Meet the Guys who built your Safari - Weekend Event in 2014

[Brian M]

POSTPONED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2014


In a thread on Facebook, Stuart Dowler, who was a storeman when they closed, has suggested that we might be able to get together with ex-workers from the factory. We have a couple of them already as members on the forum so perhaps they can also help locate their former colleagues.

I think this would be a fantastic way to thank them for their craftsmanship in building our Safaris so well that they have survived the last 30-50 years. I am sure they would love to see how we are preserving their work.

We could also convoy to the sites of the original factories, even though they have long since disappeared.

My initial thought is that the weekend of April 26-27 2014 would be a good time. Easter is the week before and the May Bank holiday is the week after when sites will be more booked up. But I am open to suggestions if the majority wanted to make it a three day event. The rally would have to be in the Gloucester area, and I know we have several members living there so perhaps that could research a choice of suitable sites. If Caravan Club or Camping and Caravan Club sites, we need to ensure they are open to non-members.

Can you please use this thread to record your interest and suggestions for dates and sites.

[Deleted]

Sounds like a fantastic weekend away - will be great to meet the ex workers and they can give us some stories and tips on the best way to rebuild as per the safari way. I'm sure I'll have my safari by then so count me in - it's not too far at all!

[michael1]

Hi Brian if you are coming to Gloucestershire there is a good site called Apple Tree Park located on the A38 just 1 mile of the M5 there are plenty attractions nearby and as a exsafari worker i could come and see you all as i live not far away look for the site on ukcampsite.co.uk hope this may help

[Brian M]

Thanks for the suggestion Michael, looks good. If you had not seen this thread, I was about to write to you to see if you have any names or contacts with any of the ex-Safari staff. As soon as I get some real interest from members of the form and the fb group, and we are closer to confirming the suggested date, I will be in touch.

[oliver1]

I will try to make it, if the eventual dates work for me. Weekends tend to be more difficult for me than midweek, as I am retired but still serve as a church Organist; but the weekend immediately after Easter would be a good one, and it would also permit me to pay a visit on the Sunday to the Gloucestershire church where I served very happily for 15 years immediately before retiring, which would be a welcome bonus.

Although my information is now very dated, and so may no longer be current - at the very least it would need checking - I used to know two excellent CLs between Gloucester and the Forest of Dean. One would of course need to be a Caravan Club member in order to use them, but I presume that most of our members already are anyway.

I will check in the Handbook whether they are still in operation, and report back.


Oliver

[supernannyjane]

We've used Apple Tree Park on several occasions and can highly recommend it. We're not members of the Caravan Club but their 'Friendly' rivals.....so could not use one of their CLs.

[oliver1]

Is this still under consideration for the dates initially suggested (April 26-27)?

Those dates would work for me, but I note with concern that in the thread New Safari owner seeks help Brian states "There are two Safari meetings during your UK visit, one near London late July, one in Leicestershire from 23rd to 25th August", and the UK visit mentioned is from April until September.

Those July and August dates are no use to me, as I have every intention of being away sailing then, and if they are the ONLY dates that suggests that the April event may have been dropped.

[Brian M]

This meet is still in the planning stage and so I didn't include it in my reply to Chris as it may affect his UK travel plans during his visit.

[oliver1]

Thanks for the clarification.

I will try to get there if it takes place on the dates currently proposed.

[rachfan56]

Hello,
We have just bought a Safari to restore and would love to come to the get together in April.
Ruth and Martin Hamm

[scottyfalmouth]

Count me in if in Gloucester as only 130 miles away from the Van (In Devon) and 230 miles away from us in KERNOW so would pick it upon way past. Apple Tree Park looks good.

Regards

Scott

[oliver1]

Is there any update on this event yet?

The dates are getting close, if it is going to happen.

I hope to make it, if the event is still on, but if not I shall more likely do something else in a different part of the country.

It would be helpful to make a decision fairly soon now.

Thanks,


Oliver

[oliver1]

Still urgently awaiting an update as to whether this event is or is not going to happen, please.

If it is not on then I shall do something else in a different part of the country, but it would be helpful to take a decision this week it at all possible.

Thanks,



Oliver

[Brian M]

This event will have to be postponed until September 2014. Please reply on here if you are still interested in an alternative date.

[oliver1]

Potentially interested, but it will play second fiddle to sailing; it will all depend on when in the month it is, and when I get home from my summer cruise. The latter will depend in part on weather.

And as a Church Organist I will by then have already taken more than my official number of Sundays off duty, so I may be in difficulties with taking any more off, although I have started the ball rolling towards my semi-retirement so it might just be possible.




Oliver

[paeroa2]

Nov 28, 2013 8:11:13 GMT Brian M said:

This meet is still in the planning stage and so I didn't include it in my reply to Chris as it may affect his UK travel plans during his visit.

[paeroa2]

Hi Brian
Thanks for keeping me in mind, we will arrive in UK 1st May and would love to visit one of your rallies.
We will stay till the end of September, have bought a campervan and joined the caravan Club so we will
travel anywhere in UK to join you.
I will call you when we arrive for dates and places.
Looking forward to meeting some of you and getting some inspiration for my rebuild.
Chris

[michael1]

Hi i hope it will be at the end of sept as i will be away the first 14 days in the month

[supernannyjane]

Is this event still happening in September? We will be away until the 6th September......If Apple Tree Park is still in the running as a venue the guy who used to own it had, amongst other businesses, a caravan delivery business 'back in the day' and one of the caravan site's service roads is called Safari Drive. I think there may be a Castleton Way or similar too!