Newsletter. Information AGM

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1 Newsletter Hi everybody hope you are all well and enjoying your caravanning in 2017 You will all have received via from our secretary a few details of our AGM, Namely notification and committee nomination forms The forms are relating to committee nomination if you feel that you could serve your club please consider a term on the committee, as we say without rally marshals we can t have rallies' the same applies to the committee without a committee we cant have a club, Any comments, suggestions or items for inclusion in forthcoming publications please mail to Mick@aaocc.org.uk All adverts to my home address or via using the following : Mick@aaocc.org.uk M Whitehouse ED Information AGM The Agm is being marshaled by my wife and I (Chris & Mick Whitehouse) We will not be there till around 14:30 to 15:00 on Friday (due to work commitments,) but don't despair Cliff & Sheila Taylor have offered to open the rally for us, NO ARRIVALS BEFORE 10:00 am Friday please. Due to the low numbers booked on the rally the hall will be used for the AGM meeting s only. All other gatherings will be in the Avondale awnings We will be having an American supper Saturday Evening. Any donations for a raffle would be appreciated. Various games in the evenings of Saturday and Sunday have been devised. And a trophy will be played for on Sunday afternoon, (Not the Templeton so get your eyes in ready folks) This will be the last time we visit Grace Dieu Manor School due to them now having Alpacas on site and they are not allowing dogs on site, they have allowed us this year as we booked before they acquired them, but they have stated that ALL animals when not in a caravan must be on a lead at all times when on site. NO EXCEPTIONS

2 Runnymede 28th April to 1st May May Day bank holiday and what a beautiful venue Runnymede, the site of the signing of the Magna Carta. Arriving very late was a little concerning but a friendly torch showed us the way. Friday night began with catching up with friends over a tipple or two in the canopy. Calling on the locals and those seasoned visitors, the conversations turned to what to do the following day. Choices, choices, too many choices! River cruise, visits the USA, walk to the Kennedy Memorial or the Magna Carta Memorial all on our doorstep, well the river cruise won and arrangements made. A well-deserved lie in on Saturday and many of use joined the river cruise to Windsor, open air travel, though a might bit chilly! None of us gave in and in true English style, braved the chill and enjoyed the magnificent sights of the Thames and Windsor Park. A breath taking sight! The sun broke through and it became a wonderful day in Windsor and Eton, the food festival helped mind you YUM! Little wiser and not so brave we travelled back on the lower deck in warmth and next to the bar! Back at the site, 2 minutes from the jetty, bbq`s were lit. The smell of cooking filled the air and washed down with a beer or 2. Our marshals for the weekend, put on a fabulous quiz with all having a great evening in the warmth of the canopy. Sunday dawned and walks in the sunshine were on the cards, down to Old Windsor, The Windsor Farm shop, along the Thames or to the memorials we get around!!! But it wouldn t be May Day without a riverside pub and a chilled glass of wine with friends. The Chinese auction that evening saw the competitive edge surface in everyone- and chocolate became the must have item. Mind you try not to choose your own contribution Nigel! Taking from children was not an issue as the chocolate went from one to another with the children s eyes watching carefully! Everyone was a winner want it ir not! Great fun and an even bigger giggle! But off to bed 5AM Monday morning the May Day Morris dancers entertained with traditional celebrations. Music and dancing- a wonderful sound and sight, even at 5am. What a treat! But the last day of our historic adventure, and the wind was definitely blowing, but time we visited the USA, so we headed up through the British Bluebells through the 1 acre of land, owned by the USA to the JFK memorial, a beautiful walk to a much understated memorial. Walking on over the fields to the Magna Carta Memorial, celebrating the start of the modern justice system.- thought provoking. It was a brilliant bank holiday made even more brilliant by the Marshals and their assistants, so to Mike, Alison, Gaynor, Matt and Cal, thank you, we couldn t have been more welcome. Suzanne Jevon

3 National Rally 26 th to 30 th May at Thoresby Park Not quite sure how we ended up with the rally report, possibly because apart from the rally marshals we were the first to arrive (not before we should have). The weather was lovely on Friday and we were greeted on arrival by Alan who sited us to avoid the rows of dry grass, which had been left after mowing. Lynn was busy with rake! This site is a lovely large field, so plenty of space and next to woods for great dog walking and very close to the courtyard which houses the museum, cafe and various shops. Friday was spent setting up, meeting up with friends we haven t seen for a while and generally relaxing. Friday night some of us met in the awnings for the usual get together. Saturday there was a gathering of energetic ralliers who were going on the sponsored walks: this did not include us as we were going to see our son who has recently moved into the area. However, we did do a short walk with Sasha as far as the cafe and enjoyed some tasty refreshments. We did several supermarkets looking for items for the American supper (too long a story). The evening bingo games were won several times by Mick Whitehouse and Mike and Alison won the quiz (i think). Sunday, was more walks with Sasha and lounging about. Evening in the awnings was a very good American super before flag. The raffle proved very interesting with Lesley choosing a large beautifully wrapped parcel which contained the Templeton Trophy (not our usual way of winning it), I m not sure if she has actually opened it yet! Mick Whitehouse won a large percentage of the raffle prizes, but to be fair he bought a lot of tickets. Roy and Carole Abson donated a bowl filled with chocolate (no surprise there then) and you had to guess how many. Mike and Alison won this. Sheila Higgins and family won the caravan quiz. I apologise if any of my facts are incorrect, I should have done this report sooner. Monday it just rained all day so there were no games on the field. However, Sheila Higgins still managed to cook her wonderful scones and we all gathered in the awnings to partake of cream teas before some ralliers left us. I believe we raised nearly 500 for the charity. Tuesday, and sadly time to pack up and go home. Thanks to Pete, Lesley, Alan, Lynn, Ben and Anne for a lovely rally. Cliff & Sheila Taylor

4 National Rally Was our journey really worth it? After six and a half hours we were beginning to wonder but the welcome we received made it all worthwhile. The refreshments went down a treat. Saturday was put over to Fund raising with the walk. Sunday started with Sheila s Cream Tea/ Lunch which was fabulous. Then Leslie and I went to Clumber Park. What a place must go back again one day. To the 13 Vans of Ralliers, I must say that the 400 plus that was raised for Flutterby was beyond my wildest dreams. A huge thank you to you all. Delphine Kinley

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6 Rally Report Sutton Park - June We arrived early on Friday afternoon and were warmly welcomed by our rally marshals for the weekend, Gary & Sandy Shipley. After parking and sorting out the van we made our way down to the Marshal's van for a very welcome cuppa. Gary & Sandy, Steve and Val (Wray) and Dave & Sue (Ashington) were already on site and set up and Sheila & Len arrived very shortly after us, so all those that had planned to arrive were safely gathered in!! There were a number of "new" vans on site and a few of us did the "grand tour". Dave & Sue showed us their new caravan - number 32??. We're not sure how long they'll be keeping this one as Dave was later seen taking photos of the van - was this for use in the Ebay advert?? Saturday arrived bright and early (not that we saw the "early" bit!!) - another gathering around the marshal's van and we welcomed Kev & Eileen (Coles) and Miriam & Barry (Johnson), "new" members of the club. In the afternoon Lesley and l set off for York to have a walk around the fantastic city. The city was packed - something to do with it being "race day" with an Ollie Murs concert to follow. Back at the rally field and the weather was warm and sunny so more time was spent sat out with our fellow ralliers chatting and sharing memories of recent holidays. Sandy showed us a holiday video of Gazza dancing - we didn't expect to see him drop his shorts and Lesley will be traumatised forever after seeing all that white flesh!! Evening arrived and all made their way to the awning for a little drink and lots of chat and laughter! Sunday started with the promise of scones (skons?) - cheese, currant, cherry and plain scones (skons?) were on offer (with jam & cream) made by Sheila - fantastic!! There was even an offer of custard, if we wanted it!!! Whilst we sat out together Flag was held, during which Gazza explained the selection process that he'd used to select the writer of the rally report he'd selected the one van that had failed to

7 put out a "fire" bucket - yes, it was us!!! (Note: we think that the Dave & Sue should have won it because they didn't have a bucket out either - just a novelty fire extinguisher mounted on its own fire engine). The day continued in the same vane as Saturday the weather was brilliant as was the company and it brought back once again why I enjoy rallying with this club. We had a visit from our daughter (Lisa) who was test driving a potential new car!! As always, time passed far too quickly and the time came to get the van ready for the journey home and to say our goodbyes. Our thanks to Gary & Sandy and our fellow ralliers for a wonderful time. Pete & Lesley Cook with Molly & Pippa Future Rally's AGM WEEKEND Friday 25th Aug to Monday 28th Aug 4 day rally Grace Dieu Manor School Friday 15th Sept to Monday 18th Sept 4 day rally Haxey Quays Caravan Park ACCEO AGM Wednesday 4th to Monday 9th Oct Staffordshire County Showground Friday 13th Oct to Sunday 15th Oct Eden Camp Friday 24th Nov to Sunday 26th Nov The Hampstall Inn Friday 29th Dec to Tues 2nd Jan, 2018 Robin Hood Scout Camp Plenty of spaces available Plenty of spaces available Plenty of spaces available Plenty of spaces available (Minimum of 10 vans required) Rally Fully Booked Plenty of spaces available Come on people get booking.

8 Welcome to our new members John & Hanna Birrell Karl Frewin & Stephanie Jane Lisk Colin & Dawn Brickles Barry & Miriam Johnson David Kemp & Lisa Ribbon Alan & Sarah Sharp See you on the rally field soon Olivia Atkinson 22nd October Do you know a local caravan company or caravan related product supplier who would Consider advertising with us in this space and on our web site. If so please pass on the Information to any Committee member