to their MPs in a bid to force them to add their names too.

“What we need is for constituents across the country to start lobbying their MPs by signing the petition,” he told the newspaper.

“MPs listen to their constituents. Their letters are always at the top of my in-tray and if people can be mobilised to sign the petition that will make their representatives sit up and listen.”

It is feared that thousands of jobs could be lost in the caravan industry and the nation’s tourism industry would be profoundly damaged if the government’s move to add VAT to caravans goes ahead.

The move would affect all static caravans and some touring caravans, such as the Bailey Retreat and the Welsh-made Fifth Wheel tourers. As a result, the VAT on these items would be raised to 20 per cent.

What’s more, research suggests that as many as 7,000 people could be made unemployed if the caravan tax gets the go-ahead, with much of these lost in East Yorkshire where many manufacturers are based.

At the time of writing, the petition to scrap the proposed rise in caravan tax had attracted 9,788 signatories. To add your name to the petition, click here.

Caravan Club National Rally 2012 cancelled due to waterlogged site

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by Maeve O’Donnell

The Caravan Club is sorry to announce that due to recent weather this year’s National Rally is cancelled.

Preparation and set-up for the rally was due to begin this week but since the site is waterlogged, after heavy rainfall, it has been impossible to start building the necessary infrastructure, the Club said.

The situation has been so bad that no vehicles can currently manoeuvre across the site, they added.

The forecast for the National weekend (4th and 5th June) was for more rain which confirmed the Club’s decision to cancel the much-anticipated event, which was due to take place at Eastnor Castle in Ledbury.

The Caravan Club has issued a statement saying: “We have made this decision in the best interests of members and The Club as a whole.”

If you have already booked to attend this event The Club is offering a full refund in fees and entertainment ticket costs.

However, they were keen to reminder caravanners that there are still spots for the Bank Holiday weekend at Certified Location spots and Centre Rallies across the UK.

In other news, the Club has announced that the 2013 National Rally will take place at Belvoir Castle in Grantham.

New five-star caravan park opens in Shropshire

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By Arash Hekmat

A new £3 million caravan park has been officially opened for business in Shropshire that promises touring caravanners and motorhome owners “five-star luxury all year round”.

Ludlow Touring Park is hoping for a bumper weekend to mark its opening and has already had plenty of demand for pitches.

Operated by Morris Leisure, the park has 135 pitches, each with water, electricity, digital TV and Wi-Fi internet connections.

It also has a reception building and centrally-heated toilet facilities, as well as a fully equipped laundry.

Speaking to Shropshire Live, Edward Goddard from Morris Leisure, said: “I am absolutely delighted by the response and the number of caravanners coming to stay at Ludlow Touring Park.

“We had a trial run last weekend when 70 caravanners from across the country, who supported our planning application for the park, accepted an invitation to come and stay and we’ve had lots of ‘Thank You’ letters.”

The riverside caravan park is within walking distance of Ludlow, which Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman once described as: “The most perfect town in England.”

Caravan park involved in ground-breaking environmental experiment

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By Arash Hekmat

A caravan park in Scotland could play a key role in the development of new technology to help slow down climate change.

Scientists will next week begin an experiment in Argyll to study the effects of carbon capture and storage (CCS) on the environment.

CCS involves pumping carbon dioxide into the rock and sediment below the sea bed before it can be released into the atmosphere.

Many believe that the technology will help limit the effects of global warming while the world gradually switches from burning fossil fuels to renewable forms of energy.

But now that the science bit has been explained, where does the caravan park come into things?

Well, the experiment involves studying environmental impact of a potential carbon dioxide leak into the seabed and water above.

And to do this, the Scottish Association of Marine Science and partners from around the world will use gas containers based in the Tralee Bay Holiday Park to simulate a carbon dioxide leak below the seabed off the coast of Ardmucknish Bay.

Between 80 and 800kg of CO2 will be pumped into the sediment of the bay for the duration of the 30-day trial. They will then monitor the effects of this release on the local flora and fauna over a 90-day period to see how the environment recovers.

Welsh caravan holiday scammer jailed for eight months

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by Tom Walsh

A fraudster who exploited holidaymakers through Gumtree is starting an eight month jail sentence following a hearing at Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court.

Jessica Scutt placed adverts on the classified website for non-existent caravan holidays including photos of the tourer in question and then pocketed the cash after fooling would-be consumers, the South Wales Argus reports.

The court heard how Ms Scutt made £220 from a cash-strapped family after they turned up to a Pembrokeshire seaside resort with their five children to find that the promised caravan was not at the camp site.

Ms Scutt pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud as well a further nine offences were also taken into account.

Magistrate Ronald Coldbourne told the defendant: “I must say this is some of the most despicable cases I have come across for fraud. I’m absolutely appalled.

This latest conviction is a warning to holidaymakers looking to book a break on a caravan site to ensure that every detail of their vacation is watertight before they hand over any cash.

VIDEO: Break a world record this June with The Camping and Caravanning Club

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by Marcus Dubois

Earlier this year, The Camping and Caravanning Club announced that they would be rallying their thousands of members for the biggest Guinness World Record attempt that the UK has ever seen.

In honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, on June 4th campers and caravanners up and down the country are being invited to join in with the fun and put their name in the history books.

Naturally, CaravanTimes had to find out more about this mysterious project, so we headed to Hollands Wood Camping In The Forest Site in the New Forest to meet the organisers to get the inside scoop…

Thanks to the New Forest Activities Centre in Brockenhurst for their help with this video special

Truma launches new version of popular S-Heater for caravans

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by Maeve O’Donnell

Truma, one of the leading caravan heating brands, has revamped its popular S-Heater, adding plenty of clever new features.

The classic Truma S-Heater has been developed and improved continuously since its original release and despite being “100% technically mature and tried and tested” the heating specialists have managed to improve upon it even more.

The new design for the S-Heater aims to make camping and caravanning even easier and has plenty of new features – there is a new fast lock which allows the panelling to be clicked on and off quickly and a new ergonomic control panel with raised controls means it can be easily operated.

The new design has been built with modern caravan interiors in mind and should blend in seamlessly. This heater also offers a flame effect display, which is now more realistic and has several settings so the desired visual effect can be easily achieved.

For example, you can alter the type and mood as well as the frequency, brightness and even the crackling noise, all via a remote control.

A further benefit is the control panel lighting’s touch sensor which means the heating can be adjusted during the night-time without turning on the actual lights.

On top of all of this the actual performance of the heater has also been improved and it can achieve 20% more airflow.

Truma has 50 years experience in making caravan heaters and Bernd Rösch, product manager, said: “All our know-how and decades of experience have gone into this product.”

VIDEO: Saving even more weight with the Elddis Xplore 302 and 304

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by Chris Jefferies

Elddis are committed to saving weight in their caravans and the Xplore range is their lightest yet, to ensure manoeuvring and touring is as easy as possible.

CaravanTimes has been to Country Durham to speak to Alan Bateman, the man behind the first Elddis caravan weighing under a tonne, the Xplore 302, to find out exactly how they’ve cut out so much weight.

In this video, we hear how Elddis has kept the Xplore 302 at just three metres in length internally but retained an open and spacious layout.

We also find out about the Xplore 304, the four berth family version, and some unique features, including under-floor heating system.

Prices in the Elddis Xplore range start at £10,799 for the 302 and £11,599 for the 304 and MTPLM weights range from 930kg to 1,365kg.

Teardrop Club of Great Britain explains the micro caravans phenomenon

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by Maeve O’Donnell

Teardrop trailers may be closer to a tent than a caravan in size but what they lack in specification and modcons they make up for in charm and, of course, an incredibly low towing weight.

So light in fact, that Mini Coopers and motorbikes have both been known to tow a teardrop with ease.

These trailers have still got a fairly underground following in the UK but the Teardrop Club of Great Britain has been on a mission to change this.

This June Bank Holiday will see the largest gathering of teardrop trailers in the UK at Matlock in Derbyshire. This event has been organised to celebrate these little trailers and get as many teardrop fans in one place as possible.

Click here to see more pictures of Teardrop Trailer micro caravans

With this event in mind, we thought it would be a great opportunity to delve into the history of these unique trailers and find out a bit more about the growing teardrop movement.

Surplus aluminium

Teardrops are said to have originated in the United States, after the Second World War when aluminium was readily available and people were keen to make their own caravans to save money. Usually they were built in a teardrop shape; hence the name and the teardrop movement took off fairly quickly in the US.

Britain was slower to catch on to this movement but in recent years more and more UK owners found themselves on American forums searching for news and events here in Britain. To make it easier for UK teardrop enthusiasts, the Teardrop Club of Great Britain (TCGB) was formed.

All shapes and sizes

Teardrops now come in various shapes, sizes and weights so there is no standard model – many came about due to people with smaller vehicles simply wanting to tow without upgrading their car.

Members of the Teardrop Club have gotten pretty imaginative with their designs and many have self built their dream trailer.

Dave Moult is a prime example of this, a forum member and teardrop enthusiast, Dave has built four teardrop trailers and is always on the look for a new project. The club have hailed Dave’s ‘Copper Top’ (below) as on of the best home builds in the country.

Meanwhile Chris and Sue, of Retro Trailers, have saved an old and abandoned teardrop from the scrapheap and are restoring it back to its former glory. They build new teardrop trailers to the specific order of each customer and spend hours lovingly getting these units road worthy.

Teardrops in Matlock

TCGB have arranged gatherings all over the country and always get plenty of attention wherever they pitch up.

The club encourages questions from curious caravanners so if you spot one of these units on your travels we are assured they are a friendly bunch who would love to tell you more about this phenomenon.

Matlock in Derbyshire is set to have hoards of so-called ‘teardroppers’ descend on the area for the June Bank Holiday weekend to take part in the largest UK gathering of teardrop trailers. This event will be the perfect way for new and experienced teardrop enthusiasts to camp together and show off some of their innovative home built trailers.

For more information on the Teardrop Club of Great britain click here.