The Tent Camping Group FOL, 1970

Around 1969 a group of Camping Club members decided that some good sites were becoming un used as members were starting to buy caravans. The access to some sites were only suitable for a single car (no 4x4 back then) and those sites were being seen as unsuitable to caravans.

By 1970 the so called Tent Camping Group was formed, it was a big success and still accepted by the main Camping Club, the new group then found their own sites or used those that had been a part of the calender for years.

This is the North West Tent Camping Group, I would say it was the annual FOL or to give its the full name Feast of Lanterns,when we all dressed up and had lights on the tents.

Doreen McBride is third from the left with the long dark hair. Caravans were still welcome as long as they could access the field.

Pictures by RH McBride

Roy

That first tent, the early years

Back in the late fifties my folks bought a second hand tent, Army and Navy Stores issue I suspect, it was a great tent, if not a bit basic.

This may be at a Camping Club site down near London named Theobalds Park, I may be wrong?

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=1616

The car is not ours, we will have been in my grandads black Morris Oxford MO, was that a 1952 car?

I know my dad took the picture as its a self portrait, did he ever know I wonder, click on the picture, when it enlarges look into the small mirror hanging in the tent, yu can see my dad and his camera quite clearly.

Roy

The early camping years circa 1958

This was the begining, down in Cornwall possibly?

I am guessing about the date but it will not be far off?

Roy

Rob and Doreen McBride

Seen here I can only assume I took the photograph myself?

Where and when was this, probly not a camping weekend,more a club ramble.About 1960 sounds right?

Roy

Morris Oxford calls out the AA

We camped often at Llangwandle in North Wales, farmer Thomas and his daughter Ceinwen always made us welcome. The camp site was just behind their double story home.

This may be an R McBride photo as my dad is standing and cleaning his hands next to the car.

That is Elizabeth on the left with Susan Boyle on her right, Susans dad, Alex Boyle faces the camera and is stiting down.

The hard fibre camshaft drive gear had striped some teeth, this was a major job and the front of the engine needed removal, a new gear was fitted and it was never a problem there after.

Roy

Dads Morris Oxford MO

Seen here is my dad with his first car, the car was licenced first in 1953, it was a great car, if a little under powered with its 1470cc side valve engine.

Photo by Doreen McBride?

Roy

The McBride Morris Oxford MO

Seen here is the car outside the house in Pimbley Grove West, Maghull, L315JR, the family home for around 55 years.

Photo by RH McBride

I may have been around 10 or 11 back then? We kept this car a long time as we went camping to Germany in it when I was 17/

Roy