Indian Summer

It was a beautiful Indian summer weekend for the seven vans that attended the season’s penultimate rally at East Ashling. It was warm and the sun shone every day and all day.

The evenings were a little chilly, but thanks to the rally officers, Mac and Mon, erecting their gazebo the 14 campers were protected for the Saturday evening barbecue dinner. Mind you, the amusements after the meal were a little passe – singing along to Gracie Fields, Alma Coggan and other of that generation!
Ernest Shorney

Ernest died last month; he was 81. A past member of the club he was always a keen caravanner and following the death of his wife joined the club. Driving a big Beamer and towing a large van – to accommodate his 6ft 6in frame – he would attend our rallies and had the advantage over the rest of us when it came to a skittles evening.
Ernest would also join other club members on their summer jaunts to foreign destinations. It is often recalled that when waiting for the ferry at Fishguard to go to Ireland he fell asleep in his bunk and only just made it aboard.
A Bishops Waltham resident, where he had spent his childhood, he worked some of his life as a engineer in East Africa. He leaves two step daughters.
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Craic in the gloaming

The caravans of seven members voted with their wheels to go to the rally at Longburton. The meadow at West Hall Farm, which was dry and firm, only cost £3.50 a night and a short stroll from the site, across another field, brought members to the Rose & Crown pub, which will be remembered from previous visits to the area as the venue for skittles evenings.

Friday was windy but sunny and Saturday was a fine day with members enjoying the barbeque in the evening sitting in Chris and Linda’s awning as well as the gazebo of the rally officers, Mon and Mac. The craic in the gloaming following the barbeque had long term members recalling, for the benefit of newcomers, the old days when a founder member, Pete Yeoman, would knock on a farmer’s door to ask permission to rally in one of his meadows – no cut grass and with a few cowpats for company. The rally officer’s first duty was to dig The Hole.

Sunday was a mizzly sort of day, ideal for chilling out, and as warned, the local natives proved hostile – we lost another WCCC sign stolen from across the road to the entrance to the farm track!

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Wareham Holiday Rally

The great egg throwing junior league competition was won by Amy and Charlotte who kept their egg unscrambled to the last. In the senior league Ian and Katherine won for the second year running.

The American supper was followed by a talent show ably compered by Kirk to much giggling (the kids not Kirk).
Jack and Harry were first up with the “World’s Greatest Comedy Act”. This was followed by comedian Alex with his quiz questions. Jamie and Oliver gave a badminton demo and Chloe, Amy and Charlotte sang the American national anthem, as it was an American supper. Finally Jade, with backing, sang “Slipping through my fingers.”
OK, so it wasn’t the finest weather, but other than showers on some of the the ten days and the last Saturday with its rain, which obligingly cleared to a bright sunset allowing campers to go to Swanage for the fantastic fireworks display, it was enjoyed by all. And some days were even warm enough for the beach.
Sid and Eve were once again our noble rally officers and Sid was seen leading a crocodile of youngsters over the heath on an adventure.
Now for your diaries: Next year’s Holiday Rally is booked at the same Wareham site for 20 August to 30 August. For 2011 we have booked, subject to Wareham Council approval, 22 July to 1st August.
While you have your diary open please note this year’s Christmas Dinner is booked at the White Lion for evening Saturday 19 December.
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Pitton post


It’s that birthday hat again. This year’s record turn out of 15 units enjoyed the well mown site at White Hill Farm, Pitton, where it was the turn of Pam to celebrate her birthday by shyly peeping from behind the birthday hat at the barbecue evening. A torrential evening of rain didn’t dampen the festivities that started with a bubbly party all protected by Barry’s big gazebo.

The mystery of Ron and Peggy’s grass hen laying an egg was revealed during the evening. While on holiday at Lower Polladras ten club members witnessed the egg hatching with chicks appearing the following night, a mysterious poem and finally a sign “eggs for sale” outside the veteran members’ van on consecutive nights added to the mystery . It wasn’t the little Cornish people after all, rather three ladies, Eve, Lyn and Joy who crept out late at night to plant the items.
The rest of the weekend was warm with cloud and showers. Salisbury market on Saturday morning was the attraction and for OAP’s a cheap day out with their bus passes for free Park and Ride facilities.
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New Forest rally

The WCCC at its rally at Gorse Farm welcomed new members John and Susan, with their motor caravan and Robbie, Susan, James (8) and Alex (5) in their caravan.
It was a first at Gorse Farm, Blissford, near Fordingbridge and the dozen members present voted it a great site with its well cut grass and a quiet venue. By popular demand the site has been booked again for June 2011 – subject to permission from the New Forest National Park.
It was also the occasion of Lynda’s birthday and cakes and funny hat were on hand for the coffee morning.
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Late Spring Bank Holiday

Meon View

In spite of the 112 mile run from Waltham Chase, which took under the three hours, eight members’ vans made the journey. Contrary to the weather forcast it was a beautiful weekend at what is a ideal location.
Even the workers who had to be back for Tuesday and couldn’t arrive until Friday evening voted for a return to this venue. So make a note in your diary, the WCCC has booked this rally field for the same Late Spring Bank Holiday in 2011.
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Mayday Bank Holiday

Yew Tree Inn

It was only 75 yards from the caravan to the bar of the Yew Tree Inn – you can’t get closer than that! Mind you with a football and cricket match scheduled for the same weekend it would have been a bit tight and meant WCCC members taking positions in the outfield to protect the vans. Luckily the cricket was cancelled allowing the eleven vans present to pitch close to the pub.

  
As to whether we return to this venue is up to members, but the landlord seemed charry about running a hose for fresh water to a pipe at the far end of the field, which is where we would have to be if there was a cricket match sceduled for the weekend. His son was all for it, but dad didn’t look too keen.
Why not post your views on the subject. 
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Easter Parade

Parley Glade

Luke was 11 and had a Man U birthday cake at the Parley Glade rally. Last year Derek was XX and had a “boobs” cake!
Eleven vans made it to a small triangular field behind the main rally field which was occupied by a 90 van rally. However, we had the use of the shed on Saturday evening and field was well cut and dry – even after the rain on Friday – which is all we saw over the weekend.
We are booked for Parley Glade next year at Easter and reported to Mr Moors, the owner, that we were content with the small field. We could get 25 in provided we pitched end on to the field borders.
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Skittles evening

Pam proudly holds the coveted Tow Ball trophy for the person who knocked down the least skittles!
This difficult challenge was achieved at the skittles evening and supper attended by 31 members and friends, held on 21 February at the SPNRC, where the husband and wife team of Sid and Eve won the ladies and mens titles respectively for knocking down the most pins. Pierre joined Pam in representing the men’s tail enders.
The evening was organised by the Chairman, Mac, and his lady wife, Mon. who presented the prizes to the winners.

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Christmas Dinner

The last event in the Club’s calendar year is the Christmas Dinner. Held at the White Lion, Soberton, for the third year running, 20 members enjoyed home cooked fare and convivial company.
Beer and wine were imbibed and past rallies discussed as members chatted and joked from 7.30pm, when they met in the public bar with its log fire, until the end of dinner in the restaurant at about 10.30.
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