The Anglia Region News....


Inter Centre Fishing + Golf - Suffolk Invitation to the Anglia Region
24th to 26th June 2011



We arrived quite late on Friday evening after a longish drive,  On arrival the Marshals made us feel very welcome and great set of smiling faces greeted us,  that's one thing I notice about this caravanning lark, no matter which centre you visit you will always receive a warm welcome.

The Anglia region had given this inter centre event their blessing and invitations were sent to all five centres within their Region.  33 caravans responded to the invite and arrived at the Suffolk show ground also known as Stonham Barns.

After we set our caravan we made our way over to the barn where we met the rest of the Ralliers.  We enjoyed a nice cup of Tea and a biscuit with them.  I put my name down for the fishing competition chatted for a while then returned to my caravan and looked forward to the morning.

That night the heavens opened.  It rained all night,  I felt really cosy tucked up in bed listening to rain drops bouncing off the roof.  It was somehow soothing.

The morning was damp and drizzling as we made our way to the lake.  Steve was there sorting out who went where and generally organising things.  I discovered that Steve usually takes part in the fishing competitions but decided forgo his place in order to look after us which was very admirable.

Luckily the rain held off and the sun did manage to show its face eventually.  The fishing was good for those going for the smaller ones but the big ones were a little shy.  Everybody caught fish and enjoyed their day.

Andy Wade from North Essex Centre was the out right winner with over 6lbs of tiddlers.  Rob Rice of North Essex was 2nd and weighed in 5lbs and Paul Day from Mid Anglia came 3rd with a nice carp caught with his last cast.

The North Essex Centre won the superbly carved Inter Centre ‘Michael Williams’ trophy and will do their best to hold onto it next year.

David Hale run the Golf competition on the excellent 18 hole golf course which was won by Geoff Morton.

Stonham Barns is an excellent venue  and one that  would lend itself to all kinds of events.  The field is well kept and very flat and would hold 100 caravans easily.  There are some shops and a garden centre onsite to look around as well as a village store and café.  The Owl sanctuary is defiantly worth a look round and for those that enjoy the fishing, there are two lakes and a golf course.

Our Thanks go to John Payne & Ann Kemp,  Jan & Dave Hale and Joanne & Steve Oliver the Marshals who organised and looked after us this weekend.

Rob Rice
North Essex Centre Member
 

PRESS RELEASE London – 19/06/2011
For immediate release


Local Cancer patient takes up British Heart Foundation London to Brighton bike ride
Click to sponsor Derrick Stammers at www.justgiving.com/DERRICK-CHRIS-STAMMERS


Local cancer patient and OAP, is facing the challenge as he gears up for 55 Mile, British Heart Foundation London to Brighton Bike ride.

Derrick, 68, is Regional Chairman for the Caravan Club, and on June 19th he will join his son Chris and more than 140 Caravan Club members to form the largest team in the event. Derrick and Chris 36 will be donning their bike gear and mounting up for a 55 mile bike ride to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

“I have never done anything like this before!" says Derrick, “In the past I have done John ‘O’ Groats to Lands End in a Morris Minor raising over £3000. Now I am riding 100-150 miles a week and I have had to toughen up my backside for the 55 miles.”

The hard work will all be worthwhile for Derrick if he succeeds in raising £2,000 for British Heart Foundation.
One or two of Derricks friend have been diagnosed with heart problems, and the B.H.F. is a charity that he has supported for a number of years.

"When I diagnosed with Cancer, it was a very difficult and I thought I would have to give up on the idea of the bike ride" Derrick explained. "It wasn’t until the post-surgery consultation with the surgeon that I joked about doing the bike ride the consultant said to go for it.

"The British Heart Foundation has done so much for friends and colleagues now it's time I did something for them."

Derrick is well known in the town for his 44 years working for the Ipswich Co-Op Motor Trade and the Chairman of the Caravan Club Suffolk Centre for three years. He is also the current Regional chairman and he is hoping the local community will support him in his bike challenge. Derrick is not new to challenges in the past he has also lost 4 stone.

"My friends and colleagues have been very generous and I hope other people in the town will sponsor me if they can," said Derrick. "Even a few pounds will make a huge difference and means the British Heart Foundation can continue their invaluable work supporting families."

You can sponsor Derrick by visiting his online fundraising page on www.justgiving.com/DERRICK-CHRIS-STAMMERS. You can pay by credit or debit card, and the money will go directly to the British Heart Foundation Charity. Where supporters are UK taxpayers, the charity will automatically receive 28% extra in Gift Aid, which makes Justgiving the most efficient way of sponsoring Derrick and Chris.

Notes to Editors

For further information or to arrange a photo call please contact Derrick Stammers on 01473 270906

For further information and photos about the bike ride contact The Caravan Club on 01342 326 944
For further information on Justgiving.com, please contact Mike Wells on 0845 021 2110.


11^th15^thMarch
At least 35 vans arrived for the Working Party rally at Round Plantation Caravan Club site.  There were members from Mid-Anglia, Suffolk, Northants & Rutland, Nottingham, and Derbyshire centre’s, as well as members from the Anglia Region Committee & John Page and his wife Margery from the Executive committee of the Caravan Club.

There was plenty to do.  We worked all weekend. Raking leaves, pressure cleaning the service points, planting  spring flowers, attending the Shrubbery, putting out the Caravan Club Site directions and re-laying some of the pitches with hardcore.

The atmosphere was great and the weather kind for the time of year    each group had their task. By Sunday morning the site was ready for opening. The youngest member re-laying pitches was the “Supervisor” William Laborne (age 3yrs), ably assisted by Dad Richard & Grandad Derek.

Saturday evening everyone congregated in the Marquee, for Pork Rolls generously donated by M & M caravans in Mildenhall.  The wine was provided by the Caravan Club.  During the evening there was a light-hearted quiz which generated plenty of banter & laughter.

A full English breakfast was available at a small cost on Sunday morning,   cooked and served by Suffolk & Mid Anglia centres marshals & members.

This was followed by flag where several birthdays and anniversaries were read out. Brian Clarke (Site Co-ordinator) thanked everyone for the hard work put into preparing the site for the season.  This was endorsed by John Page on behalf of the Caravan Club. He said Round Plantation,  Slinfold & Ababran sites would fold without  the assistance of volunteer wardens throughout the season.

The raffle and a small profit from the sale of breakfast tickets raised £202.39 in aid of the McMillan Nurses.

Our thanks go to John & Barbara Rutter and Derrick & Lesley Stammers for organising the rally.

Pat & John Field