THE HISTORY OF NORTH YORKSHIRE AREA

 
The North Yorkshire Area of the British Caravanners Club came about following the division and later the sub-division of the old North East Area. In 1965 the North East Area covered the whole of the counties of Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire, but with the formation of the Tyne Tees Area , that reduced the North East Area to the county of Yorkshire with the subsequent sub-division of Yorkshire into East & West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire area’s which became effective on the 1st November 1968.

In those days there was no winter camping and therefore the inaugural meet of North Yorkshire Area took place on the weekend of 21st to 23rd March 1969 and was held at the Blacksmiths Arms at Swainby at a cost of six shillings (60p) per night plus a levy for Area funds of sixpence (2 ½ p). The first Area Vice Chairman (as they were then called) was Bert Kellet who served for two years. Since then we have 18 Area Chairmen, the longest serving being five years (Terry Wilson) and the shortest less than one year who held office just to see the Area through to the following AGM.

In the 40 years, the Area will have run approximately 1200 meets and 3 BCC National Meets, the first National was run by the Area in 1971 AGM/FoL at York Racecourse, followed by Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough in 1978 and Ripon Racecourse in 1983 both over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. Other meets which the North Yorkshire Area can be proud of, were the Holiday Tours which lasted upto 20 days at four different sites. Initially started by Jim Pass in 1975 and continued on 10 occasions by various Chairmen. Holiday Meets have been run by the area on York Racecourse and since 1988 a THS has been run at the Fox & Rabbit Farm at Lockton.

So, over the years North Yorkshire has been quite a busy Area considering that number wise within the BCC we are one of the smaller Areas. Looking at that now, the Area has played a fairly large part in the running of the Club nationally, following is a list of the people and the positions they have held and also a list of the Area’s Chairmen.

MEMBER’s Holding National Office

NAME POSITION PERIOD
Sid Rouse BCC Chairman 1964 to 1968
  Vice President early 70’s & early 80’s
  President 1971 & 1972
 
Bert Kellet Chairman 1971 & 1972
 
Betty Kellet Membership Secretary 1969
 
Jim Pass Membership Secretary

 1972 to 1975
  C & CC National Council, Chair of Publicity Committee
Vice President 1983 to present date
 
Marjorie Blakely Minute Secretary 1972 to 1975
 
Eric Lunby Elected Member / Councillor 1971 to 1974
 
Reg Louth Elected Member / Councillor 1975, 1979 to 1983
 
Jim Lockyer Elected Member / Councillor 1983 to 1994
  C & CC Certificate of Honour
 
Malcolm Webster Elected Member / Councillor 1984 & 1985
 
Brian Lockyer Elected Member / Councillor 1991 to 2004
  C & CC Certificate of Honour
  Vice President 2005 to date
 
Mike Moody BCC Chairman 2005 to 2007
 
Linda McElroy Elected Councillor 2004 to date
  BCC Programme Secretary 2008 to date