Advertisement
Message Forums |
|
 Topic: Man buys back caravan he built in 1963
|
Page: 1 2
  |
28/2/2012 at 10:52am
Location: Buckinghamshire
Outfit: VW Campers and Tents
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 09/6/1999 Forum Admin 
Forum Posts: 7662
Tent Reviews: 3
| Site Reviews Total: | 84 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 2  |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0  |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 18 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 13 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 21 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 6 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 6 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 1 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 33 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 24 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 44 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 9 |
|
According to the DailyMail, a man has been re-united with a caravan he built nearly 50 years - after a friend spotted the model by chance while browsing on Ebay.
Frank Holgate, a joiner, built the 12ft four-birth Silverlight caravan from scratch in 1963, before selling it for £540.
Jump forward 49 years, skip through the rise of the modern computer, the internet and eBay, and now thanks to a friend, Frank is now re-united with his four-wheeled creation.
The caravan is still in great condition, and Frank, from Silverdale in Lancashire, asked his wife Judith to pose in front of it, just as she did all those years ago.
From this... The 12ft Silverlight caravan as it was in 1963...
To this......And again in 2012, with Judith again posing in front of Frank's creation
Frank’s friend noticed the distinctive ‘Holgates’ badge on the model while browsing the auction website Ebay. Not only was the caravan still in good condition, it was on sale for £700 - a 30 percent increase from its original price tag.
Frank, chairman of Holgates Holiday Park in Silverdale, Lancashire, wasted no time in bidding for the caravan and the model is now safely parked on his site.
He said: 'It was a bit of a blast from the past to be honest and makes you wonder where all the years have gone.
'I never expected to come across any of our originals but it’s wonderful to have it back with us and we are excited to get some refurbishment plans underway.'
The model’s original features included state-of-the-art Stormur interior dicor, aluminium foil insulation and 'harduraloop' carpet.
Frank Holgate, now 70, was taught the art of joinery from his late Father, William ‘Billy’ Holgate.
He began manufacturing touring caravans for the family business at the tender age of 16.
In 1963 his then-girlfriend Judith posed for a photograph in front of Frank’s treasured caravan.
Judithm now his wife, has re-created the same pose in the foreground of the picture of the caravan taken in 2012.
The Holgates caravan business was originally set up by William Holgate in 1945 to build and sell touring caravans, considered a luxury purchase in post-war days.
The business continued to thrive but by 1956 it stopped producing caravans altogether to focus on its fledgling holiday park in Silverdale.
The park remains very much family owned and run, with Frank’s eldest son Michael now at the helm
-------------
|
| Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off! |
|
|
|
|
|
7614 Visitors online !
Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite
[Message Forums]
[Caravan Sites & Camping]
[Company Listings]
[Features / Advice]
[Virtual Brochure]
[Shop!]
[Reception]
[Competitions]
[Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]
[Event Diary]
[Contact Us]
[Tent Reviews]
Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
