The Caravan Club Explorer of the Year
Explorers awarded at Annual Ceremony
What can reunite friends after 60 years apart, raise thousands for charity and inspire a budding author to take the plunge and write a book? Caravanning can, and this year’s Caravan Club Explorer of the Year awards lead the way.
Celebrating its fifth year, The Caravan Club Explorer of the Year awards, a joint award ceremony between The Caravan Club and leading leisure vehicle manufacturer, Explorer Group Limited, recognise the incredible achievements of the country’s top touring trailblazers.
The entries received both touched and inspired the judges and they had a difficult task deciding on the winners for all six categories, which were:
- Domestic Explorer of the Year,
- European Explorer of the Year,
- Worldwide Explorer of the Year,
- Lifetime Achievement
- Special Achievement
- The overall Caravan Club Explorer of the Year
David Stokes was named The 2006 Caravan Club Explorer of the Year as well as the Domestic winner in recognition of his ‘Grand Tour of England, Scotland and Wales’ staying at 193 campsites.
However, it is not just where David travels but how he travels that excites him most. Including a trip from Italy to the UK in a three-wheel 50cc Piaggio van, a round trip to Istanbul and later to Morocco in a Smart car and a trip across America in 2000 in a 19 foot Winnebago.
The award is the icing on the cake for David who feels lucky to have experienced so many adventures in his 60 years: “This acknowledgement from both Explorer Group and The Caravan Club means a lot to me especially to be rewarded for enjoying something I love".
Winner of the European Explorer of the Year award was Hazel Jackson, who achieved a life-long dream of becoming a writer while on an adventure of a lifetime
After selling the family home in Hertfordshire Hazel Jackson, 56, and her husband Simon purchased a spacious motorhome so they could take a voyage to remember with their 13 year old son, Callum.
Hazel’s 12 month mammoth journey, or what she likes to call her ‘midlife gap year’, took her to most of Europe including the Coast of France to Portugal, Milan, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria.
Hazel added: “I wrote a book ('Europe in a Motorhome - A Mid Life Gap Year Around Southern Europe' , £10.99, available on geocities.com/h.hdj@btinternet.com ) about the journey too, which has been a lifetime ambition of mine. The trip is something we will hold dear to us for many years to come and this award will provide an everlasting token of our life changing experience.”
Meanwhile, the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Christine Fagg, a much respected and much loved member of The Caravan Club.
Christine has been a dedicated caravanner for 45 years and has written countless articles and various books on the topic. She has even designed her own caravan, which Trophy agreed to build. It became known as ‘Lady Go Lightly’ and was unveiled at the Earls Court Exhibition of 1982.
Other award winners included Jack and Alice Bohannan and Beryl and Gren Greenwood, friends reunited after 60 years apart, who scooped the Special Achievement award, as well as Thomas Mortimer and Graeme Ashmore, winners of the Worldwide Explorer of the Year award.
Martin Henderson, Sales and Marketing Director at Explorer said: “We are extremely proud to be associated with these prestigious awards, now in the fifth year. They are a great way to celebrate the love the British public has for touring. With more categories than ever before, it shows the increasing popularity of the outdoor lifestyle and the adventures it can bring.”
Trevor Watson, Director General of The Caravan Club, who hosted the evening’s awards dinner commented: “Every year I continue to be inspired by the journeys people make. Whether is to meet old friends, raise money for ch`arity or to take that once in a life-time trip. These awards are the industry’s way of recognising the true triumphs of dedicated and passionate people.”
(Updated: 06 March 2007)
