Episode 4 Wales on Wheels


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Caravans. A fibre glass palace or a bank holiday road menace?

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Love them or hate them,

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in Wales, we simply can't avoid them.

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We spend almost 11 million nights

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and £300 million a year holidaying in them.

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But what is it about caravans

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that makes us a nation happiest on wheels?

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It's a sunny Sunday in August at one of Wales' biggest vintage shows,

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the Steam and Vintage Rally in Three Cocks.

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It's a place near Hay-on-Wye.

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Hundreds of vehicles are on display,

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every one a product of endless man-hours and years of dedication.

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Amongst the vehicles on show is a selection of historic caravans,

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owned by a group of enthusiasts determined to preserve

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what are often unique, historical artefacts.

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Caravans as we know them were first built in the 1880s

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and in today's money, cost anything up to £100,000.

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And as such, they were aimed at an elite group of people.

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These days, most of these have fallen into disrepair.

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But a few, a lucky few, have found themselves nurtured back to life

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and restored to their former glory.

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Meet the vintage caravanners...

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At his home in Abergavenny,

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Ivor Moylon is preparing his 1952 Argosy Caravan.

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It's believed to be one of a few.

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They only know of another one and that's in New Zealand.

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BRASS BAND PLAYS IN BACKGROUND

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I can't say there isn't any in this country

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but I don't know of any other ones.

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He rescued the Argosy a year ago from the North of England,

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and has spent thousands of hours restoring it to its former glory.

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Every inch has received meticulous attention,

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in order it might match the expectations

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of the sort of enthusiasts who attend the vintage shows.

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But what drives Ivor and his wife, Cheryl,

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to such extraordinary lengths?

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Every caravan is like a little museum.

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When you get to the show,

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people enjoy looking at your vintage caravans

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and they don't want to see it if it's dirty and scruffy.

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They'd like to see it all looking nice.

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# When I pretend I'm gay

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# I never feel that way. #

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I like going back in time, and when you go round these shows,

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you are going back in time, aren't you?

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It's a different pace of life, it's a slower life.

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And it's a nicer life.

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I could never see myself in a modern caravan.

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You can't go to the shows.

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When you've got a modern caravan, you got to take the kids with you.

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SHE LAUGHS

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And that's what we're getting away from!

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After £1,700 worth of work,

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Ivor is now confident enough to show take the caravan

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to 20 shows during the summer.

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ENGINE STARTS

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'Basically it's my past, innit?

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'You're getting involved in your past.

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'Basically, I suppose you're looking for your youth.

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'Whether I'll ever find it, I don't think.'

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With the Argosy looking spick-and-span,

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it's a short run to make sure everything is in order

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for one of the biggest vintage shows of the year.

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HORN BLARES

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And this is where Ivor will be heading...

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the site of the annual show at Three Cocks,

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which is a place just outside Hay-on-Wye.

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Tomorrow, this 25-acre piece of land will be transformed

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into one of the biggest steam and vintage vehicle festivals in Wales.

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And one of the highlights will be a collection

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of some of the country's finest vintage caravans.

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First to arrive with their 1970s Buccaneer caravan,

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towed by their majestic 1960s showman's lorry,

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is Denzil and Rhian Barr from Llandeilo.

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Attending vintage shows together is their main hobby these days.

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But they didn't start out like this.

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Well, we've done it over 30 years, you see.

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Started tenting, then we had a Morris Thousand van with a mattress in.

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In the morning, the drips were coming down on you.

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Then we went in for a small caravan one of the old ones, two berth

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and then we went in for this one.

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He's lost a spirit level, that's what I'm looking for now.

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Oh, it's not here. Yes, it is! Here it is.

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Look at the stuff in here, we got to carry all this, see?

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Well, you bring all your food with you, you see?

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And your clothing and the bed clothes.

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SHE LAUGHS It's all go, yes. All go.

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And once you're settled, see, it's right.

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But before they can get settled, there is one member of the family

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who needs urgent and special attention...

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..Bubbles.

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A three-year-old Abyssinian black guinea pig.

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Or to Denzil and Rhian,

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literally like a tiny, hairy, four-legged baby!

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There she is, Dad's picking you up.

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-There she is.

-That's Bubbles, look.

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That's Bubbles. Bubbles goes everywhere with us. She likes it.

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-This is the third we've had.

-Yes.

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And she knows when we start packing in the house, you know? "Eeek, eek, eek", she goes.

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Yeah. She loves coming.

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She's good, she is.

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In the caravan, we take her anywhere.

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She's looking warm and all in there.

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If it gets cold, we got a fire in there.

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But despite the home comforts,

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Rhian knows that Bubbles will struggle to settle.

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Sadly, Bubbles has an addiction.

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He'll have to get some grass for her or she'll be shouting.

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She wants grass all the time.

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Aye. Oh, it's lovely to go away for weekends like this.

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That's the grass she likes, real green. She enjoys that.

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You watch her now, she'll be out for that now straight.

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Come and get the grass now, then.

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Oh, you see? Grass straight away. She likes that.

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Huh? Like the grass, don't you?

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Aye, aye.

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Look at her getting through that.

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Probably explains why they didn't let her have a run in the field.

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As the Marshalls begin to mark out the field,

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there are some unusual new arrivals.

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The Teardrops.

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Micro caravans are designed to be hitched up to anything,

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so that the intrepid traveller can head off in search of adventure.

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Or to the layman,

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they're a bed on wheels that looks like a water slide.

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# Oh, baby, don't let

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# Let this teardrop hit the ground

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# Oh, baby, don't let this teardrop... #

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This sleek little number is owned by Richard Oliver from Llanidloes.

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But during the journey, he's sustained some damage.

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We've got a bit of a problem with the jockey wheel.

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Er, we'll get round that, I'm sure.

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Yeah, that fixed it.

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Next to arrive, the boys from the Historic Caravan Club.

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This one is a 1952 Freeman Leveret,

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owned by partners Barry and Richard from Welshpool.

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Parking it isn't easy.

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As you are... No, left hand down!

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Have you got the water, dear?

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Every caravanner knows that once in your field,

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the first thing to do is to get the kettle on.

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That is, of course, if you can manage to park your caravan.

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"Yeah, just take it out, Rich, and bring it back in."

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Or if you can get your vintage stove to light.

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That will soon light.

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Ah, it's OK, we'll pop back, shall we?

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It takes a bit of a while for the gas to get through.

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Yeah, that's it. Back you come, as you are...

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Ah! There you go.

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-At long last, it will eventually light up.

-What was the problem there?

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Gas takes a long time to come through when its on a slope.

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What you need is some of that uphill gas.

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"Keep going, keep going, stop!"

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There we are. We have a table.

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So four people can sit round this and have their beverage.

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I suppose people were a bit smaller in the olden days.

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And then it's time for the final touch,

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an authentic 1950s radio.

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I don't think we'll get any reception, let's have a look.

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RADIO CRACKLES

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We might.

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And through the magic of telly, Richard's managed to pick up

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the Home Service. All our yesterdays, today.

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MUSIC PLAYS

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With the Freeman finally in position,

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it's time for the set up to begin.

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But for Barry and Richard, this isn't a chore, they love it,

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because for them, attention to detail is everything.

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Caravans back in the '30s, '40s and '50s

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tended to come fully equipped with china, pots, pans and so on.

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So what you were buying was almost a complete home on wheels, really.

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Over a couple of years,

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we've managed to put together two complete sets

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of Freeman caravan china.

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In fact, we've got more than two sets, we've got a cupboard full at home, as well!

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And that's not the only thing they've got at home.

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They've also got five more caravans.

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What we've got in this caravan is multiplied five more times,

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so, yeah, it definitely becomes an addiction, I think.

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We spend the summer using them and, you know, the winter, you know,

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finding all the bits and pieces to go in them.

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It's kind of an all-year-round job, really.

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With a vintage rally almost every weekend this summer,

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doesn't it get a bit weird living in the past?

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Yeah, we have vintage caravans full of vintage things,

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but to us they've just become our ordinary caravans

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and you stop noticing the fact it isn't a modern caravan

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because it's what we're used to.

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It almost becomes a museum on wheels,

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but at night-time, it becomes our home.

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When you've got the gaslights lit and the gas fire lit,

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you can almost imagine yourself back in the 1950s.

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# To make things right

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# You know I'm so alone tonight

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# Far away... #

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As Barry preps inside, it's Richard's job, as rally officer,

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to mark out the allocated spaces of the site.

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It's an important role and he's got bespoke equipment.

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I use this old string,

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it's probably in memory of a fellow member, Bob Bissell.

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He used to have string, he measured the distances.

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People often talked about him and his rope and getting it accurate,

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so this is what we've copied. It's the Bob Bissell rope.

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Suddenly, Richard's told that three unexpected caravans are due to arrive.

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He needs to get control of the situation,

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re-calculate his measurements and act fast.

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So basically, that's one caravan.

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There we go, crisis averted.

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Just in time, too, as the arrivals from the Historic Caravan Club flood in.

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And amongst the vans arriving, The Argosy.

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So, Ivor, now you're here, what's the plan?

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Now it's the easy part, just having a relax, innit?

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Have a look round all the other vans, like.

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Try the door now, cos that's the last part.

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That's it.

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All ready to go now.

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All I got to do now is make a cup of tea.

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Next to arrive is the Historic Club's youngest member, Rob Finney.

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Where did you get your caravan, Rob?

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Well, we found it in a barn near Aberaeron

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and, er, it was in a dilapidated state.

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Over a six-month period, restored him up to how he is now.

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It's a 1941 Winchester,

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made by Bertram Hutchings in Winchester.

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At a cost of £450, it was seriously for the elite.

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So, when you work that out in today's money,

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that's about sort of 80,000, 100,000, which is ridiculous for a caravan!

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Do you want to go shopping later?

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Rob's arrived with a fellow vintage caravanner, his dad.

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And it's a hobby that's been part of the Finney family for a long time.

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Father's been dealing in the big mobile holiday statics all his life

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and his father before him.

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All the family has got caravan parks, holiday parks

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and he's always been dreaming about caravans from when he could walk.

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It was always caravans made out of wood to tow behind a bike

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and things like that and then worked up and started off with the clubs.

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-That's it.

-The clubs love him because he's young blood

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and that's all he dreams about, caravans.

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Quite sad, really!

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Needs to get out a bit more!

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Ah, but for Rob, this is getting out.

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And, for him, modern life simply doesn't have the same appeal.

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I love the old '30s and '40s caravans, they've got so much character and charm,

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not like the modern day ones, which are pretty much all the same.

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You don't get much variation in them

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where, you know, gone are the days of a solid fuel stove in a van and gaslights

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and 40s gramophone with music like Vera Lynn playing and stuff like that.

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You all just get into the swing of it, it's a bit of harmless fun.

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# I'm forever blowing bubbles...#

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Over at Denzil and Rhian's, the awning's up and luggage unpacked.

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So now it's time to sort the holiday accommodation for Bubbles.

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# They fly so high... #

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Oh, yes.

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And what do you get in return for all your hard work, Rhian?

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If you ask her for a kiss, she'll give you a kiss.

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Nothing nasty in her at all.

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She will nibble you, you know, but not bite.

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# I've looked everywhere... #

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Here it is, that's a guinea pig caravan.

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I've never seen her do that before!

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You're going back now.

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See if she'll give me a kiss.

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Give Mam a kiss. Kiss.

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C'mon, kiss for Mam. She wants her food now.

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At Rob's Winchester it's time for some interior design... 1941 style.

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And that goes over there.

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Everything has its place, it's just remembering where it all goes!

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Everything is considered, and everything's authentic.

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-Right.

-And for Rob, transporting himself back in time

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is as much about the ethos of the era as it is about the decoration.

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I think it's partly what you hear about what happened in the '40s,

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about people rallying round and getting together and the whole

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"make do and mend" and that sort of side of the social history.

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I mean with the caravans, it was for high society.

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So you've got the best of both worlds.

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You've got the camping side, the high society buying caravans

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so it's all part and parcel.

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But, yeah, I don't wish I was born in the '40s,

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but I think it was a nice era.

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I think everybody just muddled in and got on.

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When I'm either in it, enjoying it on a weekend

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or working on them back in the yard, that's me happiest, yeah!

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Yeah.

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People say I'm mad, but, you know, we're all a bit mad, aren't we?

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Right, so that's everything for there now.

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Now we've got to do the kitchen area.

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Unpacking and setting out caravan crockery can be a tiring process

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and it builds up quite an appetite.

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Can I order ten portions of fish and chips, please?

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-Yeah.

-Cheers, thank you.

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As a welcome to the rally,

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Barry and Richard have invited everyone to tea.

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And what could be more in-keeping with a vintage weekend

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than traditional fish and chips?

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# Oh and I'm the type of guy who will never settle down. #

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Teardrop trailers first became popular in 1930s America

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and with this American heritage came an American attitude to caravanning.

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# I hug 'em and I squeeze 'em... #

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A man called Warbird explains.

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I could just put that behind any of the cars or vans I've got

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and just go away for the weekend.

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Everything's in it and it's just a simple way of getting out of town.

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It's a bed on wheels, really. You cook in the back of it.

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You haven't got much room to do anything else

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apart from sleep in it really, so, yeah, it's a sleeping pod.

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# ..With Rosie on my chest cos I'm a wanderer... #

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As we leave Warbird to his chops and tummies start to rumble on the site,

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does Teardrop owner, stir-fry Sue describe it any differently?

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It's posh camping, you know, it's comfortable to sleep in

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and also, like, just, I don't know, it's just very relaxing.

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Teardropping, like I said, it's just good fun

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because you just hitch up and off you go

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and wherever you end up that's where you

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set up and start enjoying wherever you are.

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I mean, we're in a beautiful place here in Wales.

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Stunning views and I can't think of anything better really.

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Bit of sauce on me chops... and the job's a good 'un.

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At the other end of the field the fish and chips have arrived

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and the historic caravan clubbers are re-living days gone by.

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That's what they would of done, you know,

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found a local fish and chip bar or something,

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or even caught their own fish in the river.

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But, yeah, fish and chips goes down a treat.

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And all of a sudden, he pulled the lever like that and it reared up,

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it broke the tree off in the track, thrown my grandad off.

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Out in the countryside, green grass, dry weather and fish and chips.

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Can't really be much better than that.

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Basically, I suppose you're looking for something

0:19:070:19:10

that was there in our childhood.

0:19:100:19:12

You talk to everybody about what they've got,

0:19:120:19:15

what they've done, where they've been.

0:19:150:19:17

And I tell 'em what I've done, what I've got, where I've been and that's what it's about.

0:19:170:19:21

It's a nice night, nice friends, good company

0:19:210:19:25

and just appreciative to be here with everybody.

0:19:250:19:29

And as night falls, Rhian's in a reflective mood too.

0:19:310:19:35

When I go caravanning I switch off. I don't think I'm home at all.

0:19:370:19:41

I think more of this than my house.

0:19:410:19:43

It's a silly thing to say,

0:19:430:19:44

cos it's our house, it's paid for and everything.

0:19:440:19:46

But I'm more happier here in the caravan.

0:19:460:19:49

# ..Your lips, your fingertips... #

0:19:490:19:52

I could live in a caravan all the time.

0:19:520:19:55

There's something romantic, better than home. You're enjoying.

0:19:550:19:58

At home you're thinking,

0:19:580:19:59

"What's tomorrow, what do I do today?"

0:19:590:20:02

You can forget it when you come in the caravan, see?

0:20:020:20:05

Yeah, it's great.

0:20:050:20:06

Oh, we really enjoy it, it's a shame we've got to go back.

0:20:060:20:09

Never mind, that's how it goes.

0:20:100:20:13

Say good night to the one you love, Rhi.

0:20:130:20:16

Night, night, Bubbles. I'm pulling the curtains now.

0:20:160:20:19

It's the following morning and it's show time.

0:20:330:20:36

Last minute preparations before the show opens,

0:20:360:20:41

so giving it a quick wipe over.

0:20:410:20:43

And for Barry, the vintage theme even extends to the outfit

0:20:440:20:49

he's going to wear to show the punters around the van.

0:20:490:20:52

I think what you're doing is catching the feel of a period of time gone by

0:20:540:20:59

and I think it can look a wee bit odd if you're sat outside

0:20:590:21:04

your very carefully prepared vintage caravan

0:21:040:21:08

in modern clothes and it all adds to the image.

0:21:080:21:13

After a good breakfast, Rhian, Denzel and Bubbles set-off

0:21:160:21:20

to get the lorry into position.

0:21:200:21:22

This afternoon is the grand parade, the highlight of their weekend.

0:21:220:21:27

Rhian and Denzel's now, not Bubbles'.

0:21:270:21:31

Hers is grass.

0:21:310:21:32

The show's opened and punters are in

0:21:350:21:37

and straightaway the vintage caravans are attracting attention.

0:21:370:21:42

Especially Barry and Richard's Freeman.

0:21:420:21:46

It's time for a guided tour.

0:21:460:21:48

It's all wood, you know there's no Formica or...

0:21:480:21:51

I think it's one of the most pleasurable parts of the weekend actually,

0:21:510:21:55

you know, just taking that time to talk to people.

0:21:550:21:58

What would we be doing otherwise?

0:21:580:22:00

At home doing the garden or shopping or something like that.

0:22:000:22:03

I couldn't think of a better place to be.

0:22:030:22:06

You've spent hours restoring your caravan

0:22:060:22:08

and you've enjoyed showing it off at the vintage fairs to a bunch of enthusiasts.

0:22:080:22:13

But what then?

0:22:130:22:15

What does a dedicated, vintage caravan refurbishing fanatic

0:22:150:22:18

do when a project is finished?

0:22:180:22:20

Kick back and relax?

0:22:200:22:22

I'll be selling this caravan.

0:22:220:22:24

This is the last show I'll show it at.

0:22:240:22:25

So I'm looking for a bigger caravan.

0:22:250:22:28

One slightly bigger with two single beds in it.

0:22:280:22:31

So then I'll sell this one and then this is the last show I'll do,

0:22:310:22:35

get that one in and then I'll have to do it up to show standard.

0:22:350:22:38

I've already slept my last night in her.

0:22:390:22:42

That was last night, so I'll be taking it back now

0:22:420:22:45

when the show finishes and that is it then.

0:22:450:22:47

-Cheers, love.

-Yes.

0:22:470:22:50

The excitement is increasing.

0:22:530:22:55

It's not long until the start of the grand parade

0:22:550:22:58

and although the commercial vehicles are all lined up ready to go

0:22:580:23:01

there's always time for a little chat to a kindred spirit.

0:23:010:23:05

When you've got one of these under the bonnet,

0:23:050:23:08

-you'll always come home.

-Absolutely.

0:23:080:23:10

If you've got one of those now the pipes are gone,

0:23:100:23:12

you can pull one of them levers and you'll come home.

0:23:120:23:15

Denzel's showing the lorry and talking about it

0:23:150:23:17

and I'm doing my knitting and listening to them as well.

0:23:170:23:20

I can hear them from here.

0:23:200:23:22

He's in his element and when he's home tomorrow

0:23:220:23:25

he'll be lost, he loves it, see.

0:23:250:23:27

This is a nice little van, but it's no good to us.

0:23:270:23:30

It's too small, there's no toilet compartment or anything

0:23:300:23:34

-so that will be a waste of time us bothering with that one.

-Yeah.

0:23:340:23:37

Ivor and Cheryl are window-shopping for their new caravan

0:23:370:23:41

and Ivor's next project.

0:23:410:23:43

They're in need of inspiration.

0:23:430:23:45

No, it hasn't got two single beds.

0:23:450:23:47

We want some with two single beds.

0:23:470:23:49

That's one you make your own bed up and I don't want that.

0:23:490:23:52

Has it got a toilet compartment? Cos that's the main thing we need.

0:23:520:23:55

-I think it has.

-Let me have a look then.

0:23:550:23:57

Yes, it has. It divides off to make its own toilet compartment.

0:24:000:24:04

One of these would do us. It's quite a bit older than our van

0:24:040:24:07

and would be a lot better for the shows.

0:24:070:24:10

But there is a caravan Ivor's had his eye on...

0:24:100:24:14

Barry and Richard's Freeman.

0:24:140:24:16

Now remember, Ivor, the trick with negotiating is to play it cool.

0:24:160:24:19

-Hello there, mate.

-You all right?

0:24:190:24:22

-Are you going to sell me this now?

-No.

0:24:220:24:24

Come on, put a price on it.

0:24:240:24:26

It's priceless for me really

0:24:260:24:28

because once you've sold them, they've gone, you see.

0:24:280:24:31

I know, but if I'm going to buy a van, you want to buy

0:24:310:24:34

the one you like and this is the best van I've seen.

0:24:340:24:36

This is my favourite, we've got a collection.

0:24:360:24:39

This one is my favourite, it's a good all rounder,

0:24:390:24:41

we can use it for holidays.

0:24:410:24:43

If you ever want to sell, promise to give me first chance.

0:24:430:24:46

We will. To be honest, we'll put you on the list.

0:24:460:24:48

We've got lots of people asking all the time,

0:24:480:24:50

"can we buy it, can we buy it?"

0:24:500:24:52

-I'd love to buy this.

-It's one of the best layouts I've seen.

0:24:520:24:55

After a few whiskies and brandies maybe.

0:24:550:24:57

We'll have to stay tonight and see if we can get you!

0:24:570:25:00

You know, it's er...

0:25:020:25:03

-All right.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much anyhow.

0:25:030:25:06

-Thank you, bye.

-Bye.

0:25:060:25:07

Ah, it's not to be.

0:25:070:25:09

It seems Ivor's search is just beginning.

0:25:090:25:12

It's here, the moment that Denzel and Rhian have been waiting for,

0:25:190:25:23

the grand parade and Denzel's chance to really show off the lorry.

0:25:230:25:26

The crowd look on as the 1960s showmen's truck

0:25:310:25:34

glides majestically around the ring.

0:25:340:25:36

Look at that,

0:25:410:25:43

man and vintage lorry in perfect harmony.

0:25:430:25:45

It's a fantastic turnout of all types of vintage vehicles

0:25:540:25:59

from across the generations.

0:25:590:26:01

So much so, in fact, that even the mechanical monkey is impressed.

0:26:010:26:06

It really is the ultimate show for the vintage devotee.

0:26:080:26:13

But all good things must come to an end.

0:26:240:26:26

And at Barry and Richard's, it's the tricky task

0:26:260:26:29

of putting everything away ready for the drive home to Welshpool.

0:26:290:26:32

Yeah, you do think, you wonder why do we do it, cos it is tiring.

0:26:320:26:36

Especially working all week and then away weekends.

0:26:360:26:40

But then come the winter time when it's all over,

0:26:400:26:42

you look back at the different shows like this one at Hay here

0:26:420:26:45

and you think, "Yeah, we did have a good time.

0:26:450:26:48

"It was a nice social time and nice weather."

0:26:480:26:51

So it all paints a nice picture for the dark winter nights, really.

0:26:510:26:55

Yeah, this is an old caravan, it's 50 odd years old.

0:27:010:27:04

But you kind of stop recognising that because it's your caravan,

0:27:040:27:09

it's your home on wheels at the end of the day.

0:27:090:27:11

It's also time for Ivor and Cheryl to say goodbye,

0:27:250:27:29

and not just to the vintage fair but to the caravan too.

0:27:290:27:34

You get to like them, don't you?

0:27:340:27:36

You put a lot of work into them, but the layout isn't right

0:27:360:27:40

for what I want, so it's time to say goodbye, innit?

0:27:400:27:44

Like everything, you like it, but it's got to go at the end of the day.

0:27:440:27:49

I'll find another one. I dunno.

0:27:490:27:51

I'm beginning to think I shouldn't sell this one. I dunno, there you go.

0:27:510:27:56

Aw, good luck, Ivor.

0:27:560:27:58

One day you'll find a dilapidated caravan with two single beds

0:27:580:28:03

and a toilet compartment. One day.

0:28:030:28:06

For Denzel and Rhian though it's a change of plan.

0:28:110:28:15

They've made the sort of impulsive decision that only caravanners can.

0:28:150:28:19

They're going to stay another glorious summer night.

0:28:190:28:23

The sun is shining beautiful outside.

0:28:240:28:26

There's nothing to pay for staying, so we might as well make the most of it.

0:28:260:28:30

Life is good in the caravan and we really enjoy it, the two of us.

0:28:300:28:33

Well, we're both happier when we're here in the caravan.

0:28:330:28:37

And who wouldn't be?

0:28:380:28:41

A beautiful evening, a piece of cake

0:28:410:28:44

and their own fibre glass heaven.

0:28:440:28:46

# You and the night and the music

0:28:490:28:53

# Fill me with flaming desire... #

0:28:530:28:57

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:28:570:28:59

E-mail [email protected]

0:28:590:29:01

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