Members News

It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Honorary Life Member David Bubb from Droitwich Spa. Worcs. David passed away in hospital on Sunday 1^st September after a long illness. He will be greatly missed.

David with his wife Janet joined the SOC in 1993 and soon became well known regular ralliers and marshalled rallies. He helped and supported the club in many ways over the years and always had the future of the club at heart.

He was the Area Committee Member for Area 4 between 1995 -1999 and then Publicity Officer between 2000 – 2001. After a short break he took on the very demanding role of Membership Officer between 2005 – 2012. A few years later in 2017 when we were stuck for a Membership Officer, he stepped back in to the role and continued until 2020. Despite his health at the time, he suggested the club had an Honorary Life Member Liaison Officer to keep in contact with all our Honorary Life Members. He was offered that role and took it on for a couple of years. I know that was much appreciated by those he contacted.

Many members will also remember David for his association with the ever popular ‘Catch 22’ competition. Around 1995 a shield was presented to the club by the ACMs for areas 4,5,6 and 7 for a fishing competition between Areas. (4+5+6+7=22).

David will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with Janet and family at this sad and difficult time.

I will publish funeral arrangements here as soon as I have them.

RIP David

John Brailsford President

Membership Renewal for 2025

If you joined the club before 1st September this year, then unless you are an Honorary Life Member or have a Direct Debit mandate set up to cover membership renewal, it’s time to think about renewing your membership for 2025. Early renewals are appreciated and you will receive your 2025 Rally Book as soon as it’s available. CLICK HERE or click the link in the renewals section of this page for details of how renew and the various payment methods available.

The Swift Owners Club will not have a stand or any presence at the NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show in October, this is because the Swift Group need all the available space to display their motorhomes and caravans. However, they are inviting members of the Swift Owners Club to attend a presentation and to enjoy a bacon sandwich with them on their stand. This will be on Wednesday 16^th of October 2024 at 10:30. Numbers are limited to 26 people, therefore, if you would like to be included, then please contact me via email/telephone (call or message) to ensure you get your place. At the show you will be able to view the new 2025 range of Swift Caravans and Motorhomes. My contact details are; Email address is marketing@swift-owners-club.com or via call/text message to 07412 636628.

Gareth Roberts , SOC Marketing Officer

Please tell other ralliers who may not see this.

A dangerous bacteria has been found in Reblochon de Savoie cheese causing the French customer services watchdog Rappel Conso to issue a major product recall.

The recall concerns four Reblochon cheeses sold throughout France in Auchan, Leclerc, Carrefour, Casino, Intermarché, Système U and Monoprix supermarkets

As many ralliers have been travelling through France for a while you may have some in your fridge.

Val Brailsford

Swift have requested some ‘action’ photographs and videos of our Swift Rallies. Ideally they would like ‘action’ photographs/videos of people, children and dogs. Playing games and of people barbecuing etc with a Swift caravan(s) in the photograph/video. These are for use at the NEC Caravan Show in October. I know it’s a very tall order and fairly short notice as they would like the images for next week. I have a couple of photos I can send. Any photographs or videos need to have the full permission of any people in the said photograph or video (to comply with GDPR).

Please email any images to me.

marketing@swift-owners-club.com

Thank you, Gareth Roberts, SOC Marketing Officer

We have a number of pitches available on this rescheduled rally. New dates 26th September to the 1st October 2024.

It will good if we can fill this event as the site have accommodated the club outside of their normal rally season

 John Avery, Rally Marshal

Are you thinking of joining us at Kings Lynn.  This is definitely a Get Ready for Christmas Rally as we have tickets reserved for our visit to the amazing Thursford Christmas Spectacular, a must see especially if you’ve not been before.  Tickets cost £51.00 each but a £10.00 deposit per ticket is all that is required at present and there is also the opportunity to visit the Sandringham Craft Fair plus checking out the history and interesting places to visit in and around Kings Lynn , all the fun evenings we have in the lovely cosy and warm Cabin on the site in the evenings, not to mention the Mulled Wine, Mince Pies and Cake we enjoy there.  If you would like to join us and wish to reserve tickets for the Christmas Spectacular please can you let us know before 15^th September as all unsold tickets must be returned by 17^th September, although we can accept bookings for the Rally all with EHU after that date.  Please contact us keithjenne@btinternet.com or mobile No. 07739 260389. 

Jenne & Keith Essam, Marshals

Christmas Starts Here Rally:

There are just a few pitches on the GRASS with 10 amps EHU still available. 

All the fully serviced and hard-standing pitches are already full. 

Anyone wishing to stay on the Sunday night can book with me at rally rates. 

All detail of the rally and Christmas meal costs can be found in the Rally Book. 

Val & John Brailsford 

Back in 2000 the Club produced its first Caravan Cook Book which has long been out of print. Now nearly 25 years later our caravans, motorhomes & camper vans are much more sophisticated and the cooking equipment available for us to use whilst away from home has also become more varied and sophisticated.

During the Open Forum Discussion following the 2024 AGM, there was considerable support from those present for an updated version to be produced. The Committee have agreed, and I have taken on the task of co-ordinating the recipes submitted, and it will now be known as the SOC Cook Book to reflect the fact that the club is not just about caravans. Although I volunteered to pull this together, please remember that it is Your book that will contain Your recipes.

I would also like to gather some information from members about the type of cooking equipment you prefer to use whilst away in your unit, and to this end there is a short optional survey available via this link SOC Cook Book Survey with a deadline to submit your responses by 30th September so that an anonymised summary report of the results can be included in the Autumn 2024 edition of Going Places, and more fully on the website. The results will also be helpful in determining how to structure the Cook Book layout.

N.B. You don’t need a Google account to complete the survey.

An example version of the Cook Book will be available soon, but to date there has been a poor response to the survey (two only!) and no recipes have yet been submitted from members.

Please submit your recipes to recipes@swift-owners-club.com but please remember to acknowledge the source of your recipe i.e. your own, family recipe, based on or adapted from a recipe by First Name Last Name etc.

The recipes received will be compiled into a “Book” which initially will just be available via the website and therefore accessible via your phone, tablet or laptop whilst away. If you prefer, you can of course just print out the recipes you particularly want to use. The SOC Cook Book will therefore be forever expandable, amended easily and not constrained by the number of pages, and will never be out of print! Whether a print version is eventually produced will be for the Committee to decide, but in the meantime let’s get started!

On a seasonal basis, one or two recipes will be included in Going Places under the title Let’s All Cook & Share. To kick start this, my all-year round recipe for Moroccan Tagine is included in the Summer edition. It is adaptable for either lamb, chicken or just vegetables and can be cooked in various items of equipment e.g. oven, slow cooker, Remoska® etc. whilst away in your unit, and also of course at home. I hope you enjoy trying it!

Yvonne Lovett