Last month we were delighted to find caravanning given prominence on prime-time television, as Carol Vorderman and Christine Bleakley got to grips with towing during an episode of the One Show. So imagine our surprise when yesterday BBC One’s flagship magazine programme aired yet another major feature on the subject of caravans.
In the final film in their History of The Holiday series, presenters Matt Allwright and Christine Bleakley introduced their roving reporter Michael Douglas, a self-confessed mod and hairdresser to the stars. The segment featured a retrospective of holidaying in the 1950’s and 60’s, and pitted camping against caravanning.
Bigger cars, better caravans
Douglas began by looking at how the holiday camp fever of the 1950’s began to wane in the 60’s. And how it was the rise of car ownership in that decade which brought about the advent of camping and caravanning.
It led to a massive surge in membership figures as more people took to the hobby. Camping and Caravanning Club membership was 13,000 in the 1950’s but leapt up to a staggering 91,000 in 1965 – helped by the manufacture of more powerful cars and the introduction of new, affordable caravans.
The One Show spoke to experienced caravanners Barbara and John Carwood who own two vintage models.
When asked what type of people like to caravan, Barbara noted it tends to be people who have grown up with it: “Born and bred really. You caravan as a child, you caravan as an adult.” For her the appeal lies in the independence that caravanning affords: “It’s the freedom and adventure that we can come and go whenever we like”.
Campers vs caravanners?
Reporter Michael Douglas then looked at whether there is a separation between campers and caravanners, and describes how the two areas at holiday parks feel very different.
The Carwoods showed their vintage model which cost £660 new in 1962 – and explained how it was the cost of caravanning that initially separated campers and caravanners. Caravans cost a significant amount of money compared to a tent, and coupled with the necessity of having a car capable of towing it, made owning one prohibitive to many campers.
Avid campers Les and Tracey French met on a campsite in the 1950’s and still camp outdoors today. They explain the proliferation of camping in the early 60’s being down to the manufacture of more sophisticated tents, and the fact that the reputation of camping moved on from being the domain of hippies and scouts.
Last year camping and caravanning rose by 27% on the previous year. And with the threat of ash clouds and airline strikes as well as the recession looming, Douglas signs off with the exclamation “Britain is clearly where it’s at!”
Click here to watch the episode on BBC iplayer
When did you first start caravanning? Share your memories with us in our forum topic.
