Jersey Camping and Caravanning Club September 2016 Newsletter › newsletters › Sep-2016-Newsletter.pdf · talk and presentation by Jane Allan on first aid and defibrillators Wednesday

JCCC Newsletter for September 2016 Page 1 © Copyright 2016 JCCC

Jersey Camping and Caravanning Club

September 2016 Newsletter issue 15

The Future?

Hello and welcome to the September issue of your newsletter.

You know, it's kinda worrying. The average age of Club members isnow around 70 and, recently, I have learnt that Robin Perchard andRob Hamon, two of our rally organisers, after many years of excellentwork, are to retire at the AGM in April 2017. Only Collette Willmett willremain. Similarly, your newsletter editor (if elected to President nextyear) will need to find a replacement if he is to be able to give therunning of the Club his full attention.

If the club is to continue in its present form, we must do two things.Recruit more young people to join the Club and encourage youngermembers to take over the above rôles and others. The oldies mayhave more time, but, lack the energy, and can't keep going for ever.

Put simply, if no one comes forward, there will be no more rallies ornewsletters (at least not in their present form) and the Club will bevery different from what it is now – if it survives. We need your help.

Please consider putting yourself forward for either rally organiser orthe newsletter editor. More details of these rôles, which are bothchallenging and very rewarding, are on page 9 of this newsletter.

Robin DodkinsNewsletter Editor

Diary dates

September 9th to 12th Laying up Rally at Domaine du logis (this is aninformal rally with no organised events). Anyone wishing to attendshould contact Dave Killip on 864200 by 2nd September latest please.

Saturday 24th September guided visit to the Steam Museum (meet atthe Museum at 3:15) followed by supper at St. John's Inn at 5:45. Seereply slip at the end of this newsletter.

Wednesday October 12th Meeting at Trinity Parish Hall at 8:00pmtalk and presentation by Jane Allan on first aid and defibrillators

Wednesday November 16th Meeting at Trinity Parish Hall at 8:00pmTalk by Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard (possible dress code to be advised).

Sunday December 4th Christmas Lunch at St Brelades Bay Hotel12:30 for 1:00

Wednesday January 18th 2017 Film Evening at Les Ormes.

Wednesday 15th February 2017 Bowling Evening followed by supperat Jersey Bowl.

September 2016 Contents

Editorial 1

Diary Dates / Reminders 1

Summer Walk on 22nd June 2

Fête des Remparts 3

Summer Walk 27th July 5

Summer Walk 24th August 6

L'Entente Cordial? 7

Strange Vans 7

Petites Annonces 9

Reply Slips 9

Officers of the Club

President Glenda Killip 864200

Vice President Robin Dodkins 881881

Hon Sec. Anne Perchard 856629

Hon Treas. Sheila Ecobichon 851660

Rally Liaison Collette Willmett 854875

Newsletter Ed. Robin Dodkins 881881

Committee

Julia Hamon 851840

Carol Bernardini 744970

Barry Smith 859867

Graham Francis 746029

Monique Lawrence 853891

Auditors

David Le Marquand

Dennis Ferbrache

Newsletter contributions

Contributions to the newsletter orwebsite are always welcome andshould be e-mailed [email protected] althoughinclusion in either medium cannot beguaranteed. Please do not sendcontributions to my home address as Iam not always there to receive them.

Web site www.jerseycamping.org.je

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.jerseycamping.org.je/

Walk from Devils Hole Wednesday 22nd June

The day started well enough with a few spells ofsunshine and quite warm with the odd shower but,as the day progressed, it became clear that we wereheading for a storm and just as the members wereassembling outside the Priory at Devils Hole so itstarted to rain steadily. Then shortly after, they setoff, the heavens opened and the rain was to say theleast, torrential. I really felt for the walkers as I drankmy coffee in the pub in the warm and dry while

awaiting their return. Rosemary and I had not been there long when two of the walkers gave up and joinedus. So out of the 24 members who attended just 16 brave (or was it foolhardy?) souls actually did the walk inthe rain.

While we were waiting for the group to return not only did we have the rain but we were also entertained bythunder and lightening which continued on and off all evening. It was still going by the time Rosemary and Igot back home with some spectacular displays over Elizabeth Castle. About 6:30pm our weary bandreturned to the Inn for supper. Everybody ordered and paid for their own meal and were thus able to havewhat they wanted which makes organising this type of event so much easier. John, our genial landlord, andthe staff did a fantastic job to get so many meals out in such a short time and the quality of the meals wasexcellent.

All together, apart from the rain, a very successful event and thanks to Glenda for organising it and also toAlvaro for leading the walk. Well done


Fête des Remparts (Dinan)

Most of us have been to the Fête des Remparts in Dinan at some time or other and I have to admit it gets abit 'samey' after a while but, there are some parts of the Fête that Rosemary and I have never seen so wetook the plunge this time and went into an hotel for a few days. Thus, we could visit all the exhibits andactivities and go back to the hotel for a rest whenever we felt the need.

As you might already know, if you go in medieval costume, except for the jousting, you don't have to pay toget in to the various areas and we got in to the spirit of the Fête by going as a 'lady of the manor' and a monkand here we both are in our costumes beside a couple of the many many stalls showing medieval crafts.

Half the mainroundabout, in themiddle of Dinan,was blocked off totraffic andguarded by Police.As we passed by,the cops startedlooking in ourdirection so, ofcourse, I 'blessed'them, making thesign of the cross

and it actually got a smile. Even the French Police, it seems, have a sense of humour.

There were all the usual things like the medieval marketin the main square plus a whole host of exhibitionsshowing various aspects of medieval life from cooking tomedicine to leather work and more. It really wasfascinating and the exhibitors were only too pleased toexplain what they were doing and why.

No self respecting medieval knight would be without hisbespoke suit of armour and this chap pictured left is justthe man who could provide one.

He was a real craftsman and showed us how to shape themetal parts of the suit and how the various parts fittedtogether and how they were articulated. Must get one!


Many Congratulations to Anne and Robin Perchard on theirGolden Wedding Anniversary on 3rd September 2016

1966 ~ 2016

Security for the two days of the Fête was, to say the least, tight.In addition to a dozen or more unarmed private securitypersonnel, Police and Gendarmes armed with sub-machine gunswere patrolling in threes while the army, also with sub-machineguns, were going round in groups of twelve. I am not sure whetherI felt safer with them all there or not but, happily, there were noincidents that I heard of.

Now, question time. In Italy it is a standing joke that the police andCarabinieri go around in pairs because only one can read and onecan write. So, why do the French Police go round in threes andthe army indozens?

Answers ona postcardplease.

Pictured above some very strange stilt walkers (justthe job to scare the kids on a dark night) and on theright a couple of knights with their camp followers.

Left we have a few beggars who have knocked offfor the day. Then below left, well, it's some sort ofmusical ensemble but I'm not quite sure of thesignificance of the 'nappies'. Again answers on apostcard please. And finally, below right, a gallantgentleman gives his lady friend a lift on his medievalpassion wagon. Well maybe not. He spent twowhole days pulling this lady and cart around Dinan.

Altogether a lovely couple of days culminating in the Grand Parade on Sunday evening which went rightaround the centre of Dinan passing the main square where we had a meal and watched it all go by. Verytiring, very crowded but well worth the effort. If you missed it, it will be back again in July 2018.

Pictures by Rosemary Dodkins


Summer Walk Wednesday 27th July

On a rather overcast but reasonably warm day, eighteen intrepid members assembled at Holmegrown for apleasant walk around the lanes returning afterwards to Stanley's restaurant, where 31 members sat down fora very good supper. Thanks to Glenda for organising the event, to Carol, Alvaro and Michel for leading thewalk and to all the staff at Stanley's for looking after us so well. Good job.

Information and picture top left from Dave and Glenda Killip. Other pictures from Roy Le Plongeon.


Summer Walk Wednesday 24th August

The day had been quite warm with just the odd light shower but as we gathered in Les Mielles Golf Club carpark for our walk it was getting considerably cooler. After a disappointing start, the number of memberswishing to attend quickly rose and the final number for the meal was 43 with 23 actually doing the walk. Thewalk itself started promptly at 17:00 going through the lanes around the golf course with members returningto Rocco's for supper. And what a meal it was. There was a choice of six meals from the main menuincluding either a glass of wine, beer, cider or soft drink all for £10.00. The quality of the food was excellentand there was plenty of it.

Many thanks to Carole and Alvaro who recommended and booked Rocco's, Carole for organising the menusand leading the walk and last, but not least, the staff at Rocco's for looking after us so well. Another good job.

Facebook in real life (from Anne and Robin Perchard)

A friend of mine decided that he should try to make friends outside of Facebook while applying the sameprinciples. So, every day, when he goes out, he tells passers-by what he has eaten, how he feels, what he did the nightbefore and what he will be doing the following night. Then he gives them pictures of his family, his dog, andhim gardening and spending time in his pool. He also listens to their conversations and tells them he 'likes'them. And it works.

He already has 5 people following him: two police officers, a psychiatrist and two men in white coats.


L'Entente Cordial?

There was a Frenchman, an Englishman and Claudia Schiffer sitting together in a carriage in a train goingthrough Provence.

Suddenly the train went through a tunnel and as it was an old style train, there were no lights in the carriagesand it went completely dark. Then there was a kissing noise and the sound of a really loud slap.

When the train came out of the tunnel, Claudia Schiffer and the Englishman were sitting as if nothing hadhappened and the Frenchman had his hand against his face as if he had been slapped there.

The Frenchman was thinking: 'The English chap must have kissed Claudia Schiffer and she missed him andslapped me instead.' Claudia Schiffer was thinking: 'The French guy must have tried to kiss me and actuallykissed the Englishman and got slapped for it.' And the Englishman was thinking: 'This is great. The next timethe train goes through a tunnel I'll make another kissing noise and slap that French bastard again.'

STRANGE VANS

Each issue I'll be looking around the world for weird and wonderful caravans, motor homes and othercamping pictures. This time, it's some of the strange recreational vehicles that turn up at the American Artsfestival held in the Nevada desert called Burning Man.

If you want to know more about this very American event, see http://burningman.org/ . The site offers aninsight in to what goes on there and the Gallery have some fine pictures of some of the entries.

Our first offering is the elephant. Now where have I seen something like this before? Then continuing withthe animal theme is the snail mobile which shoots flames from its antennae – sort of built in BBQ perhaps?

Then we have these two fishy offerings.


http://burningman.org/

Then left, a real ship of the desert and, above right,what must be the the ultimate American school busconversion.

And now, going back to the nautical theme for a moment, below left another ship of the desert and then tothe right a little gem called the 'Dragon Smelter'. Where do they get these names?

Then, above left, yet another example of the weird recreational vehicles to be found at this mostextraordinary arts festival and finally, who could resist the 'Bunny and Carrot'? All pictures from the BurningMan web site

Look out for another crop of the weird and wonderful and don't forget, if you have any pictures of strangelooking campers, caravans or other recreational vehicles, please send them in and I will try to include them.


PETITES ANNONCES

Wanted

Steven Gandy is looking for a small trailer tent suitable for being towed by a Toyota Yaris. If you have asuitable trailer tent for sale, or know of one, please contact Steven directly on [email protected]

Vacancies

Rally Organiser (two vacancies). Currently, this function is carried out by three people two ofwhom are to retire in April 2017. They organise two rallies each year. A formal one, which hasorganised activities, and an informal rally, with no organised activities. The job involves, in eachcase, researching possible areas to visit and, once an area has been selected, making thenecessary bookings with a suitable camp site and collecting any booking and deposit fees. Inaddition to booking the sites, for the formal rally, there will also be the activities to arrange andcollect monies for. The Laying Up Rally, in September, will continue to be organised by David Killip.

As the Rally Organiser, you will have a great deal of autonomy to go where you wish, but, in allcases, the age and preferences of the members should be borne in mind. The Shakedown rally isnormally held in the third week of April and the main rally in the second week of June. Rallies areusually held in France but, depending on the support of Club members, may be elsewhere.

You do not have to be a Committee member to undertake this rôle and would normally communicatewith the Committee via the third member of the team, Rally Liaison Officer, Collette Willmett who also assistsin the running of the rallies.

Newsletter Editor This rôle requires the incumbent to produce a newsletter to keep the membershipinformed about forthcoming events, to report on past events, to inform members of things of interest tocampers and caravanners and, to a degree, to entertain.

Currently there are six issues per year spread evenly throughout the year but, as the editor, you would beable to change this if you felt the need. Distribution of the newsletter is by e-mail but there are currently sixmembers who receive a hard copy by post and you would need to produce and dispatch these hard copies.

You would normally be a member of the Committee and much of the information for the newsletter wouldcome from the Committee meetings.

If you are interested in either of the above vacancies and want to know more, please contact the current postholder(s). Rally Organisers Rob Hamon or Robin Perchard. Newsletter Editor Robin Dodkins.


Reply Slip for the visit to the Steam Museum on Saturday 24th September 2016 at 3:15pmfollowed by supper at the St. John's Inn (paid for at the Inn). Cost £5.50 per head for museum entry.

I/We will be attending the museum only the meal only both please tick as required

Name(s)_____________________________________________________________________________

Please enclose a cheque made out to JCCC for:- £____________ and return, by 16th September 2016 to:-

Mrs Collette Willmett, Le Nid d’Or, Le Grand Jardin de l’Est, La Grande Route de la Cote, St Clement. JE2 6SW.

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Jersey Camping and Caravanning Club September 2016 Newsletter › newsletters › Sep-2016-Newsletter.pdf · talk and presentation by Jane Allan on first aid and defibrillators Wednesday