The Moonraker

 The Moonraker
Wilts DA Newsletter
www.wiltsda.co.uk
Winter 2014 Chairman’s Wittering’s Well it is Christmas time already, and I am wondering exactly ‘where has the year gone?’ Well the camping party season is now in full swing. It kicked off with a good turnout with both numbers camping and with illuminated displays for the DA FOL at Corsham back in early September (which feels like ages ago now), where we enjoyed burgers and hotdogs courtesy of the DA. This was followed a week later by our smallest turn out of the year at Lopcombe Corner, but as I under-­‐
stand it, everyone who went enjoyed themselves, so small is beautiful (as Chuckles would say). We unfortunately had to cancel the Mop Fair Meet at Marlborough, due to a lack of stewards (everyone including myself had other commitments). Our most recent meet, the Harvest supper was well at-­‐
tended, with a full car park at Bushton for camping, but no evening visitors this year. A minor tech-­‐
nical issue with starting the electric ovens (we couldn’t find the matches) caused a lot of stress for those in the kitchen, but the meal was excellent when the potatoes had eventually cooked, and plenty of it too. My thanks go to all those people who have helped one way or another over the last few months, especially our stewards, cooks and washer uppers. Looking forward we have our Christmas Party on the 6th December at Burbage Village Hall where we have arranged for a visit from a very special guest. Changes at the hall mean that the bottle banks have gone, so there is more hard standing camping than ever before. Larry will be demon-­‐
strating his new motor home and has kindly offered to steward in between giving tours of the new motor home. There will be an American supper on Saturday night, and guests for the party only are more than welcome. We have two new year meets, with the adult one being organised by Brian and Carol, please contact them for details and if you want to book in. The family one is being organised by myself, and camping on the car park is now fully booked. We do however have overflow space for a few more caravans in the farmyard if you still want to come along. Please contact me if you need to know more. In the New Year we have our Dinner meet at Kilima Farm over the weekend of the 20th-­‐22nd March, this is a booked meet and you need to speak to Anne Earley to book in. We have a new venue to try out over Easter next year that is a little closer to home for most of us, so there is no excuse not to come along. Easter will be held at Biddestone Village Hall, which is just north of Corsham. We will have all the usual Easter activities and competitions going on over the weekend. And finally, I do need to remind you of an impending AGM on Saturday 7th March at Alton Barnes, but there will be no camping for this weekend. If you enjoy the DA and what it has to offer, why don’t you put yourself forward to be on the com-­‐
mittee, and become part of the small group that decides what we do, and then enables it to happen. 1 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk There is no limit on how big the committee can be! But we do struggle with numbers from year to year. If you would like to know more about what being on the committee entails, speak to one of our newer members who joined last year (David, Tricia and Becky) or speak to Anne Earley or even myself. Every role (except treasurer) is up for grabs, so who knows, you could be writing this article next time.... That’s all for now, so all that is left for me to do is to wish you all the very best for the season, and if you’re struggling to know what to get me for Christmas, I do like dark chocolate (and dark beer). Yours in camping David Sad news has reached us of the death of Tony Uzzell; he was suffering from cancer. Tony was our treasurer for three years and he and Dawn worked very hard for the DA. Can You Help?
We need stewards for our meets If you are able to steward a meet, please speak to Kathryn
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Moonraker Circulation
The Moonraker is available for free to anyone from the website +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Officers and Committee for 2014
David Price - Chairman
01225 776264
Ray Currier - Treasurer / SWR representative
01264 363132
[email protected] David Twelves
01235 764474
Pam Currier - Vice Chairman
01264 363132
[email protected] Anne Earley - Secretary
Anne Ashman
01985 214378
01373 823023
[email protected] Queries regarding the Wilts DA website should be sent to [email protected]
Rebecca Laing
01225 768257
Tricia Twelves - Newsletter Editor
01235 764474
[email protected] Alan Bishop
01225 702522
2 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk HELP!
This year we had to do something we’ve not done for a long time – cancel a meet
because we had no stewards.
What does being a steward involve? It isn’t difficult – and you get free camping.
What do you have to do? Put out signs: greet new arrivals; enter their names on the
booking sheet and collect site fees (unless the Treasurer is there, pay site fees as
required. On Sunday organise coffee morning.
Please consider if could look after one of our meets. The Committee has put
together some guide notes. These are available from Committee members and in
the coffee box.
2015 Celebration Dinner Meet.
In recent years the DA has held a Dinner and Dance during the winter months to have a
reason to get out and use our caravans at the start of the season and to catch up with
friends, whilst celebrating the success of the previous year’s camping.
Due to spiralling costs of holding a Dinner and Dance, along with lower turnouts from the
DA, the committee have decided not to hold a Dinner and Dance in 2015.
Instead the committee have agreed to have a Sociable dinner meet over the weekend that
we had planned to hold the Dinner and Dance, with a camping meet at Kilima for the
weekend of the 20th to 22nd March.
On the Saturday Night we intend to go to a local pub for an evening meal. This will be an
informal meal without entertainment and without dancing. It is intended to be a sociable
evening to catch up on all the winter gossip. Transport will be arranged from Kilima for
those who want it (you must book this if you want it).
The meal will be open to all Wilts DA members, including children, regardless of whether
or not you are camping at Kilima for the weekend. Guests for just the meal (including
those from other DA’s) will be at the discretion of the committee, but guests that are
camping will be welcome at the meal.
At this stage we don’t know which pub we will be going too, the cost of the weekend, the
cost of the meal, or any menu choices that will be available, but we do need to ascertain if
you want to come, so that we can arrange a large enough venue (or just a large table?)
Anne Earley will be taking your meal reservations and a five pound deposit per place
booked, at the Christmas Party, and as soon as we know it, the menu and full costs will be
circulated.
This will need to be a booked meal, and as we may be limited on numbers by the pub, we
will need to know as soon as possible if you are interested in coming along to the meal
and if you require transport.
3 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk Secretary's Notes
Most of us have got used to depending on our computers – whether or not we like it, most things
happen there. But what if it goes wrong? Help! Ours has now gone for repair. When is a
convenient time for this to happen? There isn’t one. It’s a bit like having a walking stick taken
away. I hope to be back in action in a couple of weeks – fingers crossed.
News has just arrived of the death of Alan Belcher. Not weekend campers but he and Pete regularly
came to Kilima and Stoke Gabriel holiday meet.
By the time you read this we shall have had the Christmas party and the main event will be almost
upon us. Then before we know it, it will be the New Year meets – both now fully booked I
understand.
The AGM notice is elsewhere, but please, we shall be needing additional members to join the
Committee and help to steer the DA forward. Do think you could help?
Our thanks to Kathryn who has been busy completing next season’s sites list, also included.
Stewards are still needed for some of the meets and help is always welcome if you are available.
We must also give our thanks to Ray Currier who will finish as Treasurer at the end of December.
It is not the easiest of tasks and we are grateful to him for his hard work. We welcome David
Twelves who has volunteered to take up the reins. Finally, we thank David Price who has worked
hard this year in the role of Chairman.
Lastly – and certainly not least – Glen is finally about to move back to his home after the fire early
in the year. It has been a long wait for the work to be completed but we hope you will be happy
with all that has been done Glen.
Allen and I wish everyone Happy Christmas and a good 2015 with lots of sunny camping.
Anne E
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The Annual General Meeting of Wilts DA will be held at Coronation Hall, Alton
Barnes, on 7th March 2015 at 2:30pm. The hall will be open from 2pm. Membership
cards must be shown. As last year, there will be no camping but we will have tea
and cakes.
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GAS SAFETY
Members are reminded that in accordance with Club rules, all external gas cylinders should be secured to your unit using a chain. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should a gas bottle be connected to the BBQ point to back feed your units gas system +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 4 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk Our Tribute to Jenny and Paul
For the first time for several years, Allen and I attended the SWR dinner dance this year. Held at the George
Albert Hotel, Evershot, it was a pleasant evening and, more importantly, a very good meal. An excellent
evening all round, with camping just a short walk away.
The reason we went was to support Jenny and Paul Wilkins who were to receive their Certificate of
Recognition. For those who don't know, South West Region makes these awards to recognise the work
people put in to the running of their DA or section. It would be good to remind our members just how much
Jenny and Paul have done for the DA.
Paul joined the committee in 1995; he became sites officer in 1999 and THS officer the following year.
These jobs continued until 2012 and involved many hours and telephone calls, chasing up site owners and
stewards, making sure all was in order for DA meets. All this was done with the help of Jenny and their
family who all answered the phones, answering queries and taking bookings for our Stoke Gabriel THS.
Paul served as vice-chairman twice, then became chairman from 2009 until 2012, still keeping his
involvement with sites.
Jenny came to the committee in 1998, becoming treasurer in 1999. She had to cope with the change to
computer accounts – struggling with an unfamiliar task as well as discs that weren't working and all the other
teething problems. She managed all this despite periods of ill health and a major operation. Jenny stepped
down as treasurer at the end of 2007 but came back to the committee in 2009. In 2010 she took on the role
of secretary when nobody else would do it, finishing at the 2013 AGM.
Throughout the years they have stewarded many meets and have helped to run our holiday meet at Stoke
Gabriel. Together they have given more service, time and effort to Wiltshire DA than many people realise.
Sadly, it is Paul's change of job which means we see so little of them these days but we hope maybe one day
things may change. Thank you to you both from us all.
Anne E
5 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHAIRMAN’S CHARITY OF THE YEAR
The committee have agreed to change the Chairman’s charity this year, and have agreed to support a
charity that is becoming close to a number of our members, either directly or by caring for a family member.
The charity we have agreed to support is Alzheimer’s Support Wiltshire, which arranges support for people
suffering from dementia, and for the people who care for them.
The charity operates throughout the majority of Wiltshire, where we camp, and supports around 450 people
every month. More information can be found about the charity from their website:
http://www.alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk/
Members are reminded that fund raising for causes other than the Chairman’s Charity at DA meets is not
permitted.
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2015 National Feast of Lanterns The 2015 NFOL will be held at Houghton Hall, Kings Lynn, Norfolk from 27-­‐31 August – that is the bank holiday weekend. Basic price is £35 per pitch plus £11 per adult for Friday/Saturday. It will be an extra £15 for Thursday and for Sunday. There will be a SWR group booking – must be in before 30 April. I have the forms – please get in touch if you need a form or more information. Anne E ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 6 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk No Notion Cottages
Thank you to the stewards Pam & Ray
Weekend of 11-15 September.
This was the Wilts DA FOL weekend. Many units took the trouble to light up....the theme was
movies. It didn't matter if only a few lights or many, well done to everybody. I enjoyed the viewing.
Saturday we were surprised with burgers, sausages and lovely puddings!! Many thanks to all those
involved.
The view from this site was stunning and the weather was lovely. A few of us went blackberry
picking, I think we stripped the hedge bare!!!
A very good weekend.
Hilary
7 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk Lopcombe Corner
We arrived on a lovely sunny Friday afternoon and we were wondering if there would be
room for us, as this is usually a very popular meet. As we drove in we were greeted by
Anne and Steve and had a quick chat before setting up the caravan and cooking tea.
It was a quiet and peaceful Saturday morning (Katie was away at a birthday party), and I
made use of the quiet time to sit and knit (bliss). A unit from another DA arrived during
late morning, and then during the afternoon we had tea and cakes that Anne had made.
Sitting and chatting with friends with tea and cake in a field in the September sunshine,
how wonderful.
During Saturday night/Sunday morning the owls were very vocal and extremely loud!
But having said that if I hadn’t been up from the early hours feeling ill and drinking tea I
would probably have slept through, eventually at about 5:30am I went back to bed and
slept for a short while and then woke to a lovely Sunday morning.
Coffee morning at 11am then a pack down. Home then to collect Katie. A very enjoyable
weekend.
Tricia & David
8 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk BUSHTON RALLY
We had a good weekend at Bushton.
Good food (apart from the beetroot!!). A lovely village hall. We had lots of fun playing skittles. It was good weather for October.
Thank you to all those people who did the hard work preparing the food and making the
weekend so much fun.
Joshua Black aged 9
Dear Wilts DA,
Just a line to thank you very much for a most enjoyable weekend at Buston.
Your hard work was noticed and much appreciated.
My wife was celebrating her birthday and it was our anniversary too.
We could not have wished for a better party. Many Thanks
Derek & Christie Leary
9 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk 10 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk *********************************
Tea and Cakes
Whenever the weather permits us to sit out, we will aim to have afternoon tea and cakes on the
Saturday at our rallies, as this is a nice way to get everyone out and together for a little chat and
friendship making.
The DA will supply an endless amount of tea, but the cakes will, however be up to you, our
budding bakers, to donate.
If you have a passion for baking, and you’re in the right mood to make a cake, and you reckon your
cake recipe is the best ever, then please feel free to make us your cake and bring it along to a rally
for us all to sample and enjoy.
There are no requirements whatsoever; any cake will do, in any size that can be shared.
There will be no rota for cake making, as the best cakes are made when you are in the right mood,
and there will be no requirement on anyone to make a cake ever!! But everyone on site will be
welcome to come and join us if they want too. So, if you’re in the baking mood, don’t worry about
others baking, just make your cake, as although we could end up with more than one cake, which
means there will be a choice, it would be far worse if we ended up with no cakes, in which case,
there will be just tea.
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11 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk Editorial
A newsletter is only as good as the information the editor is supplied with, so please send your weekend reports, stories,
jokes, tips, etc. as soon as possible. The email address for the newsletter is [email protected] We
promise to include everything you send for the newsletter, though we do reserve the right to censor anything that could
be considered offensive, rude or too long. Jokes in the newsletter are based on fictional Wilts DA characters, not real DA members. Any similarity in characteristics
with current or past DA members is totally coincidental and unintentional.
Email Circulation
In the past there have been problems with the group hotmail email, which has resulted in losing the group email list.
Please email me at [email protected] to register for future email copies of the Moonraker. Feel free to forward digital copies of this newsletter.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILDREN
From time to time photographs are innocently taken on site and submitted for publication, either in the Moonraker or on
the website, however if the photograph includes a child we require the parent’s permission to publish the photograph.
To enable the DA to publish or use any photograph containing your child (except in the distant background), we will need
your permission as the child’s parent or guardian. Parents please do not be offended if you are given a permission slip,
as we need to know what your wishes are.
Tricia
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CLUB APP
Do you have a smart phone or tablet device? If so, the Camping and Caravanning Club has launched an app that allows you to search for Club and Certified Sites. The app basically puts the Big Site book on your tiny phone, with the advantage of searching on a map. The app is free, just go to your App Store and search for ‘camping and caravanning club’ and install. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FOR SALE SECTION
Full Dorema awning, size 12. Good condition.
Sunncamp Porch awning. Good condition. Speak to Tricia Twelves for more information
on both awnings.
Water Porter (same type of thing as Aqua roll) for sale £10
Please see Alan Bishop at a meet or contact him on: Tel: 01225 702522
If you have any camping/caravanning items for sale and would like to include them in the next
Moonraker, please send any information to [email protected]
Please remember that the speed limit on any DA meet site is 5 mph
Dogs must be on kept on leads
12 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk THE MOONRAKER
KIDS PAGE
Here are a few of the children who will be celebrating birthdays before the next edition of
The Moonraker
Erin Stokes Tristan Ward Alex Byers Beth Cleverly 4 January 2 February 13 February 21 February 13 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk diary of meets ahead WEEKEND MEETS OPEN AT 3pm - TEMPORARY HOLIDAY SITES OPEN AT 8am
STATED FEES ARE PER UNIT - PER NIGHT, DATE SITE
th
STEWARDS
PRICE PER NIGHT
7 March
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2:30PM
Coronation Hall, Alton Barnes
NO CAMPING
20 - 22 March
Kilima Farm
Social Evening (See Chairman’s note)
£7.00
2 - 6 April
Easter 5 night meet
Biddestone Village Hall
£8.00
24 April – 17 May
THS
Kilima Farm, Lacock – THS
YBSB 173 36
Jean & Frank
Heather & John
£6.50
22 - 27 May
Spring Bank Holiday
Rainbow Wood Farm
Bath
Alan & Janet
£8.00
12 - 14 June
Foxhangers Devizes
Caen Hill Locks
£11.00
26 - 28 June
Strawberries
Lotmead Farm
Wanborough, Swindon
£6.50
15 - 20 July
Air Tattoo
Crouch Farm, Highworth
Swindon
Lee & Vicky
Hilary?
£7.00/£9.00
17 July - 8 August
THS
Broadleigh Farm, Stoke Gabriel,
Devon TQ9 6PU
Anne & Allen
Kathryn
£15.00 + electric
14 August - 6 September
THS
Silverwood Farm, Three Legged Cross
YBSB 195 231
Kathryn & David
Tricia & David
£8.50
11 - 13 September
Booked Meet
Midbrooks Steeple Ashton
Kathryn & David
£12.00
18 - 20 September
Booked Meet
Salisbury Club Site
2 – 4 October
Fairfields, Semington
16 – 18 October
Wernham Farm, Clench Common
Marlborough Mop Fair
YBSB 173 82
£6.50
30 – 1 November
Harvest Supper
Booked Meet
Bushton Village Hall,
Near Wootton Bassett
£9.00
20 – 22 November
Devizes Cub Site
£8.65 + electric
£3.85/£4.85
4 – 6 December
Christmas Party
Biddestone Village Hall
£8.00
£8.65 + electric
£3.85/£4.85
Kathryn & David
£7.00
Any sites queries or for directions, please ask for help at earlier meets – somebody is sure to know the answer, or know a
man who does! DA mobile phone number for use only during weekend meets and temporary holiday sites is: 07508 890749 We are always looking for people to be prepared to steward a meet, and to open meets when the stewards can’t get there
early enough, therefore if you would like try Stewarding for the first time please speak to Kathryn.
The DA would like to remind members that it is unacceptable to pitch before the steward arrives. If you arrive early you
should wait for the steward, if you do pitch then you must be prepared to move if requested.
14 [email protected] THE WDA WINTER MOONRAKER www.wiltsda.co.uk 15