Cumbria Centre 50th Anniversary Celebration Rally  - Westmorland County Showfield, May 2010

 

The Rally was held at the Westmorland County Showfield over the May Day Bank Holiday 2010 weekend.  Approximately 110 Vans and motor homes descended on the Showfield for what we all hoped would be a first class weekend.  Whilst a little more sun would have been appreciated, unlike the last time a major rally was held in Cumbria, the 2009 Northern Centres Rally at Beckfoot Park, Kirkby Lonsdale, there was hardly a drop of water in evidence, except for that drunk by attendees in alcoholic and non alcoholic form and that disposed of naturally.

 

Approximately half the units arrived on the Thursday and after settling in, were able to collect their ‘goody bag’ containing a plethora of local information and a Cumbria Centre Celebration Rally Teddy Bear from the marquee.  An informal welcoming flag was held on the Thursday evening for members and visitors to get together and have a chat.  A number of our Centre members were also in place to man stands selling raffle tickets for the Centre prize draw, a ‘name the Puppy’s Birthday’ competition, Tombola and book sales [brilliant that is my summer reading sorted!!].  ‘Our Kath’ also scurried around selling bonus balls for Saturday night’s National Lottery.  The donation of prizes from members and guests for the various fund raising events was overwhelming.  The first prize for the draw was an original water colour painted by Mr Aldersey Snr [Brian’s Dad].  There were also several prizes donated by Lakeland of Windermere and a very attractive photograph, taken, processed and framed by Jim Mitchell.  The Centre’s grateful thanks to everyone who donated a raffle prize and to those who supported the raffle and other fund raising events.

 

Friday was a free day to allow members and visitors to explore Kendal and the South Lakes.  Through a gate from the show field visitors have direct access onto the towpath of a loop of the Lancaster Canal.  This provided a tranquil setting for a flat and easy walk, during which much birdlife was in evidence.  During my early morning walks I was treated to the site of a heron silently standing on the edge of the canal waiting patiently for its breakfast to swim by within spearing distance.  Not put off by my invasion of its dining area, the heron simply flew off when a got too close and started its vigil again further up the canal, only to repeat the process when I again got within a few yards.  At each end of the canal side walk there was a swan’s nest with the pen [mummy swan to non bird lovers] sitting tightly on its nest, no doubt waiting patiently for the arrival of mum and dad’s new brood.  I also spotted a couple of Coots’ nests on my walks and various other birds simply foraging for food.  It is a pity that this is only a section of the canal, which is  cut off at both ends by roads built right across the course of the canal.  I wonder if sufficient local interest and funds can be raised to allow the Crooklands section to be joined to other sections of the canal?

 

Most of the other vans arrived on Friday afternoon and the marquee was open for a chat, coffee and Rookies Bingo on the Friday evening, as well as an opportunity to sell tickets to the latest intake of ralliers. 

After a little rain overnight on Friday, Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny.  The formal opening ceremony was very well attended and Chairman George Dixon welcomed everyone to the rally.  The Centre was honoured to have as the ‘top table’ guests, Walter Girven a Vice Chairman of the Caravan Club and his wife Jackie, plus Mrs Christine Knipes from the Westmorland County Showfield and of course ‘our Kath’.  Also in attendance were eight past chairmen of the Centre, with Pat Blacklock representing her late husband Dick.  Apologies and greeting were received from the Past Chairmen or widows of Past Chairmen who were unable to attend.  We were also pleased to welcome visiting Chairmen from East Yorkshire, Northumberland and Yorkshire Dales Centres, the Vice Chairmen from North Yorkshire and South Lancashire Centres, plus Mrs Jean Swallow a Past Chairmen of Northern Region of the Caravan Club.  Unfortunately the Celebration Rally clashed with two other major events, the Scottish National being held just over the Border in Dumfriesshire and South Yorkshire Centre’s Silver Jubilee Rally.  Given that there are a limited number of bank holidays available, this was inevitable.  

 

Walter Girven formally opened the rally and in traditional birthday fashion, one of the cakes made for the occasion was cut and we all sang happy birthday.  Thanks Kath and Norma for the birthday cakes they were delicious.  A celebration drink and piece of cake were then consumed, getting the rally off to a flying start.  A display of photographs and material from the ‘good old days of caravanning’ to date also drew a lot of interest from Centre members and visitors.

 

Over the weekend there was entertainment and dancing in the marquee during the day and in the evening.  There were also various competitions to keep adults and youngsters amused.  Before we knew it, the weekend was drawing to a close, with Walter Girven taking centre stage to ‘call time’ at the closing ceremony.

  

Thanks are due to a host of people for the weekend, sorry if I haven’t named names, but you all know who you are and you did a great job.  After small and hastily planted acorns, the tree turned out incredibly well!!

 

· Chairman George, the Rally sub-committees, other committee members and their wives for organising the event,
parking vans, manning stalls, selling tickets and bonus balls, arranging the marquee, moving furniture, making coffee, making and serving food, tidying up, cleaning the toilets, manning the sound system, plus lots and lots of other actions

· Centre members who helped site vans and undertake other duties

· Christine Knipes and her colleagues from the Westmorland County Showfield for providing and helping us arrange a superb venue

· Marquee people, electricians and others who provided the facilities for the rally

· Entertainers and our own ‘in house’ comedian

· Everyone who donated, or obtained from supporters, a raffle prize 

And finally thanks to………….

 

· Our members and visitors for supporting the event.

 

It is believed from the many cards and expressions of thanks, that the 50th Celebration Rally was a great success.  Some of you might be around if the Centre survives for another 50 years and chooses to have a Centenary Rally.  Many will not, so we hope you tell up and coming ralliers what a pleasant time you had, to encourage them to organise the Centenary rally when the time comes.

However try not to let it clash with another event throughout the region!!

 

Thank you all for a memorable and enjoyable rally.

 

Sinclair Graham

 

Cumbria Centre Secretary