THE AVONDALE STORY
About fifty years ago a man – Gerald Ball - built a caravan for himself. Someone else liked it so he built another one and then another and so on. A hobby turned into a business and he called his first caravan a ‘Mayfly’ (there are other versions on how the Company started, but I like mine the best).
Owners of these caravans got together and decided to start a club (1972). In the early days there was only one range, ‘Clubman’, which became known as the “bird range” – obviously someone didn’t know a Mayfly was not a bird – but I digress. Although they all had the same make of caravan, Avondale, they came from different backgrounds and from different parts of the country, but all had the same ideals – to create a spirit of good fellowship and mutual assistance between its Members and caravan owners in general – and to meet up regularly to enjoy their caravanning.
As the years progressed the uptake of caravanning increased, a situation which the Avondale Group recognized and introduced other brands to the market – Perle, Leda and, subsequently Landranger. Again, as time went on, the Avondale Group revamped its strategy and ‘badged’ all the caravans it produced under the name “Avondale”. The Club was rather slow to react to this, but got there in the end, to include all ranges that Avondale produced, within the Club.
In 2008 the Club had to consider other changes when the Avondale Group ceased to manufacture caravans. Forty years on from when the Club was formed the decision was taken to ‘open’ the Club to all makes of caravans and motorhomes so heralding a new chapter in the life of the Club.
We owe a lot to those ‘founder members’ and we should thank them for their foresight and effort in establishing the Club all those years ago. The last of those ‘founder members’ - Kath and Barry Boocock – finally decided to hang up their tow-ball for a more sedate life in 2012.
The first ever Mayfly built - Gerald’s father putting the finishing touches
TEN YEARS ON
The 200th rally of the Club was held at Stanford Hall, near Rugby from the 4th – 6th June 1982. A commemorative programme was produced to celebrate this occasion.
The following is an extract from the programme and although the Club has progressed since this time, with some required changes to reflect the up-to-date situation, much of what was determined at the inaugural meeting still provides the ethos for us today – over 50 years on.
THE CLUB
In 1972 Avondale Coachcraft Ltd received a number of requests from owners to form an ‘Avondale Owners Club’. Accordingly Avondale passed the word through the ‘grape vine’ that a rally would be held at Stanford Hall, near Rugby, to examine the feasibility of the suggestion.
Fifty two Avondale Caravans attended the inaugural rally. Meetings were held in Swinford Village Hall and a committee appointed. At the outset the Club was regarded as a separate entity to Avondale Coachcraft Ltd and has remained so.
Over the years a lot of work has been put in by very many members to draft a constitution and obtain an exemption certificate from the D. of E. (now Natural England)
The introduction of the Avondale Owners Magazine in 1977 was a considerable milestone.
Many hours of discussions during the past ten years have moulded the Club into its present form. There is a constant flow of new members and resignations but, although enlarged and improved, the Club is still basically the same today as in 1972 – catering for the pleasure and entertainment of caravan-owning members with similar tastes and interests - surely a tribute to the Founder Members.
Founder President Gerald Ball and Eileen Ball with founder members Kathy and Barry Boocock cutting the 25th Anniversary birthday cake. Club Chairman Mick Hyde looks on.
ACCEO – Association of Caravan & Camping Exempted Organisations
As caravanning began to take hold in the 1970’s and rallying clubs were formed, these clubs became alarmed by hearing of possible threats to their leisure activities by Government statements expressing the need to control the number of exempted organisations. At that time, the issue of new certificates was being withheld and it was made known that ‘more rigorous criteria’ would be applied to any future issue. This consultation document was released in 1976. As a result, two ‘parallel’ organisations were formed in 1978 to address the threat to rallying clubs – The National Federation of Caravan Owners Clubs and the Confederation of Caravan and Camping Clubs.
ACCEO was inaugurated in 1985 from the merger of these two clubs. The amalgamation provided a much stronger base upon which to act. ACCEO works closely with Government Departments and Authorities on behalf of Member Clubs. It is also able to provide both services and access to facilities not directly available to individual clubs.
The Organisation provides advice on matters of vital importance to clubs and issues a series of information sheets on specific subjects. Guidance and assistance is offered to Member Clubs when difficulties arise that may threaten their privilege to hold a Certificate of Exemption. The Association Newsletter “ACCEO Matters”, which is published up to 4 times a year, keeps Member Clubs informed on matters of interest and importance.
The Association organises a National and AGM Rally at the beginning of October each year. Rally arrangements are made by a volunteer ‘host’ club in conjunction with Officers of the Association. There are currently over 160 clubs in the organisation. Avondale Caravan Club hosted the 1996 AGM with the main entertainment being Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen and a great night was had by all.
Kenny Ball at Top Barn - The ACCEO National Rally run by Avondale Owners Club 1996
