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 Topic: Man buys back caravan he built in 1963
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28/2/2012 at 10:52am
Location: Buckinghamshire
Outfit: VW Campers and Tents
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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
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28/2/2012 at 12:13pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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Now that's got to be a million to one chance to say the least in not only the fact that he built the caravan all those years ago but the fact that the very same caravan is still in perfect use today and most of all still in prestine condition. The majority of caravans built in 1963 would have long been on the scrap heap but what a remarkable story, and to still have the original black & white photo too is certainly a bonus. I have heard some stories regarding the bygone years but this has to be one of the best. Brilliant!
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28/2/2012 at 12:52pm
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Can't be the same caravan as the door hinges are on opposite sides. Probably one of many that the company manufactured but not one that he actually used.
Also the DM called it a 4 wheel creation or is that the DM create facts again?
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28/2/2012 at 1:15pm
Location: South Gloucestershire
Outfit: Avondale Kingfisher Super 1979
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I dont think it is the same van in both pictures but there's no doubt that the chap built both of them.
Briliant story all the same, I wonder if our old van will live that long....
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28/2/2012 at 3:34pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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Quote: Originally posted by Surfer01 on 28/2/2012
Can't be the same caravan as the door hinges are on opposite sides. Probably one of many that the company manufactured but not one that he actually used.
Also the DM called it a 4 wheel creation or is that the DM create facts again?
i noticed the door too.i do not think it is same van.
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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
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29/2/2012 at 1:20pm
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Perhaps it's had a new door and somebody decided to hang it the other way.
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01/3/2012 at 9:59am
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Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 29/2/2012
Perhaps it's had a new door and somebody decided to hang it the other way.
And paint a new stripe on it?
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01/3/2012 at 10:44am
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Door on wrong way as door catch,stripe,reflector on stripe, no awning light on top picture,different jockey wheel,Awning pole catches on side.dont think thats the same van ?
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Animals have feelings..
JEFF................
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01/3/2012 at 10:55am
Location: Buckinghamshire
Outfit: VW Campers and Tents
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It's been around for 49 years, I would expect there to be some changes!
Ian
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01/3/2012 at 11:31am
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Quote: Originally posted by Surfer01 on 01/3/2012
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 29/2/2012
Perhaps it's had a new door and somebody decided to hang it the other way.
And paint a new stripe on it?
Comes in tins from Homebase apparently 
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01/3/2012 at 2:50pm
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i think it could be same van as over 49 years some one or more people could of up graded it. we will never know....
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Mark
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01/3/2012 at 4:40pm
Location: WEST LOTHIAN
Outfit: COACHMAN 460 2
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awwww thats a lovely wee story ,glad they are reunited again !!!!
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wynnie
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01/3/2012 at 5:02pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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V shaped stand on the A frame base is not on the bottom picture,these were welded on i think.the badge is missing at the front,
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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
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