David Bird with Christine and Peter Kissagizlis

Graham & Paul with the juniors by the campfire

West Wick

This was our opportunity to celebrate many years of fun at West Wick, as Mac is retiring and the site will close shortly. Pauline & Charles have done a marvellous job organising our rallies near Weston-super-Mare and there has been fantastic support from so many people for the themed dinners, party nights and comedy moments we have shared – often at Dave Withington’s expense.

Once again we had an excellent time, all spending far too much money at Davan, at the beach on ice cream and train & donkey rides before coming together at the communal BBQ’s and the all-nighters enjoying the social club & bar.

The quiz drove many ralliers to distraction and next year mobile phones & laptop computers should be banned and random testing introduced to ensure fair play – and attempting to bribe the Rally Marshal with chips should be done more discretely too. A tatty old army surplus tent, that last saw action in the Crimea and has seen far better days (only joking Pauline!) was the venue for the final flag from West Wick; where Derek & Jenny Birchell presented the rally with a fabulous cake decorated with the club logo that must have taken many hours to prepare – far fewer to consume.

Many thanks go to Pauline, Charles, Moss and Di and families for all their hard work and commitment in putting on such excellent rallies. An alternative venue nearby has already been secured so that we can continue to enjoy our times away in Somerset.

High Leadon

Janet and John Evans from Solihull with Ron and Pam Kemp

The Elddis members arrived two by two to be met by Noah and his Wife (Ron & Pam). Yes, it was raining and the field was very wet, but Noah managed to find a roosting spot for the 11 vans that arrived on Friday. Another van and a motorhome arrived on Saturday and yes it was still raining, but undaunted Noah moored, sorry sited, them as best he could amongst the Trees, Chicken sheds and pools of water.

Saturday evening Noah’s Wife put on a superb Chicken Casserole (not one of the farmers I might add) and sherry trifle. As Noah’s Gas Regulator was faulty, all the food was cooked amongst the ralliers and served in the Ark (Farm Barn). It was delicious and yes it was still raining. There were three quizzes to dry out our brains with the winners being all ladies! Hazel, Joan and Hazel again, where were the men?

Each day there were trips out to discover the history of the area of Newent, Ross-on Wye, Gloucester and also to find the sun, with a meeting in the Ark in the evening to chat, drink and play games.

The evening before the close of the rally Noah booked a local pub for a meal which was excellent and the rain had stopped for a while.

At flag Pauline Bayliss welcomed two new ralliers, Janet and John Evans, Judith and Tim Williams and presented Vic Baker with a 450th rally plaque, well done Vic.

Next day out came the sun as it was time to make our departure, it had not quite rained for 40 days and 40 nights, it just seemed like it.

Thank you to Noah and your wife, for making the best of a difficult situation.

Yes, it was a Bank Holiday rally with water in the title and water on the ground and as our Vice Chairman later put it, “the wettest drought on record”. Twenty six units arrived at Lyndon Top overlooking Rutland Water with beautiful views all around. Three New Ralliers joined us and were introduced on Friday evenings get together; they were Jenny & Barry from Broughton, Lincs, Jackie & Chris from Irchester, Northants and Heath & Christine Jones from Keyworth, Notts. The last couple brought along their Uncle Geoff who is known to many, and the ralliers can now confirm, officially, he is quackers! Read on….. A BBQ was planned, and on the Sunday evening we did all manage to get together outdoors for a quick fire quiz, with the answers being given, but was it a, b or c? Won by Vic & Kath Cookson, well done! We all remained a while afterwards for a chat and a wee drink, until the frost bite set in! As the weather was against us for much of the time, cycling and walking were a little restricted but many ventured out for some retail therapy. Oakham was close by, and Peterborough a little further, but well worth the trip. The 4 x 4 owners also had some fun, what with the boggy ground to play on! Flag was commenced at 11am on Monday and the usual fly past was not what we had come to expect as the big black cloud deposited its contents on the gathered group. We all sheltered until it had passed over and then Stewart commenced the official proceedings, along with our vice Jim James. Congratulations to Martin & Lesley Hill on completion of 200 Rallies with the club, along with their support with publicity and contributions to committee, they like many others are an integral part of this great club of ours. Well done! No mean feat either as Edmund & Daphne Horne left early, in order to collect their ‘new’ caravan in the coming days, and Edmund at 77 years young freely admitted, “Well, we have a few more years rallying yet, so why not?”. The children’s sweets were presented by Tweety Pie in drag, and as Emily said, “Your Geoff” and the rest of the ralliers agreed, he was … Absolutely quackers! Many thanks to Stewart & Amanda, their assistants, Ivan & Jane Jones and everyone on the rally for making a damp occasion such a great week end and as Stewart keeps saying when he is officiating, “See you back here next year”.

Kevin and Vivienne Graves from Wellingborough.

Four caravans and a motorhome joined this rally from High Leadon joining up with a further five caravans. We were all welcomed by Moss Owen the Rally Marshal with the usual tea/coffee and biscuits.

On the following day a further caravan, that of Derek Jackson the clubs Vice President joined us and we were again entertained in the evening with tea/coffee and biscuits.

On Saturday night we were invited into the Slimbridge Wildlife centre to hear a talk on the centres work by the centre Warden. This was followed by an American supper to which everybody contributed something and what a spread there was.

Every day of the rally was free for members to do what they wished with visits to local places of interest including Gloucester and Berkley Castle. Included in the rally fee was unlimited access to the WWT Wildlife Centre and this was used by the ralliers on a daily basis.

On the Bank holiday Monday a number of ralliers went to Tetbury to see the annual "bales of wool" carrying competition and carnival. Our own Vice President is the Town Crier of Tetbury and he was seen in all his finery and in good voice.

Flag was held on Sunday evening where plaques were presented to the Rally Marshal and Assistant Rally Marshals, Pauline and Charles Bayliss, by the Vice President who thanked them for putting on an excellent Rally.

The competition, Dingbats, was won by Joan and Graham Harrison after a tie breaker.

Ian Bennington has always been a bit of a magician but this time he really did pull something out of the hat! With less than three weeks to go Durham Rugby Club proved to be unsuitable due to construction work. Ian rapidly found an excellent alternative venue at Houghall Farm. He understandably was a bit worried about this, but after 27 vans arrived and got pitched up all was well!

Friday evening coffee gave the workers a chance to mingle and Ian gave us instructions for the Social to be held in the Conference Hall on Saturday night. A delicious meal was provided by outside caterers and a sociable evening was enjoyed by all.

Flag was held on Sunday evening to allow everyone a free day on Monday. New ralliers were welcomed and Ian and Yvonne were presented with their 50th Rally plaque by John Harrison. Peter Turner then took over, thanking our Marshals for their efforts and then presenting Derek and Freda Pedder with their 200th rally plaque.

Thanks to Ian, Yvonne, Ian and Dorothy (pictured, right) for another excellent rally.