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Caravans. A fibre glass palace or a bank holiday road menace? | 0:00:02 | 0:00:05 | |
Love them or hate them, | 0:00:05 | 0:00:07 | |
in Wales, we simply can't avoid them. | 0:00:07 | 0:00:09 | |
We spend almost 11 million nights | 0:00:09 | 0:00:11 | |
and £300 million a year holidaying in them. | 0:00:11 | 0:00:14 | |
But what is it about caravans | 0:00:14 | 0:00:16 | |
that makes us a nation happiest on wheels? | 0:00:16 | 0:00:19 | |
It's a sunny Sunday in August at one of Wales' biggest vintage shows, | 0:00:23 | 0:00:28 | |
the Steam and Vintage Rally in Three Cocks. | 0:00:28 | 0:00:31 | |
It's a place near Hay-on-Wye. | 0:00:31 | 0:00:34 | |
Hundreds of vehicles are on display, | 0:00:34 | 0:00:37 | |
every one a product of endless man-hours and years of dedication. | 0:00:37 | 0:00:41 | |
Amongst the vehicles on show is a selection of historic caravans, | 0:00:41 | 0:00:45 | |
owned by a group of enthusiasts determined to preserve | 0:00:45 | 0:00:47 | |
what are often unique, historical artefacts. | 0:00:47 | 0:00:50 | |
Caravans as we know them were first built in the 1880s | 0:00:53 | 0:00:57 | |
and in today's money, cost anything up to £100,000. | 0:00:57 | 0:01:01 | |
And as such, they were aimed at an elite group of people. | 0:01:01 | 0:01:05 | |
These days, most of these have fallen into disrepair. | 0:01:05 | 0:01:08 | |
But a few, a lucky few, have found themselves nurtured back to life | 0:01:08 | 0:01:12 | |
and restored to their former glory. | 0:01:12 | 0:01:14 | |
Meet the vintage caravanners... | 0:01:14 | 0:01:17 | |
At his home in Abergavenny, | 0:01:21 | 0:01:22 | |
Ivor Moylon is preparing his 1952 Argosy Caravan. | 0:01:22 | 0:01:27 | |
It's believed to be one of a few. | 0:01:27 | 0:01:30 | |
They only know of another one and that's in New Zealand. | 0:01:30 | 0:01:34 | |
BRASS BAND PLAYS IN BACKGROUND | 0:01:34 | 0:01:36 | |
I can't say there isn't any in this country | 0:01:36 | 0:01:39 | |
but I don't know of any other ones. | 0:01:39 | 0:01:42 | |
He rescued the Argosy a year ago from the North of England, | 0:01:43 | 0:01:46 | |
and has spent thousands of hours restoring it to its former glory. | 0:01:46 | 0:01:50 | |
Every inch has received meticulous attention, | 0:01:50 | 0:01:53 | |
in order it might match the expectations | 0:01:53 | 0:01:55 | |
of the sort of enthusiasts who attend the vintage shows. | 0:01:55 | 0:01:58 | |
But what drives Ivor and his wife, Cheryl, | 0:01:59 | 0:02:01 | |
to such extraordinary lengths? | 0:02:01 | 0:02:03 | |
Every caravan is like a little museum. | 0:02:05 | 0:02:08 | |
When you get to the show, | 0:02:08 | 0:02:10 | |
people enjoy looking at your vintage caravans | 0:02:10 | 0:02:14 | |
and they don't want to see it if it's dirty and scruffy. | 0:02:14 | 0:02:18 | |
They'd like to see it all looking nice. | 0:02:18 | 0:02:21 | |
# When I pretend I'm gay | 0:02:21 | 0:02:23 | |
# I never feel that way. # | 0:02:23 | 0:02:25 | |
I like going back in time, and when you go round these shows, | 0:02:25 | 0:02:30 | |
you are going back in time, aren't you? | 0:02:30 | 0:02:33 | |
It's a different pace of life, it's a slower life. | 0:02:33 | 0:02:36 | |
And it's a nicer life. | 0:02:36 | 0:02:38 | |
I could never see myself in a modern caravan. | 0:02:40 | 0:02:43 | |
You can't go to the shows. | 0:02:43 | 0:02:45 | |
When you've got a modern caravan, you got to take the kids with you. | 0:02:45 | 0:02:48 | |
SHE LAUGHS | 0:02:48 | 0:02:49 | |
And that's what we're getting away from! | 0:02:49 | 0:02:52 | |
After £1,700 worth of work, | 0:02:52 | 0:02:55 | |
Ivor is now confident enough to show take the caravan | 0:02:55 | 0:02:58 | |
to 20 shows during the summer. | 0:02:58 | 0:03:00 | |
ENGINE STARTS | 0:03:00 | 0:03:02 | |
'Basically it's my past, innit? | 0:03:03 | 0:03:05 | |
'You're getting involved in your past. | 0:03:05 | 0:03:07 | |
'Basically, I suppose you're looking for your youth. | 0:03:07 | 0:03:10 | |
'Whether I'll ever find it, I don't think.' | 0:03:10 | 0:03:13 | |
With the Argosy looking spick-and-span, | 0:03:13 | 0:03:15 | |
it's a short run to make sure everything is in order | 0:03:15 | 0:03:18 | |
for one of the biggest vintage shows of the year. | 0:03:18 | 0:03:21 | |
HORN BLARES | 0:03:21 | 0:03:23 | |
And this is where Ivor will be heading... | 0:03:26 | 0:03:29 | |
the site of the annual show at Three Cocks, | 0:03:29 | 0:03:31 | |
which is a place just outside Hay-on-Wye. | 0:03:31 | 0:03:34 | |
Tomorrow, this 25-acre piece of land will be transformed | 0:03:34 | 0:03:37 | |
into one of the biggest steam and vintage vehicle festivals in Wales. | 0:03:37 | 0:03:42 | |
And one of the highlights will be a collection | 0:03:42 | 0:03:45 | |
of some of the country's finest vintage caravans. | 0:03:45 | 0:03:49 | |
First to arrive with their 1970s Buccaneer caravan, | 0:03:49 | 0:03:52 | |
towed by their majestic 1960s showman's lorry, | 0:03:52 | 0:03:55 | |
is Denzil and Rhian Barr from Llandeilo. | 0:03:55 | 0:03:59 | |
Attending vintage shows together is their main hobby these days. | 0:04:01 | 0:04:05 | |
But they didn't start out like this. | 0:04:05 | 0:04:08 | |
Well, we've done it over 30 years, you see. | 0:04:08 | 0:04:10 | |
Started tenting, then we had a Morris Thousand van with a mattress in. | 0:04:10 | 0:04:13 | |
In the morning, the drips were coming down on you. | 0:04:13 | 0:04:16 | |
Then we went in for a small caravan one of the old ones, two berth | 0:04:16 | 0:04:19 | |
and then we went in for this one. | 0:04:19 | 0:04:22 | |
He's lost a spirit level, that's what I'm looking for now. | 0:04:22 | 0:04:26 | |
Oh, it's not here. Yes, it is! Here it is. | 0:04:26 | 0:04:29 | |
Look at the stuff in here, we got to carry all this, see? | 0:04:29 | 0:04:32 | |
Well, you bring all your food with you, you see? | 0:04:32 | 0:04:34 | |
And your clothing and the bed clothes. | 0:04:34 | 0:04:38 | |
SHE LAUGHS It's all go, yes. All go. | 0:04:38 | 0:04:42 | |
And once you're settled, see, it's right. | 0:04:42 | 0:04:44 | |
But before they can get settled, there is one member of the family | 0:04:48 | 0:04:51 | |
who needs urgent and special attention... | 0:04:51 | 0:04:54 | |
..Bubbles. | 0:04:58 | 0:05:00 | |
A three-year-old Abyssinian black guinea pig. | 0:05:00 | 0:05:02 | |
Or to Denzil and Rhian, | 0:05:02 | 0:05:05 | |
literally like a tiny, hairy, four-legged baby! | 0:05:05 | 0:05:09 | |
There she is, Dad's picking you up. | 0:05:09 | 0:05:12 | |
-There she is. -That's Bubbles, look. | 0:05:12 | 0:05:15 | |
That's Bubbles. Bubbles goes everywhere with us. She likes it. | 0:05:15 | 0:05:21 | |
-This is the third we've had. -Yes. | 0:05:21 | 0:05:23 | |
And she knows when we start packing in the house, you know? "Eeek, eek, eek", she goes. | 0:05:23 | 0:05:27 | |
Yeah. She loves coming. | 0:05:27 | 0:05:28 | |
She's good, she is. | 0:05:30 | 0:05:32 | |
In the caravan, we take her anywhere. | 0:05:32 | 0:05:35 | |
She's looking warm and all in there. | 0:05:35 | 0:05:37 | |
If it gets cold, we got a fire in there. | 0:05:37 | 0:05:39 | |
But despite the home comforts, | 0:05:39 | 0:05:41 | |
Rhian knows that Bubbles will struggle to settle. | 0:05:41 | 0:05:44 | |
Sadly, Bubbles has an addiction. | 0:05:44 | 0:05:48 | |
He'll have to get some grass for her or she'll be shouting. | 0:05:48 | 0:05:51 | |
She wants grass all the time. | 0:05:51 | 0:05:54 | |
Aye. Oh, it's lovely to go away for weekends like this. | 0:05:54 | 0:05:58 | |
That's the grass she likes, real green. She enjoys that. | 0:05:58 | 0:06:02 | |
You watch her now, she'll be out for that now straight. | 0:06:02 | 0:06:06 | |
Come and get the grass now, then. | 0:06:07 | 0:06:10 | |
Oh, you see? Grass straight away. She likes that. | 0:06:10 | 0:06:13 | |
Huh? Like the grass, don't you? | 0:06:14 | 0:06:18 | |
Aye, aye. | 0:06:18 | 0:06:19 | |
Look at her getting through that. | 0:06:19 | 0:06:22 | |
Probably explains why they didn't let her have a run in the field. | 0:06:22 | 0:06:25 | |
As the Marshalls begin to mark out the field, | 0:06:31 | 0:06:34 | |
there are some unusual new arrivals. | 0:06:34 | 0:06:38 | |
The Teardrops. | 0:06:38 | 0:06:39 | |
Micro caravans are designed to be hitched up to anything, | 0:06:40 | 0:06:44 | |
so that the intrepid traveller can head off in search of adventure. | 0:06:44 | 0:06:48 | |
Or to the layman, | 0:06:48 | 0:06:49 | |
they're a bed on wheels that looks like a water slide. | 0:06:49 | 0:06:53 | |
# Oh, baby, don't let | 0:06:53 | 0:06:55 | |
# Let this teardrop hit the ground | 0:06:55 | 0:07:00 | |
# Oh, baby, don't let this teardrop... # | 0:07:00 | 0:07:03 | |
This sleek little number is owned by Richard Oliver from Llanidloes. | 0:07:03 | 0:07:06 | |
But during the journey, he's sustained some damage. | 0:07:06 | 0:07:10 | |
We've got a bit of a problem with the jockey wheel. | 0:07:13 | 0:07:16 | |
Er, we'll get round that, I'm sure. | 0:07:18 | 0:07:21 | |
Yeah, that fixed it. | 0:07:21 | 0:07:23 | |
Next to arrive, the boys from the Historic Caravan Club. | 0:07:23 | 0:07:27 | |
This one is a 1952 Freeman Leveret, | 0:07:27 | 0:07:30 | |
owned by partners Barry and Richard from Welshpool. | 0:07:30 | 0:07:33 | |
Parking it isn't easy. | 0:07:34 | 0:07:37 | |
As you are... No, left hand down! | 0:07:37 | 0:07:40 | |
Have you got the water, dear? | 0:07:42 | 0:07:43 | |
Every caravanner knows that once in your field, | 0:07:46 | 0:07:48 | |
the first thing to do is to get the kettle on. | 0:07:48 | 0:07:51 | |
That is, of course, if you can manage to park your caravan. | 0:07:53 | 0:07:56 | |
"Yeah, just take it out, Rich, and bring it back in." | 0:07:56 | 0:07:59 | |
Or if you can get your vintage stove to light. | 0:07:59 | 0:08:03 | |
That will soon light. | 0:08:05 | 0:08:06 | |
Ah, it's OK, we'll pop back, shall we? | 0:08:06 | 0:08:09 | |
It takes a bit of a while for the gas to get through. | 0:08:09 | 0:08:12 | |
Yeah, that's it. Back you come, as you are... | 0:08:12 | 0:08:16 | |
Ah! There you go. | 0:08:18 | 0:08:20 | |
-At long last, it will eventually light up. -What was the problem there? | 0:08:20 | 0:08:23 | |
Gas takes a long time to come through when its on a slope. | 0:08:23 | 0:08:26 | |
What you need is some of that uphill gas. | 0:08:26 | 0:08:29 | |
"Keep going, keep going, stop!" | 0:08:29 | 0:08:31 | |
There we are. We have a table. | 0:08:31 | 0:08:34 | |
So four people can sit round this and have their beverage. | 0:08:34 | 0:08:39 | |
I suppose people were a bit smaller in the olden days. | 0:08:39 | 0:08:42 | |
And then it's time for the final touch, | 0:08:42 | 0:08:45 | |
an authentic 1950s radio. | 0:08:45 | 0:08:47 | |
I don't think we'll get any reception, let's have a look. | 0:08:47 | 0:08:50 | |
RADIO CRACKLES | 0:08:50 | 0:08:52 | |
We might. | 0:08:52 | 0:08:53 | |
And through the magic of telly, Richard's managed to pick up | 0:08:53 | 0:08:57 | |
the Home Service. All our yesterdays, today. | 0:08:57 | 0:09:01 | |
MUSIC PLAYS | 0:09:01 | 0:09:04 | |
With the Freeman finally in position, | 0:09:06 | 0:09:08 | |
it's time for the set up to begin. | 0:09:08 | 0:09:11 | |
But for Barry and Richard, this isn't a chore, they love it, | 0:09:11 | 0:09:15 | |
because for them, attention to detail is everything. | 0:09:15 | 0:09:19 | |
Caravans back in the '30s, '40s and '50s | 0:09:22 | 0:09:26 | |
tended to come fully equipped with china, pots, pans and so on. | 0:09:26 | 0:09:30 | |
So what you were buying was almost a complete home on wheels, really. | 0:09:30 | 0:09:35 | |
Over a couple of years, | 0:09:35 | 0:09:37 | |
we've managed to put together two complete sets | 0:09:37 | 0:09:39 | |
of Freeman caravan china. | 0:09:39 | 0:09:41 | |
In fact, we've got more than two sets, we've got a cupboard full at home, as well! | 0:09:41 | 0:09:45 | |
And that's not the only thing they've got at home. | 0:09:45 | 0:09:48 | |
They've also got five more caravans. | 0:09:48 | 0:09:52 | |
What we've got in this caravan is multiplied five more times, | 0:09:52 | 0:09:55 | |
so, yeah, it definitely becomes an addiction, I think. | 0:09:55 | 0:09:58 | |
We spend the summer using them and, you know, the winter, you know, | 0:09:58 | 0:10:01 | |
finding all the bits and pieces to go in them. | 0:10:01 | 0:10:05 | |
It's kind of an all-year-round job, really. | 0:10:05 | 0:10:07 | |
With a vintage rally almost every weekend this summer, | 0:10:07 | 0:10:11 | |
doesn't it get a bit weird living in the past? | 0:10:11 | 0:10:14 | |
Yeah, we have vintage caravans full of vintage things, | 0:10:15 | 0:10:20 | |
but to us they've just become our ordinary caravans | 0:10:20 | 0:10:22 | |
and you stop noticing the fact it isn't a modern caravan | 0:10:22 | 0:10:26 | |
because it's what we're used to. | 0:10:26 | 0:10:29 | |
It almost becomes a museum on wheels, | 0:10:29 | 0:10:32 | |
but at night-time, it becomes our home. | 0:10:32 | 0:10:35 | |
When you've got the gaslights lit and the gas fire lit, | 0:10:35 | 0:10:39 | |
you can almost imagine yourself back in the 1950s. | 0:10:39 | 0:10:42 | |
# To make things right | 0:10:42 | 0:10:45 | |
# You know I'm so alone tonight | 0:10:45 | 0:10:51 | |
# Far away... # | 0:10:51 | 0:10:53 | |
As Barry preps inside, it's Richard's job, as rally officer, | 0:10:53 | 0:10:57 | |
to mark out the allocated spaces of the site. | 0:10:57 | 0:11:00 | |
It's an important role and he's got bespoke equipment. | 0:11:00 | 0:11:03 | |
I use this old string, | 0:11:05 | 0:11:07 | |
it's probably in memory of a fellow member, Bob Bissell. | 0:11:07 | 0:11:10 | |
He used to have string, he measured the distances. | 0:11:10 | 0:11:13 | |
People often talked about him and his rope and getting it accurate, | 0:11:13 | 0:11:17 | |
so this is what we've copied. It's the Bob Bissell rope. | 0:11:17 | 0:11:21 | |
Suddenly, Richard's told that three unexpected caravans are due to arrive. | 0:11:21 | 0:11:25 | |
He needs to get control of the situation, | 0:11:25 | 0:11:27 | |
re-calculate his measurements and act fast. | 0:11:27 | 0:11:29 | |
So basically, that's one caravan. | 0:11:36 | 0:11:38 | |
There we go, crisis averted. | 0:11:38 | 0:11:39 | |
Just in time, too, as the arrivals from the Historic Caravan Club flood in. | 0:11:41 | 0:11:46 | |
And amongst the vans arriving, The Argosy. | 0:11:48 | 0:11:52 | |
So, Ivor, now you're here, what's the plan? | 0:11:52 | 0:11:55 | |
Now it's the easy part, just having a relax, innit? | 0:11:55 | 0:11:58 | |
Have a look round all the other vans, like. | 0:11:58 | 0:12:01 | |
Try the door now, cos that's the last part. | 0:12:01 | 0:12:04 | |
That's it. | 0:12:04 | 0:12:05 | |
All ready to go now. | 0:12:07 | 0:12:09 | |
All I got to do now is make a cup of tea. | 0:12:09 | 0:12:11 | |
Next to arrive is the Historic Club's youngest member, Rob Finney. | 0:12:15 | 0:12:19 | |
Where did you get your caravan, Rob? | 0:12:20 | 0:12:24 | |
Well, we found it in a barn near Aberaeron | 0:12:24 | 0:12:29 | |
and, er, it was in a dilapidated state. | 0:12:29 | 0:12:33 | |
Over a six-month period, restored him up to how he is now. | 0:12:33 | 0:12:37 | |
It's a 1941 Winchester, | 0:12:37 | 0:12:41 | |
made by Bertram Hutchings in Winchester. | 0:12:41 | 0:12:45 | |
At a cost of £450, it was seriously for the elite. | 0:12:46 | 0:12:51 | |
So, when you work that out in today's money, | 0:12:51 | 0:12:54 | |
that's about sort of 80,000, 100,000, which is ridiculous for a caravan! | 0:12:54 | 0:13:00 | |
Do you want to go shopping later? | 0:13:00 | 0:13:01 | |
Rob's arrived with a fellow vintage caravanner, his dad. | 0:13:01 | 0:13:05 | |
And it's a hobby that's been part of the Finney family for a long time. | 0:13:05 | 0:13:09 | |
Father's been dealing in the big mobile holiday statics all his life | 0:13:09 | 0:13:13 | |
and his father before him. | 0:13:13 | 0:13:15 | |
All the family has got caravan parks, holiday parks | 0:13:15 | 0:13:19 | |
and he's always been dreaming about caravans from when he could walk. | 0:13:19 | 0:13:24 | |
It was always caravans made out of wood to tow behind a bike | 0:13:24 | 0:13:27 | |
and things like that and then worked up and started off with the clubs. | 0:13:27 | 0:13:33 | |
-That's it. -The clubs love him because he's young blood | 0:13:33 | 0:13:36 | |
and that's all he dreams about, caravans. | 0:13:36 | 0:13:38 | |
Quite sad, really! | 0:13:38 | 0:13:40 | |
Needs to get out a bit more! | 0:13:40 | 0:13:43 | |
Ah, but for Rob, this is getting out. | 0:13:43 | 0:13:46 | |
And, for him, modern life simply doesn't have the same appeal. | 0:13:46 | 0:13:51 | |
I love the old '30s and '40s caravans, they've got so much character and charm, | 0:13:51 | 0:13:56 | |
not like the modern day ones, which are pretty much all the same. | 0:13:56 | 0:13:59 | |
You don't get much variation in them | 0:13:59 | 0:14:01 | |
where, you know, gone are the days of a solid fuel stove in a van and gaslights | 0:14:01 | 0:14:07 | |
and 40s gramophone with music like Vera Lynn playing and stuff like that. | 0:14:07 | 0:14:13 | |
You all just get into the swing of it, it's a bit of harmless fun. | 0:14:13 | 0:14:18 | |
# I'm forever blowing bubbles...# | 0:14:18 | 0:14:23 | |
Over at Denzil and Rhian's, the awning's up and luggage unpacked. | 0:14:25 | 0:14:30 | |
So now it's time to sort the holiday accommodation for Bubbles. | 0:14:30 | 0:14:34 | |
# They fly so high... # | 0:14:34 | 0:14:36 | |
Oh, yes. | 0:14:36 | 0:14:38 | |
And what do you get in return for all your hard work, Rhian? | 0:14:43 | 0:14:47 | |
If you ask her for a kiss, she'll give you a kiss. | 0:14:47 | 0:14:50 | |
Nothing nasty in her at all. | 0:14:54 | 0:14:55 | |
She will nibble you, you know, but not bite. | 0:14:55 | 0:14:58 | |
# I've looked everywhere... # | 0:14:58 | 0:15:02 | |
Here it is, that's a guinea pig caravan. | 0:15:02 | 0:15:08 | |
I've never seen her do that before! | 0:15:08 | 0:15:11 | |
You're going back now. | 0:15:11 | 0:15:13 | |
See if she'll give me a kiss. | 0:15:13 | 0:15:15 | |
Give Mam a kiss. Kiss. | 0:15:15 | 0:15:17 | |
C'mon, kiss for Mam. She wants her food now. | 0:15:19 | 0:15:22 | |
At Rob's Winchester it's time for some interior design... 1941 style. | 0:15:27 | 0:15:32 | |
And that goes over there. | 0:15:33 | 0:15:37 | |
Everything has its place, it's just remembering where it all goes! | 0:15:37 | 0:15:40 | |
Everything is considered, and everything's authentic. | 0:15:44 | 0:15:46 | |
-Right. -And for Rob, transporting himself back in time | 0:15:46 | 0:15:50 | |
is as much about the ethos of the era as it is about the decoration. | 0:15:50 | 0:15:55 | |
I think it's partly what you hear about what happened in the '40s, | 0:15:56 | 0:16:01 | |
about people rallying round and getting together and the whole | 0:16:01 | 0:16:04 | |
"make do and mend" and that sort of side of the social history. | 0:16:04 | 0:16:08 | |
I mean with the caravans, it was for high society. | 0:16:08 | 0:16:11 | |
So you've got the best of both worlds. | 0:16:11 | 0:16:13 | |
You've got the camping side, the high society buying caravans | 0:16:13 | 0:16:17 | |
so it's all part and parcel. | 0:16:17 | 0:16:19 | |
But, yeah, I don't wish I was born in the '40s, | 0:16:19 | 0:16:22 | |
but I think it was a nice era. | 0:16:22 | 0:16:24 | |
I think everybody just muddled in and got on. | 0:16:24 | 0:16:28 | |
When I'm either in it, enjoying it on a weekend | 0:16:28 | 0:16:31 | |
or working on them back in the yard, that's me happiest, yeah! | 0:16:31 | 0:16:34 | |
Yeah. | 0:16:34 | 0:16:36 | |
People say I'm mad, but, you know, we're all a bit mad, aren't we? | 0:16:36 | 0:16:40 | |
Right, so that's everything for there now. | 0:16:40 | 0:16:43 | |
Now we've got to do the kitchen area. | 0:16:43 | 0:16:46 | |
Unpacking and setting out caravan crockery can be a tiring process | 0:16:51 | 0:16:55 | |
and it builds up quite an appetite. | 0:16:55 | 0:16:58 | |
Can I order ten portions of fish and chips, please? | 0:16:58 | 0:17:01 | |
-Yeah. -Cheers, thank you. | 0:17:01 | 0:17:02 | |
As a welcome to the rally, | 0:17:02 | 0:17:03 | |
Barry and Richard have invited everyone to tea. | 0:17:03 | 0:17:06 | |
And what could be more in-keeping with a vintage weekend | 0:17:06 | 0:17:10 | |
than traditional fish and chips? | 0:17:10 | 0:17:12 | |
# Oh and I'm the type of guy who will never settle down. # | 0:17:13 | 0:17:17 | |
Teardrop trailers first became popular in 1930s America | 0:17:17 | 0:17:21 | |
and with this American heritage came an American attitude to caravanning. | 0:17:21 | 0:17:25 | |
# I hug 'em and I squeeze 'em... # | 0:17:25 | 0:17:27 | |
A man called Warbird explains. | 0:17:27 | 0:17:29 | |
I could just put that behind any of the cars or vans I've got | 0:17:29 | 0:17:33 | |
and just go away for the weekend. | 0:17:33 | 0:17:36 | |
Everything's in it and it's just a simple way of getting out of town. | 0:17:36 | 0:17:41 | |
It's a bed on wheels, really. You cook in the back of it. | 0:17:41 | 0:17:45 | |
You haven't got much room to do anything else | 0:17:45 | 0:17:48 | |
apart from sleep in it really, so, yeah, it's a sleeping pod. | 0:17:48 | 0:17:52 | |
# ..With Rosie on my chest cos I'm a wanderer... # | 0:17:52 | 0:17:55 | |
As we leave Warbird to his chops and tummies start to rumble on the site, | 0:17:55 | 0:18:00 | |
does Teardrop owner, stir-fry Sue describe it any differently? | 0:18:00 | 0:18:04 | |
It's posh camping, you know, it's comfortable to sleep in | 0:18:04 | 0:18:08 | |
and also, like, just, I don't know, it's just very relaxing. | 0:18:08 | 0:18:11 | |
Teardropping, like I said, it's just good fun | 0:18:11 | 0:18:14 | |
because you just hitch up and off you go | 0:18:14 | 0:18:16 | |
and wherever you end up that's where you | 0:18:16 | 0:18:19 | |
set up and start enjoying wherever you are. | 0:18:19 | 0:18:22 | |
I mean, we're in a beautiful place here in Wales. | 0:18:22 | 0:18:25 | |
Stunning views and I can't think of anything better really. | 0:18:25 | 0:18:28 | |
Bit of sauce on me chops... and the job's a good 'un. | 0:18:28 | 0:18:34 | |
At the other end of the field the fish and chips have arrived | 0:18:34 | 0:18:38 | |
and the historic caravan clubbers are re-living days gone by. | 0:18:38 | 0:18:42 | |
That's what they would of done, you know, | 0:18:44 | 0:18:46 | |
found a local fish and chip bar or something, | 0:18:46 | 0:18:49 | |
or even caught their own fish in the river. | 0:18:49 | 0:18:51 | |
But, yeah, fish and chips goes down a treat. | 0:18:51 | 0:18:54 | |
And all of a sudden, he pulled the lever like that and it reared up, | 0:18:54 | 0:18:58 | |
it broke the tree off in the track, thrown my grandad off. | 0:18:58 | 0:19:01 | |
Out in the countryside, green grass, dry weather and fish and chips. | 0:19:01 | 0:19:05 | |
Can't really be much better than that. | 0:19:05 | 0:19:07 | |
Basically, I suppose you're looking for something | 0:19:07 | 0:19:10 | |
that was there in our childhood. | 0:19:10 | 0:19:12 | |
You talk to everybody about what they've got, | 0:19:12 | 0:19:15 | |
what they've done, where they've been. | 0:19:15 | 0:19:17 | |
And I tell 'em what I've done, what I've got, where I've been and that's what it's about. | 0:19:17 | 0:19:21 | |
It's a nice night, nice friends, good company | 0:19:21 | 0:19:25 | |
and just appreciative to be here with everybody. | 0:19:25 | 0:19:29 | |
And as night falls, Rhian's in a reflective mood too. | 0:19:31 | 0:19:35 | |
When I go caravanning I switch off. I don't think I'm home at all. | 0:19:37 | 0:19:41 | |
I think more of this than my house. | 0:19:41 | 0:19:43 | |
It's a silly thing to say, | 0:19:43 | 0:19:44 | |
cos it's our house, it's paid for and everything. | 0:19:44 | 0:19:46 | |
But I'm more happier here in the caravan. | 0:19:46 | 0:19:49 | |
# ..Your lips, your fingertips... # | 0:19:49 | 0:19:52 | |
I could live in a caravan all the time. | 0:19:52 | 0:19:55 | |
There's something romantic, better than home. You're enjoying. | 0:19:55 | 0:19:58 | |
At home you're thinking, | 0:19:58 | 0:19:59 | |
"What's tomorrow, what do I do today?" | 0:19:59 | 0:20:02 | |
You can forget it when you come in the caravan, see? | 0:20:02 | 0:20:05 | |
Yeah, it's great. | 0:20:05 | 0:20:06 | |
Oh, we really enjoy it, it's a shame we've got to go back. | 0:20:06 | 0:20:09 | |
Never mind, that's how it goes. | 0:20:10 | 0:20:13 | |
Say good night to the one you love, Rhi. | 0:20:13 | 0:20:16 | |
Night, night, Bubbles. I'm pulling the curtains now. | 0:20:16 | 0:20:19 | |
It's the following morning and it's show time. | 0:20:33 | 0:20:36 | |
Last minute preparations before the show opens, | 0:20:36 | 0:20:41 | |
so giving it a quick wipe over. | 0:20:41 | 0:20:43 | |
And for Barry, the vintage theme even extends to the outfit | 0:20:44 | 0:20:49 | |
he's going to wear to show the punters around the van. | 0:20:49 | 0:20:52 | |
I think what you're doing is catching the feel of a period of time gone by | 0:20:54 | 0:20:59 | |
and I think it can look a wee bit odd if you're sat outside | 0:20:59 | 0:21:04 | |
your very carefully prepared vintage caravan | 0:21:04 | 0:21:08 | |
in modern clothes and it all adds to the image. | 0:21:08 | 0:21:13 | |
After a good breakfast, Rhian, Denzel and Bubbles set-off | 0:21:16 | 0:21:20 | |
to get the lorry into position. | 0:21:20 | 0:21:22 | |
This afternoon is the grand parade, the highlight of their weekend. | 0:21:22 | 0:21:27 | |
Rhian and Denzel's now, not Bubbles'. | 0:21:27 | 0:21:31 | |
Hers is grass. | 0:21:31 | 0:21:32 | |
The show's opened and punters are in | 0:21:35 | 0:21:37 | |
and straightaway the vintage caravans are attracting attention. | 0:21:37 | 0:21:42 | |
Especially Barry and Richard's Freeman. | 0:21:42 | 0:21:46 | |
It's time for a guided tour. | 0:21:46 | 0:21:48 | |
It's all wood, you know there's no Formica or... | 0:21:48 | 0:21:51 | |
I think it's one of the most pleasurable parts of the weekend actually, | 0:21:51 | 0:21:55 | |
you know, just taking that time to talk to people. | 0:21:55 | 0:21:58 | |
What would we be doing otherwise? | 0:21:58 | 0:22:00 | |
At home doing the garden or shopping or something like that. | 0:22:00 | 0:22:03 | |
I couldn't think of a better place to be. | 0:22:03 | 0:22:06 | |
You've spent hours restoring your caravan | 0:22:06 | 0:22:08 | |
and you've enjoyed showing it off at the vintage fairs to a bunch of enthusiasts. | 0:22:08 | 0:22:13 | |
But what then? | 0:22:13 | 0:22:15 | |
What does a dedicated, vintage caravan refurbishing fanatic | 0:22:15 | 0:22:18 | |
do when a project is finished? | 0:22:18 | 0:22:20 | |
Kick back and relax? | 0:22:20 | 0:22:22 | |
I'll be selling this caravan. | 0:22:22 | 0:22:24 | |
This is the last show I'll show it at. | 0:22:24 | 0:22:25 | |
So I'm looking for a bigger caravan. | 0:22:25 | 0:22:28 | |
One slightly bigger with two single beds in it. | 0:22:28 | 0:22:31 | |
So then I'll sell this one and then this is the last show I'll do, | 0:22:31 | 0:22:35 | |
get that one in and then I'll have to do it up to show standard. | 0:22:35 | 0:22:38 | |
I've already slept my last night in her. | 0:22:39 | 0:22:42 | |
That was last night, so I'll be taking it back now | 0:22:42 | 0:22:45 | |
when the show finishes and that is it then. | 0:22:45 | 0:22:47 | |
-Cheers, love. -Yes. | 0:22:47 | 0:22:50 | |
The excitement is increasing. | 0:22:53 | 0:22:55 | |
It's not long until the start of the grand parade | 0:22:55 | 0:22:58 | |
and although the commercial vehicles are all lined up ready to go | 0:22:58 | 0:23:01 | |
there's always time for a little chat to a kindred spirit. | 0:23:01 | 0:23:05 | |
When you've got one of these under the bonnet, | 0:23:05 | 0:23:08 | |
-you'll always come home. -Absolutely. | 0:23:08 | 0:23:10 | |
If you've got one of those now the pipes are gone, | 0:23:10 | 0:23:12 | |
you can pull one of them levers and you'll come home. | 0:23:12 | 0:23:15 | |
Denzel's showing the lorry and talking about it | 0:23:15 | 0:23:17 | |
and I'm doing my knitting and listening to them as well. | 0:23:17 | 0:23:20 | |
I can hear them from here. | 0:23:20 | 0:23:22 | |
He's in his element and when he's home tomorrow | 0:23:22 | 0:23:25 | |
he'll be lost, he loves it, see. | 0:23:25 | 0:23:27 | |
This is a nice little van, but it's no good to us. | 0:23:27 | 0:23:30 | |
It's too small, there's no toilet compartment or anything | 0:23:30 | 0:23:34 | |
-so that will be a waste of time us bothering with that one. -Yeah. | 0:23:34 | 0:23:37 | |
Ivor and Cheryl are window-shopping for their new caravan | 0:23:37 | 0:23:41 | |
and Ivor's next project. | 0:23:41 | 0:23:43 | |
They're in need of inspiration. | 0:23:43 | 0:23:45 | |
No, it hasn't got two single beds. | 0:23:45 | 0:23:47 | |
We want some with two single beds. | 0:23:47 | 0:23:49 | |
That's one you make your own bed up and I don't want that. | 0:23:49 | 0:23:52 | |
Has it got a toilet compartment? Cos that's the main thing we need. | 0:23:52 | 0:23:55 | |
-I think it has. -Let me have a look then. | 0:23:55 | 0:23:57 | |
Yes, it has. It divides off to make its own toilet compartment. | 0:24:00 | 0:24:04 | |
One of these would do us. It's quite a bit older than our van | 0:24:04 | 0:24:07 | |
and would be a lot better for the shows. | 0:24:07 | 0:24:10 | |
But there is a caravan Ivor's had his eye on... | 0:24:10 | 0:24:14 | |
Barry and Richard's Freeman. | 0:24:14 | 0:24:16 | |
Now remember, Ivor, the trick with negotiating is to play it cool. | 0:24:16 | 0:24:19 | |
-Hello there, mate. -You all right? | 0:24:19 | 0:24:22 | |
-Are you going to sell me this now? -No. | 0:24:22 | 0:24:24 | |
Come on, put a price on it. | 0:24:24 | 0:24:26 | |
It's priceless for me really | 0:24:26 | 0:24:28 | |
because once you've sold them, they've gone, you see. | 0:24:28 | 0:24:31 | |
I know, but if I'm going to buy a van, you want to buy | 0:24:31 | 0:24:34 | |
the one you like and this is the best van I've seen. | 0:24:34 | 0:24:36 | |
This is my favourite, we've got a collection. | 0:24:36 | 0:24:39 | |
This one is my favourite, it's a good all rounder, | 0:24:39 | 0:24:41 | |
we can use it for holidays. | 0:24:41 | 0:24:43 | |
If you ever want to sell, promise to give me first chance. | 0:24:43 | 0:24:46 | |
We will. To be honest, we'll put you on the list. | 0:24:46 | 0:24:48 | |
We've got lots of people asking all the time, | 0:24:48 | 0:24:50 | |
"can we buy it, can we buy it?" | 0:24:50 | 0:24:52 | |
-I'd love to buy this. -It's one of the best layouts I've seen. | 0:24:52 | 0:24:55 | |
After a few whiskies and brandies maybe. | 0:24:55 | 0:24:57 | |
We'll have to stay tonight and see if we can get you! | 0:24:57 | 0:25:00 | |
You know, it's er... | 0:25:02 | 0:25:03 | |
-All right. -Thank you. -Thank you very much anyhow. | 0:25:03 | 0:25:06 | |
-Thank you, bye. -Bye. | 0:25:06 | 0:25:07 | |
Ah, it's not to be. | 0:25:07 | 0:25:09 | |
It seems Ivor's search is just beginning. | 0:25:09 | 0:25:12 | |
It's here, the moment that Denzel and Rhian have been waiting for, | 0:25:19 | 0:25:23 | |
the grand parade and Denzel's chance to really show off the lorry. | 0:25:23 | 0:25:26 | |
The crowd look on as the 1960s showmen's truck | 0:25:31 | 0:25:34 | |
glides majestically around the ring. | 0:25:34 | 0:25:36 | |
Look at that, | 0:25:41 | 0:25:43 | |
man and vintage lorry in perfect harmony. | 0:25:43 | 0:25:45 | |
It's a fantastic turnout of all types of vintage vehicles | 0:25:54 | 0:25:59 | |
from across the generations. | 0:25:59 | 0:26:01 | |
So much so, in fact, that even the mechanical monkey is impressed. | 0:26:01 | 0:26:06 | |
It really is the ultimate show for the vintage devotee. | 0:26:08 | 0:26:13 | |
But all good things must come to an end. | 0:26:24 | 0:26:26 | |
And at Barry and Richard's, it's the tricky task | 0:26:26 | 0:26:29 | |
of putting everything away ready for the drive home to Welshpool. | 0:26:29 | 0:26:32 | |
Yeah, you do think, you wonder why do we do it, cos it is tiring. | 0:26:32 | 0:26:36 | |
Especially working all week and then away weekends. | 0:26:36 | 0:26:40 | |
But then come the winter time when it's all over, | 0:26:40 | 0:26:42 | |
you look back at the different shows like this one at Hay here | 0:26:42 | 0:26:45 | |
and you think, "Yeah, we did have a good time. | 0:26:45 | 0:26:48 | |
"It was a nice social time and nice weather." | 0:26:48 | 0:26:51 | |
So it all paints a nice picture for the dark winter nights, really. | 0:26:51 | 0:26:55 | |
Yeah, this is an old caravan, it's 50 odd years old. | 0:27:01 | 0:27:04 | |
But you kind of stop recognising that because it's your caravan, | 0:27:04 | 0:27:09 | |
it's your home on wheels at the end of the day. | 0:27:09 | 0:27:11 | |
It's also time for Ivor and Cheryl to say goodbye, | 0:27:25 | 0:27:29 | |
and not just to the vintage fair but to the caravan too. | 0:27:29 | 0:27:34 | |
You get to like them, don't you? | 0:27:34 | 0:27:36 | |
You put a lot of work into them, but the layout isn't right | 0:27:36 | 0:27:40 | |
for what I want, so it's time to say goodbye, innit? | 0:27:40 | 0:27:44 | |
Like everything, you like it, but it's got to go at the end of the day. | 0:27:44 | 0:27:49 | |
I'll find another one. I dunno. | 0:27:49 | 0:27:51 | |
I'm beginning to think I shouldn't sell this one. I dunno, there you go. | 0:27:51 | 0:27:56 | |
Aw, good luck, Ivor. | 0:27:56 | 0:27:58 | |
One day you'll find a dilapidated caravan with two single beds | 0:27:58 | 0:28:03 | |
and a toilet compartment. One day. | 0:28:03 | 0:28:06 | |
For Denzel and Rhian though it's a change of plan. | 0:28:11 | 0:28:15 | |
They've made the sort of impulsive decision that only caravanners can. | 0:28:15 | 0:28:19 | |
They're going to stay another glorious summer night. | 0:28:19 | 0:28:23 | |
The sun is shining beautiful outside. | 0:28:24 | 0:28:26 | |
There's nothing to pay for staying, so we might as well make the most of it. | 0:28:26 | 0:28:30 | |
Life is good in the caravan and we really enjoy it, the two of us. | 0:28:30 | 0:28:33 | |
Well, we're both happier when we're here in the caravan. | 0:28:33 | 0:28:37 | |
And who wouldn't be? | 0:28:38 | 0:28:41 | |
A beautiful evening, a piece of cake | 0:28:41 | 0:28:44 | |
and their own fibre glass heaven. | 0:28:44 | 0:28:46 | |
# You and the night and the music | 0:28:49 | 0:28:53 | |
# Fill me with flaming desire... # | 0:28:53 | 0:28:57 | |
Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd | 0:28:57 | 0:28:59 | |
E-mail [email protected] | 0:28:59 | 0:29:01 |