The Story of Our Club
The Club began its journey in January 1976, brought to life by a group of passionate Lunar caravan enthusiasts. United by their shared love for caravanning, they formed a committee, created a Constitution, and organized an exciting first-year programme featuring three rallies. The Club’s first Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place at the end of its second season.
The Early Years
The inaugural rally was held at Corse Lawn in Gloucestershire. Many members were en route to the National Rally at the time, so they spread the word enthusiastically. With a little help from the caravan press, membership grew rapidly.
By July, the second rally took place in Weston-super-Mare, followed by the final rally of 1976 in Leyland, using the field behind Campbell’s residential site. Around 25 caravans attended, and by the end of that remarkable first year, membership had surged to 99.
During this time, the Club introduced special rally plaques for members who completed 25 rallies and launched a newsletter to keep everyone informed and connected. Rallies typically ran from 4:30 pm on Fridays to 4:00 pm on Sundays, with extended rallies on Bank Holidays. Since most members were working professionals, weekend rallies were the norm. It took several years before longer rallies of up to five days were introduced.
Milestones and Celebrations
The first special celebration rally—the 21st—took place at Easter in 1979 at Highbridge. Since then, the Club has commemorated many major milestones, including:
- The 100th rally in Oxford (1984)
- The 30th Anniversary in 2006
- The 600th rally in 2007
- The 700th rally at Uttoxeter Racecourse (2012)
- The 40th Anniversary rally (2016)
- The 800th rally, again at Uttoxeter Racecourse (2017)
Expanding Horizons
The Club ventured beyond UK borders for the first time in 1982, hosting its inaugural overseas rally in France. Since then, members have enjoyed rallies across France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland, with annual overseas holidays becoming a beloved tradition. These holidays continue to be expertly organised by Alan Rogers Rallies.
Growth and Challenges
In 2003, Lunar Caravans was briefly acquired by a Dutch holding company, which also owned the Chateau brand. This led to the Club opening its membership to Chateau caravan owners, expanding the community significantly.
However, 2020 brought significant changes. The demise of Lunar Caravans, combined with the challenges of COVID-19, temporarily impacted Club activities. It’s worth noting that the Club has always remained independent and holds no commercial relationship with Lunar Caravans Limited.
Looking Ahead
By 2023, the Club had bounced back with a full programme of well-attended rallies. Looking forward to 2024, we have another exciting schedule lined up, and we can’t wait to welcome you!
Why Not Join Us?
Whether you’re a seasoned rally-goer or new to the world of caravanning, our Club is a great way to meet like-minded enthusiasts, explore new destinations, and create unforgettable memories.
Why not join today and be part of our ever-growing story?