TOWBALL

The Gloucestershire Centre Newsletter

OCTOBER 2016

ISLE OF WIGHT September 5th - 19th 2016

Rally Officers;Brenda and Malcolm Pellatt, Ann and Graham Bevan

We returned to The Orchards Holiday Park on the Isle of Wight

for our second visit hopeful we would be blessed with with fine

weather and fair winds, just as we experienced when we last

visited this site in 2014. Sure enough our prayers were answe-

red, only one real day of rain during the fortnight.

There is much to see within a very short distance on the Island,

with a bus stop right outside the site this was a ideal way of

getting around, especially if you are the proud owner of a Bus

Pass.

Ann had organised a quiz on the first Wednesday which we held

in the room above the takeaway.

A afternoon of Curling went down very well with Graham Bevan

and Gina Hughes scooping the men's and ladies individual

trophies. Breakfast Bap's Tea & Coffee Friday morning in the

sunshine and a Snail Racing organised by Jenny & Stuart

Kirkam followed by a Ploughman's Supper on Sunday brought

the the first week to a very enjoyable conclusion. The Snail

Racing also produced sixteen pounds for the charity.

Weather remained good for week two. A meal was arranged

above the takaway, this was enjoyed by all. Thursday we once

again played Curling courtesy of Viv White, but this time we

played in pairs with Tea Coffee and doughnuts being served

while we played, Ann Bevan and Ray Kirk triumphed this time.

All too soon we were thinking of going home, gosh how this

second week has flown! Flag on Saturday with cheese and

cider,and, as it was Pete Haynes birthday Moira had supplied

Cup Cakes for everyone.

Sunday was free to make preparations for our cruise to the

mainland a little weary but everyone had enjoyed the holiday I

am sure.

Compact and bijou describes the Nominations Rally at

Tewkesbury Abbey Caravan Club site to perfection. Just 9

vans enjoyed a quiet corner of this lovely site, within

walking distance of the town centre and overlooked by the

Abbey. Quiet, that is, until Saturday morning when the bells

rang out at 9.30 and continued for 3 solid hours! Very

atmospheric and quintessentially very British, we thought!

Much as we were enjoying listening to the bells, we chose to have a browse around the town, and if you

love Charity Shops, then you will love Tewkesbury - we have never seen so many! Seriously though , it

is a really good place to browse, with interesting shops

and eateries and narrow alleyways off between historic

buildings. To make it even more enjoyable the sun was

shining beautifully.

Overnight Saturday brought torrential rain, but by Sunday

morning the sun was back out and we enjoyed bacon and

egg baps cooked by Steve and Jem. Appropriately the

bells rang out again, calling Tewkesbury residents to

Morning Service and Centre Members to Flag, which was

taken by Pete Haynes. Secretary Graham Bevan read out

the list of members Committee nominations which he had

received, which will ensure a full Committee for next year.

Thank you Steve & Di and Jem & Marie for a lovely

relaxing week-end.

Nominations at

TEWKESBURY CLUB SITESept 23rd - 25th

Steve & Di Kalus, Jem & Marie Wilding

This years Inter Centre Fishing was Hosted by Upper Thames Centre and held on September 9th - 11th

at MILTON HEIGHTS, OXFORDSHIRE.Not being a fisherman myself and not having received a report I assume all who attended from our

centre experienced 'Tight Lines' (I think that's the expression), and enjoyed their weekend.

Report from

ARLINGHAMJuly 21st - 25th

Rally Officers:Barry & June Blackmore, Richard & Lyn Reynolds

We arrived Friday 4p.m. to the very warm welcome from rally officers, also a wonderful view over the

Severn to Newnham with it's lovely church and houses"picture postcard". The DIY rally was friendly &

relaxing. We were given the times of the incoming tides which were fast and amazing to watch.

Lots of Bar-B Q's going, we tried to put up a sun canopy we inherited from our last van but the guy ropes

were too short so off we went to Attwools - spent too much.

Sunday had a great day at Saul Junction, never seen so many boats!! loved it!!

Before that I had a moment!-

Opening the caravan door to let the puppy out for a pee, I looked across the Severn, tides out and there

was a person walking a black dog, I said to Gwyn that must be a local to know where to walk. I was

fascinated and couldn't stop looking. They walked across a long way then disappeared, should I call the

coast guard?? An hour later a helicopter landed in the rally field, I was convinced they were searching for

that person and dog, I ran over to them and asked - WELL DID I FEEL A WALLY !! They had landed to

have breakfast at the Passage Inn -ground swallow me up - How the other half live! Great rally many

thanks from Gwyn Lapayne & Linda Layland

Harvest Supper at

NOTGROVERally Officers: Jeanette & Keith Seabright, Chris & Graham

Notgrove no longer have a cricket team, so the complete field could

be used giving us plenty of space for the twenty five vans, fifteen for

Thursday and ten on Friday with ten staying on until Monday.

Welcome coffee Friday morning.

The Harvest Window competition was held on Saturday afternoon

with five adult entries and two children's, this was judged by Harry

and his wife from Notgrove Manor, the winner of the children's was

Jay Hudson with George Teasedale a very close second, the adults

winner Jeanette Seabright with Linda Layland second. A excellent

Harvest supper followed at the cricket club with Keith busy cooking

the soup out side on the B.B.Q. as the hall has no kitchen.

After supper the children played pass the parcel and the adults had

a picture quiz to do. Graham supplied the music but everyone was

too full and tired to dance. The half & Half was won by Ruth.

Sunday, coffee flag and raffle was followed by Jeanette & Keith

taking a few on a walk in the lovely sunshine

Gwyn Lapayne & Linda Layland

The numbers at this years AGM

rally was restricted because of the

guidelines on the spacing of vans,

particularly being not able to park

vans within six metres of the

building, never the less the AGM

itself was very well attended.

Once again a very successful year was reported, in particular was noted the splendid celebration rally to

mark the centres 40th anniversary. Also congratulations on our success at this years Wessex rally,

although we could do with a little bit more support for the 2018 event.

The new committee was confirmed as:- Chairman - Peter Haynes, Vice Chairman - Richard Reynolds.

Secretary - Graham Bevan, Treasurer - Michael Davis, Rally Secretary - Moira Haynes, with other

committee members:- Dawn Hartell,Charlotte Mcdill, Julie Bowen, Marie Wilding, Di Kalus,Tara Bond,

Lyn Reynolds, Malcolm Pellatt,Terry Holder, Philip Harris.

Trophies were awarded to Jeanette Seabright, Bert & Leana Lister Trophy - Linda Layland, Baker

Tankard, Jay Hudson, Tony Scrivens Shield - Toby Cooke, Newton Shield - Ethan Cooke, Rosa & Richard

Hill Shield - Harry Daunter, Florrie & Alf Bruton Shield - Centre Fishing Cup, Adam Davis - John & Toni

Harris Trophy, Finley McDill - Rally Handbook Cover, Graham Neal - Lionel & Flo Rust Shield, Dave &

Pam Brown. A Centenary Plaque was presented to Pete & Moira Haynes, having attended 200 rallies.

AGM RALLYat

STAUNTON & CORSE VILLAGE HALLOctober 7th - 9th

Rally Officers; Helen & Steve Gembarski, Jem & Marie Wilding

Rearranged rally at

STRATFORD ON AVONOctober 13th - 17th

Rally Officers; John & Rose Arthur, Ray & Pauline Knight

RALLY REPORT: Arrived in sunshine and smiles from the

Rally Officers. Quickly sited and tea was in the offing, so a

great start to the rally. Watched vans arriving all received the

same treatment.

Friday more ralliers arriving (we had forty vans altogether)

went into Stratford to attempt the Walking Treasure Hunt. It

brought back lots of memories of my time there. Bumped into

lots of other ralliers on my way round, was given one of the

answers by the Lock Keepers wife from Evesham so did not

have to look for that one. Eventually found the spiders web.

A free and easy evening also got to know some of the non

Centre ralliers.

Saturday, ralliers went to Wellesbourne Market and quite a

few took the river taxi into town. The only down side was the

rain on the way to the clubhouse for Saturday evenings

Carvery. The clubhouse was packed and the food was

excellent and plenty of it. The meal was followed by flag, the

raffle was one of the best I have seen on a rally for some

time. I did not hear of anybody not enjoying their evening.

Sunday ralliers out and about again, some visiting

Charlecote Park. Weekend ralliers leaving to day, back to

work then.

Monday, pack up day and we got away with a nearly dry day

with some heavy showers. They could not spoil a great rally.

Thank you Rose, John, Pauline and Ray and the

other ralliers for a great time.

John & Pat Robertson

*****

Can I just thank all those who helped, or offered us help over

the long weekend when our car broke down. Special thanks

to Mike Davis who towed our caravan home for us and

Sheila and Kieth McConnochie who took us out for the day.